Class 
Book: 




;^ 



HISTORY ^ 



OF 



HANCOCK COUNTY, 



ILLINOIS, 



TOGETHER WITH 



AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE, 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 



SUustratetr, 



By TH. GREGG 



CHICAGO: 

CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO. 

1880. 



I- 5^1 



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BLAKELT, BROWN & MARSH, 

PRINTERS, 

ISS * '57 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO. 



BOUND BY 

DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, 

105 & IC9 MADISON STREET., CHICAGO. 



EDITOE'S PEEFACE. 



John Buntan, in his " Apology" for writing a Book, says : 

For having now my method by the end, 

Still as I pull'd it came; and so I penn'd 

It down, until at last it came to be, 

For length and breadth, the bigness which you see. 

And then, when it was written, and on submitting the question 
of its publication to friends : , 

Some said, John, print it; others said, Not so. 
Some said, it might do good ; others said. No. 

And after hearing their counsel : 

At last I thought, since you are thus divided, 
I print it will, and so the case decided. 

The undersigned has about the same apology for writing this 
book, which he styles a History of Hancock County. There is this 
difference, however, that instead of " having his method by the 
end," he found it to have neither end nor middle; and that though 
the work " came to the bigness that you see," he could have found 
enough material to have made a book of twice its size. From the 
beginning it has been a work from which he has expected more 
pleasure than profit; and if he has succeeded in making it credita- 
ble as a contribution to the great volume of Illinois history, he is 
amply satisfied. 

And now at the close, no one can see and regret its imperfections 
more than himself. He can see errors of omission and commis- 
sion, and realize that many important things have been left unnoticed, 
while less important ones have found place. Yet he urges that, 
to a certain extent, this is unavoidable in a work compiled from 
so man}"- diverse materials. If one cannot describe with exactness 
what has happened under his own observation, he cannot be ex- 
pected to state with absolute certainty events which transpired 
through a period of half a century, facts obtained through a thou- 
sand sources. He leaves the work in the hands of an appreciating 



EDITOK S PREFACE. 

and generous public, — not hoping by the mention of these things, 
to avert or disarm criticism. 

It would be wrong to close without acknowledging his indebted- 
ness to his publishers, whose timely and efficient aid has contributed 
80 greatly to its value and success. He has also been placed under 
obligations by numerous friends all over the county, who have 
cheered him and aided him in various ways. He has been espe- 
cially aided by the gentlemen of the Hancock press — all of them, — 
and by the kind and courteous county officials and assistants; and 
he hereby extends to them and to all others his grateful thanks. 

Th. Gre&g. 



CONTENTS. 



HISTORY OF IL.L.IKOIS. 



MOUND-BUILDERS 17 

INDIANS 21 

Illinois Confe leracy. .. 2:^ 

Starved Bock 23 

Sacs aud Foxes 24 

Miluners and Customs. 37 
Single-handed Combat 

with Indians 29 

BARLY DISCOVERIES.. 31 

Nicholas Perrot 31 

Joliet and Marquette... 31 
LaSalle'e Explorations 33 
Great Battle oi tho Illi- 
nois 34 

Tonti Safe at Green Bay 41 

LaSalle'sAssassination 43 

FRENCH OCCUPATION. 44 

First Settlements 44 

The Mississi pi Com- 
pany 45 

ENGLISH RULE 47 

Gen. Clarke's Exploits 51 

ILLINOIS 55 



County (if Illinois 55 

NORTHWESTERN TER- 
RITORY 55 

Ordinance of 1787 56 

St. Clair Governor of 

N. W. Territory 59 



CHAPTER I. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES, 

ETC 191 

Geology 192 

Building Stone 199 

Potters' Clay 200 

Coal 200 

Hancock Mounds 200 

Natural Productions 202 

CHAPTER II, 

PIONEERS AND PIO- 
NEER LIFE 204 

CHAPTER III. 

THE ADVANCE GUARD 210 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE FIRST OFFICIALS 215 

First Grand Jurors 219 

First Petit Jurors 223 

CHAPTER V. 

ORGANIZATION AND 
FIRST PROCEED- 
INGS 229 

Court Seals 234 

Delinquent Tax List. . . 235 
County-Seat (Question. 2.35 

A Relic of Slavery 238 

The Circuit Court 2.39 

The Probate Court 241 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE MORMON PERIOD 242 
Introductory Remarks. 242 
Origin of Mormonism.. 247 
TheTestimonyol Three 

Witnesses 249 

An Inquiry: The Book 

of Mormon 250 

What the Neighbors 

Say 254 

Mrs. (Spanlding) Davi- 
son's Story 259 

Extracts and Opinions 265 
The Gold Plates 270 



59 



ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 
WAR OF 1812— THE OUT- 
BREAK 59 

Massacre of Fort Dear- 
born 60 

Expeditions up the Mis- 
sissippi 71 

ILLINOIS AS A STATE.. 74 

Organization 74 

Derivation of the name 
"Illinois" 77 

State Bank 78 

LaFayette's Visit 79 

Grammar and Cook 

Contrasted '82 

INDIAN TROUBLES.... 83 

Winnebago War 83 

BLACK HAWK WAR. ... 84 

Stillman"8 Run 87 

Battle of Bad Ax 90 

Black Hawk Captured. 91 

Biographical Sketch of 

_ Black Hawk 92 

FROM 18:34 TO 1842 95 

Internal Improvements 95 

Illinoi- and Michigan 
Canal 97 

Martvr for Liberty .... 98 

PRAIRllE PIRATES 102 

HISTORY OF HAISCOCH COUNTY 

Dr. John C. Bennett,.. 273 

'Ihe Call to Zion 276 

Theft Denounced 278 

Quarrels among the 
Chiefs 28:i 

Further Requisitions. . 288 

Further Attempts at 
Prosecution 290 

Excitement atNauvoo 295 

The "Expositor" Ex- 
posed 296 

"Nauvoo Neighbor" . 303 

Smith's Proclamation. 318 

The Atonement 319 

How it was done — The 
Killing of the Smiths 324 

Before Indictment and 
Trial 326 

Trials and Acquittals. . 328 

Struggle for the Succes- 
sion 331 

Strang's Four Wit- 
nesses 332 

More Violence and 
Bloodshed 336 

Murder of Col. Daven- 
port 338 

The Beginning of the 
End 342 

The Exodus Begun 344 

War Impending 347 

The Battle and Result. 349 

Nauvoo Charter and 
Ordinances 354 

The Kinderhook Plates 360 

"Sons of Dan." 361 

Beasts in the Land of 
Promise 361 

William W. Phelps 361 

The Titles of the Twelve ;362 

The Prophet as a Lin- 
guist 362 

John D. Lee 364 

The " Revelations."... :i64 

Polygamy 365 

Temperance Clause 366 

A TolerationOrdinauce 366 

The Mansion House. .. 367 

Egyptian Hieroglyph 
Ics 

The Temple 

The Nauvoo House 



MORMON WAR 104 

MEXICAN WAR 118 

Battle of Buena Vista. 119 
THE WAR FOR THE 

UNION 125 

States Seceding 126 

The Fall of Sumter. .. 127 
Call for Troops Prompt- 
ly Answered 128 

The War Ended— The 

Union Restored 137 

Schedule of Regiments 138 

DUELS 141 

DRESS AND MANNERS, 149 
PHYSICAL FEATURES 

OF ILLINOIS 1154 

AGRICULTURE 155 

GOVERNORS OF ILLI- 
NOIS 15T 

Lieutenant Governors. 160 

State Officials 161 

U. S. Senators 162 

Representatives in Con- 165 

gress 165 

CHICAGO 170 

The Great Fire 172 

Commerce of Chicago. 173 
STATES OF THE UNION IH 



367 



368 



James C. Brewster 368 

A Story from Sten- 

house 371 

Col. Thomas Geddes' 

Statement 372 

Mrs. Eliza R. Wells.... 372 
The Carthage Greys. . . 372 
Parley P. Pratt as a 

Prophet 373 

The Baptismal Font. . . 373 
Incidents of the Burn- 
ing 374 

Mormon Methods 374 

Gov. Ford's Inaccura- 
cies 375 

The Prophet a Land 

Speculator 375 

The Re -organized 

Church 376 

Conclusion 377 

CHAPTER VII. 
FORTS JOHNSON AND 

EDWARDS 379 

CHAPTER VIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL — Black 

Hawk 382 



Hancock 

PERS 



CHAPTER IX. 

N E W S P A- 



386 



CHAPTER X, 



WEATHER PHENOM- 
ENA 399 

Deep Snow 399 

Storm of 1836 400 

Tornado, June, 1838... 400 

High Waters 401 

The Basco Tornado. . . . 401 

July 4, 1873 408 

Winter of 1836-'7 409 

CHAPTER XI. 
THE JUDICIARY 410 



CHAPTER XII. 
THE HANCOCK BAR.... 413 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

OLD LANDMARKS 473 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

HANCOCK IN THE RE- 
BELLION 476 

Ruth; A Poem of the 
Rebellion 493 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

MISCELLANEOUS 500 

La Moine River 500 

Amzi Doolittle 500 

Some Pontoosuc Pio- 
neers 500 

Spelling Schools 501 

The Lost Child 502 

Jumping Claims 504 

Pioneer Life 504 

The Windmill 505 

The First Two - Story 

Frame ,506 

The First Murder 506 

Sons of Temperance. . . 507 

Mormon Trail 507 

The Deserters ,507 

LU8US NATURAE 508 

Gangrene and Quinine 508 
A Miscalculation.. .. 508 
Spillmau's Fort 509 



CENSUS OF 1880 1 

IliliUSTRATIONS. 

C, R.-I. & P. R. R. Depot. 99 

Eye and Ear Infirmary 111 

Deaf and Dumb Institute.. 115 

Scene on Fox River 121 

Lincoln Monument 137 

Asylum for Feeble Minded 143 
Southern Normal Univer- 
sity 151 

Central Insane Hospital... 167 
l»ORTKAlTS. 

Hoffman, E.S 477 

Hurdle, John N 893 

Ilowd, Joel 8.33 

James, A.J... 459 

Johnson, James T 657 

Manier, W. H 703 

Manifold, J. E 423 

Maynard, L. C 315 

McGaw, S. P 567 

McGiuiiis, D 621 

Mead, S B 513 

Mendenhall, B 935 

J'attersor, \Vm A 693 

Peyton, John 753 

Pitt, John 823 

Place, Jas. P 843 



CHAPTER XIII. 
ANECDOTAL 430 

CHAPTER XIV. 
U. G. R. R 430 

CHAPTER XV. 
KELIGIOUS PROGRESS 433 

CHAPTER XVI. 

EDUCATIONAL 435 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE POOR 444 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
ELECTION RETURNS.. 447 

CHAPTER XIX. 

PIONEERS' ASSOCIA- 
TION 463 

CHAPTER XX. 

MISCELLANEOUS STA- 
TISTICS 468 

CHAPTER X^I. 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZA- 
TION 471 

First Court House — Fron- 
tispiece 

Map of Hancock County.. 14-15 

Starved Rock 25 

An Iroquois Chief 37 

Old Fort Dearborn 61 

Old Kinzie House 65 

Pontiac 69 

Black Hawk 85 

Brant, Hezekiah 873 

-Bride, Samuel 333 

Browning, G. M 603 

Brumback, T. B 297 

Carey, M. 8 733 

Corey, V. B 549 

Clark, Gen. George R 49 

Duffy, A 675 

Duvall, B.F 853 

Bwell.J. S 863 

Ferris, S. G 207 

Gill, Charles F 883 

Gillham, John 405 

Gittings, James 369 

Hamilton, A 713 

Hammond, A. C 639 

Harter, Joseph 531 

DIGEST OF STATE L.AW 

Trust Deeds 1008 

Liens 1008 

Bill of Sale 1010 

Days of Grace 1011 

Limitation of Action 1011 

Receipts 1012 

Exemptions from Forced 

Sales 1012 



Laws 989 

Jurisdiction of Courts.. .. 989 

County Courts 990 

Commissioner of High- 
ways 990 

Fences : 992 

Drainage 994 

Trespass of Stock 994 

Estrays 995 

Horses 996 

Marks and Brands 997 

Articles of Agreement. . . 997 

Notes 998 

Judgment Note 999 

Interest 999 

Wills 1001 

Descent 1005 

Deeds 1006 

Mortagages & Trust Deeds 1007 



Landlords and Tenants. .. 1013 

Criminal Law 1016 

Taxes 1018 

Subscription 1019 

Contract for Personal Ser- 
vices 1020 

Newspaper Libel 1021 

Tender 1021 

Drunkenness 1023 

Marriage Contract 1024 

School Months 1026 



CHAPTER XXV. 

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES: 

Appanoose 949 

Augusta 510 

BearCreek 608 

Carthage 687- 

Chili 530 

Dallas 929,937 

Durham 918,975 

Fountain Green 819, 973 

Hancock 673 

Harmony 593 

Lallarpe 892 

Montebello 790 

Nauvoo 955 

Pilot Grove 841 

Pontoosuc 929,931 

Prairie. 771 

Rock Creek '861 

Rocky Run 573 

Sonora 881 

St. Alban's 548 

St. Mary's 578,974 

Walker 565,970- 

Warsaw 637,653 

Wilcox 637,643 

Wythe 635 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE CRIMINAL REC- 
ORD 977 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
HANCOCK RAILWAYS 98B 



Industrial University.. 167 

The Crib 176 

Court- House 190 

Mormon Temple 261 

Old Jail 279 

Kinderhook Plates 360 

Carthage College 437 

Mississippi Bridge 983 

.Quinby, Jesse B 743 

Randolph, James M 723 

Khca, James 818 

Sharp, Thomas C 387 

Smith, Joseph 343 

Stark, James 225 

St. Clair, Gen. Arthur. ... 101 

Tressler, D. L 441 

Turuey, S. T 763 

Walker, George 351 

Walker, H. IVL 783 

Walton, Fred 793 

Walton, Wesley 585 

Weakley, Peter E 495 

Wilcox, L. L 803 

Williams, W.C 773 

S. 

Infants 1036 

Adoption of Children 1027 

Church Organization 1027 

(iame 1028 

Millers 1030 

Paupers 1030 

Public and Private Con- 
veyances 1032 

Wagers and Stakeholders. 1083 

Sunday ... 1034 

Definition of Commercial 

Terms 1034 

Legal Weights and Meas- 
ures 1034 

Bees 1037 

Dogs 1037 

Cruelty to Animals 1038 

Names 1038 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



FORMER OCCUPANTS. 



MOUND-BUILDERS. 

The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities 
found in various parts of our country, clearly demonstrate that a 
people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad 
surface of our continent before its possession by the present In- 
dians; but the date of their rule of the Western World is so re- 
mote that all traces of their history, their progress and decay, lie 
buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Euro- 
peans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth ; the 
forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many cen- 
turies; and naught existed to point out who and what they w^ere 
who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the conti- 
nent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound- 
Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by 
them. The remains of the works of this people form the most in- 
teresting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their 
character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences 
and the peculiarities of the only remains left, — the mounds. They 
consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, 
idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure 
grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, struc- 
tures of wood, or other perishable material; otherwise their remains 
would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors 
of the Indians, who were they'^ The oblivion which has closed over 
them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to 
the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage 
of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West- 
ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came 
from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion 
of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of 



18 HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS. 

the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has 
been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The 
mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the 
risino-sun: when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the 
east ; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always 
opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially en- 
closed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side ; when 
bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were 
laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been 
found representing the sun and his rays of light. 

At what period they came to this country, is likewise a matter of 
speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among 
them, it has been inferred that the time was very remote. Their 
axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which 
have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven 
with feathers; and their military works were such as a people 
would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society 
from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing. 

The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this 
people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact 
that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small 
and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are 
large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost 
invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the 
bluffs which border the narrower valleys ; so that when one finds him- 
self in such positions as to command the grandest views for river 
scenery, he may almost always discover that he is .standing upon, 
or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the 
labors of an ancient people. 

GALENA MOUNDS. 

On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mis- 
sissippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of 
these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of 
surpassing beauty. From that point may be obtained a view of a 
portion of three States, — Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred 
feet below, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the 
Illinois Central Railroad thunder around the curve, the portage is 
in full view, and the " Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 19 

and islands, sketches a grand pamorama for miles above and below. 
Here, probably thousands of years ago, a race of men now extinct, 
and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited 
that section for centuries before the discovery of America by Colum- 
bus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At 
this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The larg- 
est one is at least forty feet in diameter at the base, and not less 
than fifteen feet high, even yet, after it has been beaten by the 
storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an 
oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annual 
rings indicate a growth of at least 200 years. 

One of the most singular earth- works in the State was found on 
the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsinawa creek in the 
lead region. It resembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose, 
legs and tail, and general outline of which being as perfect as 
if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on which it was 
situated stands on the prairie, 300 yards wide, 100 feet in height, 
and rounded on the top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, 
along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an 
embankment three feet high, extended the outline of a quadruped 
measuring 250 feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the 
tail, and having a width of IS feet at the center of the body. The 
head was 35 feet in length, the ears 10 feet, legs 60 and tail 75. The 
curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal 
lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly 
resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megathe- 
rium. The question naturally arises. By whom and for what pur- 
pose was this earth figure raised? Some have conjectured that 
numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prai- 
ries of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance 
on the upper part of the Mississippi Yalley, and that their wonder 
and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge 
creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure. 
The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this 
stream about three miles from the same place, 

LARGE CITIES. 

Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the Western 
country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, 
says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of 



20 IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

them may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances, 
evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to 
think that at the period when they were constructed there was a 
population liere as numerous as that which once animated the 
borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most num- 
erous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in pre- 
cisely those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous 
population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the 
Ohio on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and 
on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly 
satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several 
hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country." 

It must be admitted that whatever the uses of these mounds — 
whether as dwellings or burial places — these silent monuments 
were built, and the race who built them vanished from the face 
of the earth, ages before the Indians occupied the land, but their 
date must probably forever baffle human skill and ingenuity. 

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the places of sepulture 
raised by the Mound-Builders from the more modern graves of the 
Indians. The tombs of the former were in general larger than 
those of the latter, and were used as receptacles for a greater number 
of bodies, and contained relics of art, evincing a higher degree of civ- 
ilization than that attained by the Indians. The ancient earth- 
works of the Mound-Builders have occasionally been appropriated 
as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may 
be distinguished from the osteological remains of the former by 
their greater stature. 

What finally became of the Mound-Builders is another query 
which has been extensively discussed. The fact that their works 
extend into Mexico and Peru has induced the belief that it was 
their posterity that dwelt in these countries when they were first 
visited by the Spaniards. The Mexican and Peruvian works, with 
the exception of their greater magnitude, are similar. Relics com- 
mon to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed 
that the religious uses which they subserved were the same. If, 
indeed, the Mexicans and Peruvians were the progeny of the 
more ancient Mound-Builders, Spanish rapacity for gold was the 
cause of their overthrow and final extermination, 

A thousand other queries naturally arise respecting these nations 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 21 

wliich now repose under the ground, but the most searching investi- 
gation can give us ouly vagae speculations for answers. No histo- 
rian has preserved the names of their mighty chieftains, or given an 
account of their exploits, and even tradition is silent respecting 
them. 

INDIA]S"S. 

Following the Mound-Builders as inhabitants of North America, 
were, as it is supposed, the people who reared the magnificeut 
cities the ruins of which are found in Central America. This peo- 
ple was far more civilized and advanced in the arts than were the 
Mound-Builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins 
of broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling walls of temples, 
palaces and pyramids, which in some places for miles bestrew the 
ground, must have been of great extent, magnificent and very pop- 
ulous. "When we consider the vast period of time necessary to erect 
Buch colossal structures, and, again, the time required to reduce 
them to their present ruined state, we can conceive something of 
their antiquity. These cities must have been old when many of 
the ancient cities of the Orient were being built. 

The third race inhabiting "North America, distinct from the 
former two in every particular, is the present Indians. They 
were, when visited by the early discoverers, without cultivation, 
refinement or literature, and far behind the Mound-Builders in 
the knowledge of the arts. The question of their origin has long 
interested archosologists, and is the most difficult they have been 
called upon to answer. Of their predecessors the Indian tribes 
knew nothing; they even had no traditions respecting them. It is 
quite certain that they were the successors of a race which had 
entirely passed away ages before the discovery of the New World. 
One hypothesis is that the American Indians are an original race 
indigenous to the Western hemisphere. Tliose who entertain this 
view think their peculiarities of physical structure preclude the 
possibility of a common parentage with the rest of mankind. 
Prominent among those distinctive traits is the hair, which in the 
red man is round, in the white man oval, and in the black man fiat. 

A more common supposition, however, is that they are a derivative 
race, and sprang from one or more of the ancient peoples of Asia. 
In the absence of all authentic history, and when even tradition is 



22 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

wanting, any attempt to point out the particular location of their 
origin must prove unsatisfactory. Though the exact place of origin 
may never be known, yet the striking coincidence of physical 
organization between the Oriental type of mankind and the Indians 
point unmistakably to some part of Asia as the place whence they 
emigrated, which was originally peopled to a great extent by the 
children of Shem. In this connection it has been claimed that the 
meeting of the Europeans, Indians and Africans on the continent 
of America, is the fulfillment of a prophecy as recorded in Gen- 
esis ix. 27: "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the 
tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall Ibe his servant." Assuming the 
theory to be true that the Indian tribes are of Shemitic origin, 
they were met on this continent in the fifteenth century by the 
Japhetic race, after the two stocks had passed around the globe by 
directly different routes. A few years afterward the Hamitic 
branch of the human family were brought from the coast of Africa. 
During the occupancy of the continent by the three distinct races, 
the children of Japheth have grown and prospered, while the called 
and not voluntary sons of Ham have endured a servitude in the 
wider stretching valleys of the tents of Shem. 

When Christopher Columbus had finally succeeded in demon- 
strating the trutli of his theory that by sailing westward from Eu- 
rope land would be discovered, landing on the Island of Bermuda 
he supposed he had reached the East Indies. This was an error, 
but it led to the adoption of the name of " Indians " for the inhab- 
itants of the Island and the main land of America, by which name 
the red men of America have ever since been known. 

Of the several great branches of North American Indians the 
only ones entitled to consideration in Illinois history are the Algon- 
quins and Iroquois. At the time of the discovery of America the 
foriner occupied the Atlantic seaboard, while the home of the 
Iroquois was as an island in this vast area of Algonquin popula- 
tion. The latter great nation spread over a vast territory, and various 
tribes of Algonquin lineage sprung up over the country, adopting, 
in time, distinct tribal customs and laws. An almost continuous 
warfare was carried on between tribes; but later, on the entrance of 
the white man into their beloved homes, every foot of territory 
was fiercely disputed by the confederacy of many neighboring tribes. 
The Algonquins formed the most extensive alliance to resist the 
encroachment of the whites, especially the English. Such was the 



HISTORY OF ILLINIOS. 23 

nature of King Philip's war. This King, with his Algonquin 
braves, spread terror and desolation throughout New England."With 
the Algouquins as the controlling spirit, a ct)nfederacy of conti- 
nental proportions was the result, embracing in its alliance the tribes 
of every name and lineage from the Korthern lakes to the gulf. 
Pontiac, having breathed into them his implacable hate of the 
English intruders, ordered the conflict to commence, and all the 
British colonies trembled before the desolating fury of Indian 
vengeance. 

ILLINOIS CONFEDERACY. 

The Illinois confederacy, the various tribes of which comprised 
most of the Indians of Illinois at one time, was composed of five 
tribes: the Tamaroas, Michigans, Kaskaskias, Cahokas, and Peorias. 
The Illinois, Miamis and Delawares were of the same stock. As 
early as 1670 the priest Father Marquette mentions frequent visits 
made by individuals of this confederacy to the missionary station at 
St. Esprit, near the western extremity of Lake Superior. At that 
time they lived west of the Mississippi, in eight villages, whither 
they had been driven from the shores of Lake Michigan by the 
Iroquois. Shortly afterward they began to return to their old 
hunting ground, and most of them finally settled in Illinois. 
Joliet and Marquette, in 1GY3, met with a band of them on their 
famous voyage of discovery down the Mississippi. They wer? 
treated with the greatest hospitality by the principal chief. On their 
return voyage up the Illinois river they stopped at the principal 
town of the confederacy, situated on the banks of the river seven 
miles below the present town of Ottawa. It was then called Kas- 
kaskia. Marquette returned to the village in 1675 and established 
the mission of the Immaculate Conception, the oldest in Illinois. 
When, in 1679, LaSalle visited the town, it had greatly increaseci 
numbering 460 lodges, and at the annual assembly of the difterent 
tribes, from 6,000 to 8,000 souls. In common with other western 
tribes, they became involved in the conspirac}' of Pontiac, although 
displaying no very great warlike spirit. Pontiac lost his life by 
the hands of one of the braves of the Illinois tribe, which so enraged 
the nations that had followed him as their leader that they fell upon 
the Illinois to avenge his death, and almost annihilated them. 

STARVED ROCK. 

Tradition states that a band of this tribe, in order to escape the 
general slaughter, took refuge upon the high rock on the Illinois 



24 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

river since known as Starved Rock. Nature has made this one of 
the most formidable military fortresses in the world. From the 
waters which wash fts base it rises to an altitude of 125 feet. Three 
of its sides it is impossible to scale, while the one next to the land 
may be climbed with difficulty. From its summit, almost as inac- 
cessible as an eagle's nest, the valley of the Illinois is seen as 
a landscape of exquisite beauty. The river near by struggles 
between a number of wooded islands, while further below it quietly 
meanders through vast meadows till it disappears like a thread of 
light in the dim distance. On the summit of this rock the Illinois 
were besieged by a superior force of the Pottawatoraies whom the 
great strength of their natural fortress enabled them to keep at bay. 
Hunger and thirst, however, soon accomplished what the enemy 
was unable to effect. Surrounded by a relentless foe, without food 
or water, they took a last look at their beautiful hunting grounds, 
and with true Indian fortitude lay down and died from starvation. 
Years afterward their bones were seen whitening in that place. 

At the beginning of the present century the remnants of this 
once powerful confederacy were forced into a small compass around 
Kaskaskia. A few years later they emigrated to the Southwest, 
and in 1850 they were in Indian Territory, and numbered but 84 
persons. 

SACS AND F0XB8, 

The Sacs and Foxes, who figured most conspicuously in the later 
history of Illinois, inhabited the northwestern portion of the State. 
By long residence together and intermarriage they had substan- 
tially become one people. Drake, in his "Life of Black Hawk," 
speaks of these tribes as follows : " The Sacs and Foxes fought their 
way from the waters of the St. Lawrence to Green Bay, and after 
reaching that place, not only sustained themselves against hostile 
tribes, but were the most active and courageous in the subjugation, 
or rather the extermination, of the numerous and powerful Illinois 
confederacy. They had many wars, offensive and defensive, with 
the Sioux, the Pawnees, the Osages, and other tribes, some of which 
are ranked among the most fierce and ferocious warriors of the 
whole continent; and it does not appear that in these conflicts, run- 
ning through a long period of years, thej' were found wanting in 
this, the greatest of all savage virtues. In the late war with Great 
Britain, a party of the Sacs and Foxes fought under the British 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 27 

standard as a matter of choice; and in the recent contest between a 
fragment of these tribes and the United States, although defeated 
and literally cut to pieces b}'' an overwhelming force, it is very 
questionable whether their reputation as braves would suffer by a 
comparison with that of their victors. It is believed that a careful 
review of their history, from the period when they tirst established 
themselves on the waters of the Mississippi down to the present 
time, will lead the inquirer to the conclusion that the Sacs and 
Foxes were truly a courageous people, shrewd, politic, and enter- 
prising, with no more ferocity and treachery of character than is 
common among the tribes by whom they were surrounded," These 
tribes at the time of the Black Hawk "War were divided into twenty 
families, twelve of which were Sacs and eight Foxes. The follow- 
ing were other prominent tribes occupying Illinois: the Kickapoos, 
Shawnees, Mascoulins, Piaukishaws, Pottawatomies, Chippewas, 
and Ottawas. 

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

The art of hunting not only supplied the Indian with food, but, 
like that of war, was a means of gratifying his love of distinction. 
The male children, as soon as they acquired sufficient age and 
strength, were furnished with a bow and arrow and taught to shoot 
birds and other small game. Success in killing large quadrupeds 
required years of careful study and practice, and the art was as 
sedulously inculcated in the minds of the rising generation as are 
the elements of reading, writing and arithmetic in the common 
schools of civilized communities. The mazes of the forest and the 
dense, tall grass of the prairies were the best fields for the exercise 
of the hunter's skill. No feet could be impressed in the yieldino- 
soil but that the tracks were the objects of the most searching 
scrutiny, and revealed at a glance the animal that made them, the 
direction it was pursuing, and the time that had elapsed since it 
had passed. In a forest country he selected the valleys, because 
they were most frequently the resort of game. The most easily 
taken, perhaps, of all the animals of the chase was the deer. It is 
endowed with a curiosity which prompts it to stop in its flight and 
look back at the approaching hunter, who always avails himself of 
this opportunity to let fly the fatal arrow. 

Their general councils were composed of the chiefs and old men. 
When in council, they usually sat in concentric circles around the 



28 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

speaker, and each individual, notwithstanding the fiery passions 
that rankled within, preserved an exterior as immovable as if cast 
in bronze. Before commencing business a person appeared with 
the sacred pipe, and another with fire to kindle it. After being 
lighted, it was first presented to heaven, secondly to the earth, 
thirdly to the presiding spirit, and lastly the several councilors, 
each of whom took a whiff. Tliese formalities were observed with 
as close exactness as state etiquette in civilized courts. 

The dwellings of the Indians were of the simplest and rudest 
character. On some pleasant spot by the bank of a river, or near 
an ever-running spring, they raised their groups of wigwams, con- 
structed of the bark of trees, and easily taken down and removed 
to another spot. The dwelling-places of the chiefs were sometimes 
more spacious, and constructed with greater care, but of the same 
materials. Skins taken in the chase served them for repose. 
Though principally dependent upon hunting and fishing, the 
uncertain supply from those sources led them to cultivate small 
patches of corn. Every family did everything necessary within 
itself, commerce, or an interchange of articles, being almost unknown 
to them. In cases of dispute and dissension, each Indian relied 
upon himself for retaliation. Blood for blood was the rule, and 
the relatives of the slain man were bound to obtain bloody revenge 
for his death. This principle gave rise, as a matter of course, to 
innumerable and bitter feuds, and wars of extermination where such 
were possible. War, indeed, rather than peace, was the Indian's 
glory and delight, — war, not conducted as civilization, but war 
where individual skill, endurance, gallantr}^ and cruelty were prime 
requisites. For such a purpose as revenge the Indian would make 
great sacrifices, and display a patience and perseverance truly heroic; 
but when the excitement was over, he sank back into a listless, un- 
occupied, well-nigh useless savage. During the intervals of his 
more exciting pursuits, the Indian employed his time in decorating 
his person with all the refinement of paint and feathers, and in the 
manufacture of his arms and of canoes. These were constructed of 
bark, and so light that they could easilj' be carried on the shoulder 
from stream to stream. His amusements were the war-dance, ath- 
letic games, the narration of his exploits, and listening to the ora- 
tory of the chiefs; but during long periods of such existence he 
remained in a state of torpor, gazing listlessly upon the trees of 
the forests and the clouds that sailed above them; and this vacancy 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 29 

imprinted an habitual gravity, and even melancholy, upon his gen- 
eral deportment. 

The main labor and drudgery of Indian communities fell upon 
the women. The planting, tending and gathering of the crops, 
making mats and baskets, carrying burdens, — in fact, all things of 
the kind were performed by them, thus making their condition but 
little better than that of slaves. Marriage was merely a matter of 
bargain and sale, the husband giving presents to the father of the 
bride. In general they had but few children. They were sub- 
jected to many and severe attacks of sickness, and at times famine 
and pestilence swept away whole tribes. 

SINGLE-HANDED COMBAT WITH INDIANS. 

The most desperate single-handed combat with Indians ever 
fought on the soil of Illinois was that of Tom Iliggins, August 21, 
1814. Higgins was 25 years old, of a muscular and compact 
build, not tall, but strong and active. In danger he possessed a 
quick and discerning judgment, and was without fear. lie was a 
member of Journey's rangers, consisting of eleven men, stationed 
at Hill's Fort, eight miles southwest of the present Greenville, Put- 
nam county. Discovering Indian signs near the fort, the company, 
early the following morning, started on the trail. They had not 
gone far before they were in an ambuscade of a larger party. At 
the first fire their commander. Journey, and three men fell, and 
six reti'eated to the fort; but Higgins stopped to "have another 
pull at the red-skins," and, taking deliberate aim at a straggling 
savage, shot him down. Higgins' horse had been wounded at the 
first fire, as he supposed, mortally. Coming to, he was about to 
effect his escape, when the familiar voice of Burgess hailed him 
from the long grass, ",Tom, don't leave me." Iliggins told him to 
come along, but Burgess replied that his leg was smashed. Hig- 
gins attempted to raise him on his horse, but the animal took fright 
and ran away. Iliggins then directed Burgess to limp off as well 
as he could; and by crawling through the grass he reached the fort 
while the former loaded his gun and remained behind to protect 
him against the pursuing enemy. When Burgess was well out of 
tlie way, Iliggins took another route, which led by a small thicket, 
to throw any wandering enemy off the trail. Here he was con- 
fronted by three savages ap])roaching. He ran to a little ravine 
near for shelter, but in the effort discovered for the first time that 



30 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

he was badly wounded in the leg. He was closely pressed by the 
largest, a powerful Indian, who lodged a ball in his thigh. He fell, 
but instantly rose again, only, however, to draw the fire of the other 
two, and again fell wounded. The Indians now advanced upon him 
with their tomahawks and scalping knives; but as he presented his 
gun first at one, then at another, from his place in the ravine, each 
wavered in his purpose. Neither party had time to load, and the 
large Indian, supposing finally that Higgins' gun was empty, rushed 
forward with uplifted tomahawk and a yell; but as he came near 
enough, was shot down. At this the others raised the war-whoop, 
and rushed upon the wounded Higgins, and now a hand-to-hand 
conflict ensued. They darted at him with their knives time and 
again, inflicting many ghastly flesh-wounds, which bled profusely. 
One of the assailants threw his tomahawk at him with such pre- 
cision as to sever his ear and lay bare liis skull, knocking him down. 
They now rushed in on him, but he kicked them ofl", and grasping 
one of their spears thrust at him, was raised up by it. He quickly 
seized his gun, and by a powerful blow crushed in the skull of one, 
but broke his rifle. His remaining antagonist still kept up the con- 
test, making thrusts with his knife at the bleeding and exhausted 
Higgins, which he parried with his broken gun as well as he could. 
Most of this desperate engagement was in plain view of the fort; 
but the rangers, having been in one ambuscade, saw in this fight 
only a ruse to draw out the balance of the garrison. But a Mrs. 
Pursely, residing at the fort, no longer able to see so brave a man 
contend for his life unaided, seized a gun, mounted a horse, and 
started to his rescue. At this the men took courage and hastened 
along. The Indian, seeing aid coming, fled. Higgins, being near- 
ly hacked to pieces, fainted from loss of blood. He was carried to 
the fort. There being no surgeon, his comrades cut two balls from 
his flesh; others remained in. For days his life was despaired of; 
but by tender nursing he ultimately regained his health, although 
badly crippled. He resided in Fayette county for many years after, 
and died in 1829, 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 31 



EARLY DISCOVERIES 

NICHOLAS PERROT. 

The first white man who ever set foot on the soil embraced within 
the boundary of the present populous State of Illinois was Nich- 
olas Perrot, a Frenchman. He was sent to Chicago in the year 1671 
by M. Talon, Intendant of Canada, for the purpose of inviting the 
Western Indians to a great peace convention to be held at Green 
Bay. This convention had for its chief object the promulgation of 
a plan for the discovery of the Mississippi river. This great river 
had been discovered by De Soto, the Spanish explorer, nearly one 
hundred and fifty years previously, but his nation left the country 
a wilderness, without further exploration or settlement within its 
borders, in which condition it remained until the river was dis- 
covered by Joliet and Marquette in 1673. It was deemed a wise 
policy to secure, as far as possible, the friendship and co-operation 
of the Indians, far and near, before venturing upon an enterprise 
which their hostility might render disastrous. Thus the great con- 
vention was called. 

JOLIET AND MARQUETTE. 

Although Perrot was the first European to visit Illinois, he was 
not the first to make any important discoveries. This was left for 
Joliet and Marquette, which they accomplished two years thereafter. 
The former, Louis Joliet, was born at Quebec in 161:5. He was 
educated for the clerical profession, but he abandoned it to 
engage in the fur trade. His companion. Father Jacques Mai'- 
quette, was a native of France, born in 1637. He was a Jesuit 
priest by education, and a man of simple faith and great zeal and 
devotion in extending: the Roman Catholic religion among: the In- 
dians. He was sent to America in 1666 as a missionary. To con- 
vert the Indians he penetrated the wilderness a thousand miles 
in advance of civilization, and by his kind attention in their alfiic- 
tions he won their affections and made them his lasting friends. 
There were others, however, who visited Illinois even prior to the 
famous exploration of Joliet and Marquette. In 1672 the Jesuit 



32 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

missionaries, Fathers Claude Alloiiez and Claude Dablon, bore the 
standard of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through 
western Wisconsin and northern Illinois. 

According to the pre-arranged plan referred to above, at the Jes- 
uit mission on the Strait of Mackinaw, Joliet joined Marquette, 
and with five other Frenchmen and a simple outfit the daring ex- 
plorers on the ITtli of May, 1673, set out on their perilous voyage 
to discover the Mississippi. Coasting along the northern shore of 
Lake Michigan, they entered Green Bay, and passed thence up Fox 
river and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Muscatines and 
Miamis, where great interest was taken in the expedition by the 
natives. With guides they proceeded down the river. Arriving 
at the portage, they soon carried their light canoes and scanty bag- 
gage to the Wisconsin, about three miles distant. Their guides 
now refused to accompany them further, and endeavored, by re- 
citing the dangers incident to the voyage, to induce them to return. 
They stated that huge demons dwelt in the great river, whose voices 
could be heard a long distance, and who engulfed in the raging 
waters all who came within their reach. They also represented that 
if any of them should escape the dangers of the river, fierce tribes of 
Indians dwelt upon its banks ready to complete the work of de- 
struction. They proceeded on their journey, however, and on the 
17th of June pushed their frail barks on the bosom of the stately 
Mississippi, down which they smoothly glided for nearly a hundred 
miles. Here Joliet and Marquette, leaving their canoes in charge 
of their men, went on the western shore, where they discovered an 
Indian village, and were kindly treated. They journeyed on down 
the unknown river, passing the mouth of the Illinois, then run- 
ning into the current of the muddy Missouri, and afterward the 
waters of the Ohio joined with them on their journey southward. 
Near the mouth of the Arkansas they discovered Indians who 
showed signs of hostility; but when Marquette's mission of peace 
was made known to them, they were kindly received. After pro- 
ceeding up the Arkansas a short distance, at the advice of the 
natives they turned their faces northward to retrace their steps. Af- 
ter several weeks of hard toil they readied the Illinois, up which 
stream they proceeded to Lake Michigan. Following the western 
shore of the lake, they entered Green Bay the latter part of Sep- 
tember, having traveled a distance of 2,500 miles. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 33 

On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the Kaskaskias, 
near what is now Utica, in LaSalle county. The following year 
he returned and established among them the mission of the Im- 
maculate Virgin Mary. This was the last act of his life. He died 
in Michigan, May 18, 1675. 

lasalle's explorations. 
The first French occupation of Illinois was effected by LaSalle, 
in 1680. Having constructed a vessel, the "Griffin," above the 
falls of Niagara, he sailed to Green Bay, and passed thence in 
canoe to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, by which and the Kan- 
kakee he reached the Illinois in January, 1680; and on the 3d he 
entered the expansion of the river now called Peoria lake. Here, 
at the lower end of the lake, on its eastern bank, now in Tazewell 
county, he erected Fort Crevecoeur, The place where this ancient 
fort stood ma}' still be seen just below the outlet of Peoria lake. It 
had, however, but a temporary existence. From this point LaSalle 
determined, at that time, to descend the Mississippi to its mouth. 
This he did not do, however, until two years later. Returning to 
Fort Frontenac for the purpose of getting material with which to 
rig his vessel, he left the fort at Peoria in charge of his lieutenant, 
Henri Tonti, an Italian, who had lost one of his hands by the 
explosion of a grenade in the Sicilian wars. Tonti had with him 
fifteen men, most of whom disliked LaSalle, and were ripe for a 
revolt the first opportunity. Two men who had, previous to LaSalle's 
departure, been sent to look for the " Griffin " now returned and 
reported that the vessel was lost and that Fort Frontenac was in 
the hands of LaSalle's creditors. This disheartening intelligence 
had the effect to enkindle a spirit of mutiny among the garrison. 
Tonti had no sooner left the fort, with a few men, to fortify what 
was afterward known as Starved Hock, than the garrison at the 
fort refused longer to submit to authority. They destroyed the 
fort, seized the ammunition, provisions, and other portables of value, 
and fled. Only two of their number remained true. These hast- 
ened to apprise Tonti of what had occurred. He thereupon sent 
four of the men with him to inform LaSalle. Thus was Tonti in 
the midst of treacherous savages, with only five men, two of whom 
were the friars Ribourde and Membre. With these he iramediatel}' 
returned to the fort, collected what tools had not been destroyed, 
and conveyed them to the great town of the Illinois Indians. 



34: HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

By this voluntary display of confidence he hoped to remove the 
jealousy created in the minds of the Illinois by the enemies of La- 
Salle. Here he awaited, unmolested, the return of LaSalle. 

GREAT BATTLE OF THE ILLINOIS. 

Neither Tonti nor his wild associates suspected that hordes of Iro- 
quois were gathering preparatory to rushing down upon their 
country and reducing it to an uninhabited waste. Already these 
liell-hounds of the wilderness had destroyed the Hurons, Eries, and 
other natives on the lakes, and were now directing their attention 
to the Illinois for new victims. Five hundred Iroquois warriors 
set out for the home of the Illinois. All was fancied security and 
idle repose in the great town of this tribe, as the enemy stealthily 
approached. Suddenly as a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky 
the listless inhabitants were awakened from their lethargy. A 
Shawnee Indian, on his return home after a visit to the Illinois, 
first discovered the invaders. To save his friends from the im- 
pending danger, he hurriedly returned and apprised them of the 
coming enemy. This intelligence spread with lightning rapidity 
over the town, and each wigwam disgorged its boisterous and as- 
tounded inmates. Women snatched their children, and in a delirium 
of fi'ight wandered aimlessly about, rending the air with their 
screams. The men, more self-possessed, seized their arms ready 
for the coming fray. Tonti, long an object of suspicion, was soon 
surrounded by an angry crowd of warriors, who accused him of be- 
ing an emissary of the enemy. His inability to defend himself 
properly, in consequence of not fully understanding their language 
left them still inclined to believe him guilty, and they seized his 
effects from the fort and threw them into the river. The women 
and children were sent down the river for safety, and the warriors, 
not exceeding four hundred, as most of their young men were off 
hunting, returned to the village. Along the shores of the river 
they kindled huge bonfires, and spent the entire night in greasing 
their bodies, painting their faces, and performing the war-dance, 
to prepare for the approaching enemy. At early dawn the scouts 
who had been sent out returned, closely followed by the Iroquois, 
The scouts had seen a chief arrayed in French costume, and re- 
ported their suspicions that LaSalle was in the camp of the enemy, 
and Tonti again became an object of jealousy. A concourse of 
wildly gesticulating savages immediately gathered about him, de- 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 36 

manding his life, and nothing saved him from their uplifted weap- 
ons but a promise that he and his men would go with them to meet 
the enemy. .With their suspicions partly lulled, they hurriedly 
crossed the river and met the foe, when both commenced firing. 
Tonti, seeing that the Illinois were outnumbered and likely to 
be defeated, determined, at the imminent risk of liis life, to stay 
the fight by an attempt at mediation. Presuming on the treaty of 
peace then existing between the French and Iroquois, he exchanged 
his gun for a belt of wampum and advanced to meet the savao-e 
multitude, attended by three companions, who, being unnecessarily 
ex})osed to danger, were dismissed, and he proceeded alone. A 
short walk brought him in the midst of a pack of yelping devils, 
writhing and distorted with fiendish rage, and impatient to shed 
his blood. As the result of his swarthy Italian complexion and 
half-savage costume, he was at first taken for an Indian, and before 
the mistake was discovered a young warrior approached and stabbed 
at his heart. Fortunately the blade was turned aside by coming 
in contact with a rib, yet a large flesh wound was inflicted, which 
bled profusely. At this juncture a chief discovered his true char- 
acter, and he was led to the rear and efforts were made to staun.ch 
his wound. When sufficiently recovered, he declared the Illinois 
were under the protection of the French', and demanded, in consid- 
eration of the treaty between the latter and the Iroquois, that they 
should be suffered to remain without further molestation. Durino- 
this conference a young warrior snatched Tonti's hat, and, fleeino- 
with it to the front, held it aloft on the end of his gun in view of 
the Illinois. The latter, judging that Tonti had been killed, 
renewed the fight with great vigor. Simultaneously, intelHo-ence 
was brought to the Iroquois that Frenchmen were assisting their 
enemies in the fight, when the contest over Tonti was renewed 
with redoubled fury. Some declared that he should be immediately 
put to death, while others, friendly to LaSalle, with equal earnest- 
ness demanded that he should be set at liberty. During their 
clamorous debate, his hair was several times lifted by a liuo-e sav- 
age who stood at his back with a scalping knife ready for execution. 
Tonti at length turned the current of the angry controversy in his 
favor, by stating that the Illinois were 1,200 strong, and that there 
were 60 Frenchmen at the village ready to assist them. This state- 
ment obtained at least a partial credence, and his tormentors now 



36 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

determined to use liim as an instrument to delude the Illinois with a 
pretended truce. The old warriors, therefore, advanced to the front 
and ordered the firing to cease, while Tonti, dizzy from the loss of 
blood, was furnished with an emblem of peace and sent staggering 
across the plain to rejoin the Illinois. The two friars who had just 
returned from a distant hut, whither they had repaired for prayer 
and meditation, were the first to meet him and bless God for what 
they regarded as a miraculous deliverance. With the assurance 
brought by Tonti, the Illinois re-crossed the river to their lodges, 
followed by the enemy as far as the opposite bank. Not long after, 
large numbers of the latter, under the pretext of hunting, also crossed 
the river and hung in threatening groups about the town. These 
hostile indications, and the well-known disregard which the Iroquois 
had always evinced for their pledges, soon convinced the Illinois 
that their only safety was in flight, "With this conviction they set 
fire to their village, and while the vast volume of flames and smoke 
diverted the attention of the enemy, they quietly dropped down the 
river to join their women and children. As soon as the flames would 
permit, the Iroquois entrenched themselves on the site of the vil- 
lage. Tonti and his men were ordered by the suspicious savages 
to leave their hut and take up their abode in the fort. 

At first the Iroquois were much elated at the discomfiture of the 
Illinois, but when two days afterward they discovered them recon- 
noitering their intrenchments, their courage greatly subsided. 
With fear they recalled the exaggerations of Tonti respecting their 
numbers, and concluded to send him with a hostage to make over- 
tures of peace. He and his hostage were received with delight by 
the Illinois, who readily assented to the proposal which he brought, 
and in turn sent back with him a hostage to the Iroquois. On his 
return to the fort his life was again placed in jeopardy, and the 
treaty was with great difficulty ratified. The young and inexpe- 
rienced Illinois hostage betrayed to his crafty interviewers the nu- 
merical weakness of his tribe, and the savages immediately rushed 
upon Tonti, and charged him with having deprived them of the spoils 
and honors of victory. It now required all the tact of which he was 
master to escape. After much difficulty however, the treaty was con- 
cluded, but the savages, to show their contempt for it, immediately 
commenced constructing canoes in which to descend the river and 
attack the Illinois. 




AN IROQUOIS CHIEF. 



IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 39 

FRENCHMEN DRIVEN AWAY. 

Tonti managed to apprise the latter of their designs, and he and 
Membre were soon after summoned to attend a council of the Iro- 
quois, who still labored under a wholesome fear of Count Frontenac, 
and disliking to attack the Illinois in the presence of the French, 
they thought to try to induce them to leave the country. At the 
assembling of the council, six packages of beaver skins were intro- 
duced, and the savage orator, presenting them separately to Tonti, 
explained the nature ofeacli. "The first two," said he, "were to de- 
clare that the children of Count Frontenac, that is, the Illinois, 
should not be eaten; the next was a plaster to heal the wounds of 
Tonti; the next was oil wlierewith to anoint him and Membre, 
that they might not be fatigued in traveling; the next proclaimed 
that the sun was bright; and the sixth and last required them to 
decamp and go home." 

At the mention of going home, Tonti demanded of them when 
they intended to set the example by leaving the Illinois in the 
peaceable possession of their country, which they had so unjustly in- 
vaded. The council grew boisterous and angry at the idea that 
they should be demanded to do what they required of the French, 
and some of its members, forgetting their previous pledge, declared 
that they would "eat Illinois flesh before they departed." Tonti, in 
imitation of the Indians' manner of expressing scorn, indignantly 
kicked away the presents of fur, saying, since they intended to de- 
vour the children of Frontenac with cannibal ferocity, he would not 
accept their gifts. This stern rebuke resulted in the expulsion of 
Tonti and his companion from the council, and the next day the 
chiefs ordered them to leave the country. 

Tonti had now, at the great peril of his life, tried every expedient 
to prevent the slaughter of the Illinois. There was little to be ac- 
complished by longer remaining in the country, and as longer delay 
might imperil the lives of his own men, he determined to depart, not 
knowing where or when he would be able to rejoin LaSalle. With 
this object in view, the party, consisting of six persons, embarked in 
canoes, which soon proved leaky, and they were compelled to land 
for the purpose of making repairs. While thus employed, Father Ili- 
bourde, attracted l^y.the beauty of the surrounding landscape, wan- 
dered forth among the groves for meditation and prayer. Kot return- 
ing in due time, Tonti became alarmed, and started with a coinpan- 



40 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

ion to ascertain the cause of the long delay. They soon discovered 
tracks of Indians, by whom it was supposed he had been seized, and 
guns were tired to direct his return, in case he was alive. Seeing 
nothing of him during the day, at night they built fires along the 
bank of the river and retired to the opposite side, to see who might 
approach them. Near midnight a number of Indians were seen 
flitting about the light, by whom, no doubt, had been made the tracks 
seen the previous day. It was afterward learned that they were a 
band of Kickapoos, who had for several days been hovering about 
the camp of the Iroquois in quest of scalps. They had fell in 
with the inoffensive old friar and scalped him. Thus, in the 65th 
year of his age, the only heir to a wealthy Burgundian house per- 
ished under the war-club of the savages for whose salvation he had 
renounced ease and affluence. 

INHUMAN BUTCHERY. 

During this tragedy a far more revolting one was being enacted 
in the great town of Illinois. The Iroquois were tearing open the 
graves of the dead, and wreaking their vengeance upon the bodies 
made hideous hy putrefaction. At this desecration, it is said, they 
even ate portions of the dead bodies, while subjecting them to every 
indignity that brutal hate could inflict. Still unsated by their hell- 
ish brutalities, and now unrestrained by the presence of the French, 
they started in pursuit of the retreating Illinois, Day after day 
they and the opposing forces moved in compact array down the 
river, neither being able to gain any adv^antage over the other. At 
length the Iroquois obtained by falsehood that which number and 
prowess denied them. They gave out that their object was to pos- 
sess the country, not by destroying, but by driving out its present 
inhabitants. Deceived by this false statement, the Illinois separa- 
ted, some descending the Mis"sissippi and others crossing to the 
western shore. The Tamaroas, more credulous than the rest, re- 
mained near the mouth of the Illinois, and were suddenly attacked 
by an overwhelming force of the enemy. The men fled in dismay, 
and the women and children, to the number of 700, fell into the 
hands of the ferocious enemy. Then fallowed the tortures, butch- 
eries and burnings which only the infuriated and imbruted Iroquois 
could perpetrate. LaSalle on his return discovered the half-charred 
bodies of women and children still bound to the stakes where they 
had suffered all the torments hellish hate could devise. In addition 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 41 

to those who had been burnt, the mangled bodies of women and 
children thickly covered the ground, many of which bore marks of 
brutality too horrid for record. 

After the ravenous horde had sufficiently glutted their greed for 
carnage, they retired from the country. The Illinois returned and 
rebuilt their town. 

TONTI SAFE AT GREEN BAY. 

After the death of Ribourde, Tonti and his men again resumed 
their journey. Soon again their craft became disabled, when they 
abandoned it and started on foot for Lake Michigan. Their 
supply of provisions soon became exhausted, and they were 
compelled to subsist in a great measure on roots and herbs. 
One of their companions wandered off in search of game, and lost 
his way, and several days elapsed before he rejoined them. In his 
absence he was without flints and bullets, yet contrived to shoot 
some turkeys by using slugs cut from a pewter porringer and a tire- 
brand to discharge his gun. Tonti fell sick of a fever and greatly 
retarded the progress of the march. IS^earing Green Bay, the cold 
increased and the means of subsistence decreased and the party would 
have perished had they not found a few ears of corn and some froz- 
en squashes in the fields of a deserted village. Near the close of 
November they had reached the Pottawatomies, who warmly greet- 
ed them. Their chief was an ardent admirer of the French, and 
was accustomed to say: " There were but three great captains in the 
world, — himself, Tonti and LaSalle." For the above account of 
Tonti's encounter with the Iroquois, we are indebted to Davidson 
and Stuve's History of Illinois. 

lasalle's return. 

LaSalle returned to Peoria only to meet the hideous picture of 
devastation. Tonti had escaped, but LaSalle knew not wiiither. Pass- 
ing down the lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discov- 
ered that the fort had been destroyed ; but the vessel which he had 
partly constructed was still on the stocks, and but slightly injured. 
After further fruitless search he fastened to a tree a painting repre- 
senting himself and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of 
peace, and to the painting attached a letter addressed to Tonti. 

LaSalle was born in France in 1643, of wealthy parentage, and edu- 
cated in a college of the Jesuits, from which he separated and came 
to Canada, a poor man, in 1G66. He was a man of daring genius, 



42 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

and outstripped all his competitors in exploits of travel and com- 
merce with the Indians. He was granted a large tract of land at 
LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. In 1669 
he visited the headquarters of the great Iroquois confederac3% at 
Onondaga, New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio 
river to the falls at Louisville. For many years previous, it must 
be remembered, missionaries and traders were obliged to make their 
way to the J^orthwest through Canada on account of the fierce 
hostility of the Iroquois along the lower lakes and Niagara river, 
which entirely' closed this latter route to the upper lakes. They 
carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, paddling them through 
Ottawa river to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the portage 
to French river, and descending that to Lake Huron. This being 
the route by which they reached the Northwest, we have an explana- 
tion of the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established 
in the neighborhood of the upper lakes. LaSalle conceived the 
grand idea of opening the route by Niagara river and the lower 
lakes to Canada commerce by sail vessels, connecting it with the 
navigation of the Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water 
communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mex- 
ico. This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to have 
animated him in his wonderful achievements, and the matchless 
difliculties and hardships he surmounted. As the first step in the 
accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake 
Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the 
present city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of 
land from the French crown, and a body of troops, by which he 
repulsed the Iroquois and opened passage to Niagara Falls. Hav- 
ing by this masterly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto 
untried expedition, his next step, as we have seen, was to build a 
ship with which to sail the lakes. He was successful in this under- 
taking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a strange com- 
bination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated 
LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them 
and united with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of 
his success in opening new channels of commerce. While they were 
plodding with their bark canoes through the Ottawa, he was con- 
structing sailing vessels to command the trade of the lakes and the 
Mississippi. These great plans excited the jealousy and envy of 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 43 

small traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of bis 
men, and finally led to the foul assassination by which his great 
achievements were permanently ended. 

lasalle's assassijstation. 
Again visiting the Illinois in the year 1682, LaSalle de- 
scended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. He erected a 
standard upon which he inscribed the arms of France, and took 
formal possession of the whole valley of this mighty river in the 
name of Louis XIY., then reigning, and in honor of whom he named 
the country Louisiana. LaSalle then returned to France, was 
appointed Governor, and returned with a fleet of immigrants for the 
purpose of planting a colony in Illinois. They arrived in due time 
in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to find the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi, up .which they intended to sail, his supply ship, with the 
immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on Matagorda Bay. 
"With the fragments of the vessel he constructed rude huts and 
stockades on the shore for the protection of his followers, calling 
the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico 
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, 
returned to find his colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved 
to travel on foot to Illinois. With some twenty of his men they 
filed out of their fort on the 12th of January, 1687, and after the part- 
ing, — which was one of sighs, of tears, and of embraces, all seeming 
intuitively to know that they should see each other no more, — they 
started on their disastrous journey. Two of the party, Du Haut 
and Leotot, when on a hunting expedition in company with a 
nephew of LaSalle, assassinated liim while asleep. The long 
absence of his nephew caused LaSalle to go in search of him. On 
approaching the murderers of his nephew, they fired upon him, kill- 
ing him instantly. They then despoiled the body of its clothing, 
and left it to be devoured by the wild beasts of the forest. Thus, 
at the age of 43, perished one whose exploits have so greatly 
enriched the history of the New AYorld. To estimate aright the 
marvels of his patient fortitude, one must follow on his track 
through the vast scene of his interminable journeyings, those thou- 
sands of weary miles of forest, marsh and river, where, again and 
again, in the bitterness of bafiled striving, the untiring pilgrim 
pushed onward toward the goal he never was to attain. America 
owes him an enduring memory; for in this masculine figure, cas^ 



44 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

in iron, she sees the heroic pioneer who guided her to the possession 
of her richest heritage. 

Tonti, who had been stationed at the fort on the Illinois, learning 
of LaSalle's unsuccessful voyage, immediately started down the 
Mississippi to his relief. Reaching the Gulf, he found no traces of 
the colony. He then returned, leaving some of his men at the 
moutli of the Arkansas. These were discovered by the remnant of 
LaSalle's followers, who guided them to the fort on the Illinois, 
where they reported that LaSalle was in Mexico. The little band 
left at Fort St. Louis were finally destroyed by the Indians, and the 
murderers of LaSalle were shot. Thus ends the sad chapter of 
Eobert Cavalier de LaSalle's exploration. 

FRENCH OCCUPATION". 

FIKST SETTLEMENTS. 

The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, was com- 
menced by Marquette in April, 16T5. He called the religious 
society which he established the " Mission of the Immaculate Con- 
ception," and the town Kaskaskia. The first military occupation of 
the country was at Fort Crevecoeur, erected in 1680; but there is no 
evidence that a settlement was commenced there, or at Peoria, on 
the lake above, at that early date. The first settlement of which there 
is any authentic account was commenced with the building of Fort 
St. Louis on the Illinois river in 1682; but this was soon abandoned. 
The oldest permanent settlement, not only in Illinois, but in the val- 
ley of the Mississippi, is at Kaskaskia, situated six miles above the 
mouth of the Kaskaskia river. This was settled in 1690 by the 
removal of the mission from old Kaskaskia, or Ft. St. Louis, on the 
Illinois river. Cahokia was settled about the same time. The 
reason for the removal of the old Kaskaskia settlement and mission, 
was probably because the dangerous and difiicult route by Lake 
Michigan and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and 
travelers and traders traveled down and up the Mississippi by the 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers. It was removed to the vicinity of the 
Mississippi in order to be in the line of travel from Canada to 
Louisiana, that is, the lower part of it, for it was all Louisiana then 
south of the lakes. Illinois came into possession of the French in 
1682, and was a dependency of Canada and a part of Louisiana. 
During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 45 

probably never exceeded ten thousand. To the year 1730 the fol- 
lowing five distinct settlements were made in the territory of 
Illinois, numbering, in population, 140 French families, about 600 
"converted " Indians, and many traders; Cahokia, near the mouth 
of Cahokia creek and about five miles below the present city of 
St. Louis; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia; Fort 
Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia; Kaskaskia, situated on the 
Kaskaskia river six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, 
and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. Fort Charti-es was 
built under the direction of the Mississippi Company in 171S, and 
was for a time the headquarters of the military commandants of 
the district of Illinois, and the most impregnable fortress in JSIorth 
America. It was also the center of wealth and fashion in the West. 
For about eighty years the French retained peaceable possession 
of Illinois. Their amiable disposition and tact of ingratiating them- 
selves with the Indians enabled them to escape almost entirely the 
broils which weakened and destroyed other colonies. Whether 
exploring remote rivers or traversing hunting grounds in pursuit 
of game, in the social circle or as participants in the religious exer- 
cises of the church, the red men became their associates and were 
treated with the kindness and consideration of brothers. For more 
than a hundred years peace between the white man and the red was 
unbroken, and when at last this reign of harmony terminated it 
was not caused by the conciliatory Frenchman, but by tlie blunt 
and sturdy Anglo-Saxon. During this century, or until the coun- 
try was occupied by the English, no regular court was ever held. 
When, in 1765, the country passed into the hands of the English, 
many of the French, rather than submit to a change in their insti- 
tutions, preferred to leave their homes and seek a new abode. 
There are, however, at the present time a few remnants of the old 
French stock in the State, who still retain to a great extent the 
ancient habits and customs of their fathers. 

THE MISSISSIPPI COMPANY. 

During the earliest period of French occupation of this country, 
M. Tonti, LaSalle's attendant, was commander-in-chief of all the 
territory embraced between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, and 
extending east and west of the Mississippi as far as his ambition or 
imagination pleased to allow. He spent twenty-one 3^earB in estab- 
lishing forts and organizing the first settlements of Illinois, Sep- 



46 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

tember 14, 1712, the French government granted a monopoly of all 
the trade and commerce of the country to M. Crozat, a wealthy 
merchant of Paris, who established a trading company in Illinois, 
and it was by this means that the early settlements became perma- 
nent and others established. Crozat surrendered his charter in 
1717, and the Company of the West, better known as the Missis- 
sippi Company, was organized, to aid and assist the banking system 
of John Law, the most famous speculator of modern times, and 
perhaps at one time the wealthiest private individual the world 
has ever known; but his treasure was transitory. Under the 
Company of the West a branch was organized called the Company 
of St. Philip's, for the purpose of working the rich silver mines sup- 
posed to be in Illinois, and Philip Renault v/as appointed as its 
agent. In 1719 he sailed from France with two hundred miners, 
laborers and mechanics. During 1719 the Company of the West 
was by royal order united with the Royal Company of the Indies, 
and had the influence and support of the crown, who was deluded 
by the belief that immense wealth would flow into the empty treas- 
ury of France. This gigantic scheme, one of the most extensive 
and wonderful bubbles ever blown up to astonish, deceive and ruin 
thousands of people, was set in operation by the fertile brain of 
John Law. Law was born in Scotland in 1671, and so rapid had 
been his career that at the age of twenty-three he was a " bankrupt, 
an adulterer, a murderer and an exiled outlaw." But he possessed 
great financial ability, and by his agreeable and attractive manners, 
and his enthusiastic advocacy of his schemes, he succeeded in 
inflaming the imagination of the mercurial Frenchmen, whose greed 
for gain led them to adopt any plans for obtaining wealth. 

Law arrived in Paris with two and a half millions of francs, 
which he had gained at the gambling table, just at the right time. 
Louis XIV. had just died and left as a legacy empty coflers and an 
immense public debt. Every thing and everybody was taxed to 
the last penny to pay even the interest. All the sources of in- 
dustry were dried up; the very wind which M^afted the barks of 
commerce seemed to have died away under the pressure of the 
time; trade stood still; the merchant, the trader, the artificer, once 
flourishing in afiluence, were transformed into clamorous beggars. 
The life-blood that animated the kingdom was stagnated in all 
its arteries, and the danger of an awful crisis became such that 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 47 

the nation was on the verge of bankruptcy. At this critical junc- 
ture John Law arrived and proposed his grand scheme of the 
Mississippi Company; 200,000 shares of stock at 500 livres each were 
at first issued. This sokl readily and great profits were realized. 
More stock was issued, speculation became rife, the fever seized 
everybody, and the wildest speculating frenzy pervaded the whole 
nation. Illinois was thought to contain vast and rich mines of 
minerals. Kaskaskia, then scarcely more than the settlement of a 
few savages, was spoken of as an emporium of the most extensive 
traffic, and as rivaling some of the cities of Europe in refinement, 
fashion and religious culture. Law was in the zenith of his glory, and 
the people in the zenith of their infatuation. The high and the low, 
the rich and the poor, were at once filled with visions of untold 
wealth, and every age, set, rank and condition were buying and selling 
stocks. Law issued stock again and again, and readily sold until 
2,235,000,000 livres were in circulation, equaling about $i50,000,000. 
While confidence lasted an impetus was given to trade never before 
known. An illusory policy everywhere prevailed, and so dazzled 
the eye that none could see in the horizon the dark cloud announc- 
ing the approaching storm. Law at the time was the most influ- 
ential man in Europe. His house was beset from morning till 
night with eager applicants for stock. Dukes, marquises and 
counts, with their wives and daughters, waited for hours in the 
street below his door. Finding his residence too small, he changed 
it for the Place Yendome, whither the crowd followed him, and the 
spacious square had the appearance of a public market. The boule- 
vards and public gardens were forsaken, and the Place Vendome 
became the most fashionable place in Paris; and he was unable to 
wait upon even one-tenth part of his applicants. The bubble burst 
after a few years, scattering ruin and distress in every direction. 
Law, a short time previous the most popular man in Europe, fled 
to Brussels, and in 1729 died in Venice, in obscurity and poverty. 

ENGLISH KULE. 

As early as 1750 there could be perceived the first throes of the 
revolution, which gave a new master and new institutions to Illi- 
nois. France claimed the whole valley of the Mississippi, and Eng- 
land the right to extend her possessions westward as far as she 
might desire. Through colonial controversies the two mother 



48 



HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS. 



countries were precipitated into a bloody war within the Nortli« 
western Territory, George Wasliington firing the first gun of tlie 
military struggle which resulted in the overthrow of the French 
not only in Illinois but in North America. The French evinced a 
determination to retain control of the territory bordering the Oliio 
and Mississippi from Canada to the Gulf, and so long as the En- 
glish colonies were confined to the sea-coast there was little reason 
for controversy. As the English, however, became acquaintcjd 
with this beautiful and fertile portion of our country, they not only 
learned the value of the vast territory, but also resolved to set up a 
counter claim to the soil. The French established numerous mili- 
tary and trading posts from the frontiers of Canada to New Or- 
leans, and in order to establish also their claims to jurisdiction over 
the country they carved the lilies of France on the forest trees, or 
sunk plates of metal in the ground. These measures did not, 
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations; 
and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was 
gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm 
should burst upon the frontier settlement. The French based 
their claims upon discoveries, the English on grants of territory 
extending from ocean to ocean, but neither party paid the least 
attention to the prior claims of the Indians. From this posi- 
tion of affairs, it was evident that actual collision between the 
contending parties would not much longer be deferred. The En- 
glish Government, in anticipation of a war, urged the Governor 
of Virginia to lose no time in building two forts, which were 
equipped by arms from England. The French anticipated the 
English and gathered a considerable force to defend their possessions. 
The Governor determined to send a messenger to the nearest, 
French post and demand an explanation. This resolution of the 
Governor brought into the history of our country for the first time 
the man of all others whom America most loves to'Jionor, namely, 
George Washington. He was chosen, although not yet twenty-one 
years of age, as the one to perform this delicate and difficult mission. 
With five companions he set out on Nov. 10, 1753, and after a per- 
ilous journey returned Jan. 6, 1754. The struggle commenced and 
continued long, and was bloody and fierce; but on the lOth of Octo- 
ber, 1765, the ensign of France was replaced on the ramparts of 
Fort Chartres by the flag of Great Britain. This fort M^as the 




GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 51 

depot of supplies and the place of rendezvous for the united forces 
of the French. At this time the colonies of the Atlantic seaboard 
were assembled in preliminary congress at New York, dreaming of 
liberty and independence for the continent; and "Washington, who 
led the expedition against the French for the English king, in less 
than ten years was commanding the forces opposed to the English 
tyrant. Illinois, besides being constructively a part of Florida for 
over one hundred years, during which time no Spaniard set foot 
upon her soil or rested his eyes upon her beautiful plains, for nearly 
ninety years had been in the actual occupation of the French, their 
puny settlements slumbering quietly in colonial dependence on the 
distant waters of the Kaskaskia, Illinois and Wabash. 

GEN. CLAEk's exploits. 

The Northwest Territory was now entirely under English rule, 
and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war the British held 
every post of importance in the West. While the colonists of the 
East were maintaining a fierce struggle with the armies of England, 
their western frontiers were ravaged by merciless butcheries of In- 
dian warfare. The jealousy of the savage was aroused to action by 
the rapid extension of American settlement westward and the im- 
proper influence exerted by a number of military posts garrisoned by 
British troops. To prevent indiscriminate slaughters arising froin 
these causes, Illinois became the theater of some of the most daring 
exploits connected with American history. The hero of the achieve- 
ments by which this beautiful land was snatched as a gem from 
the British Crown, was George Rogers Clark, of Yirginia. He had 
closely watched the movements of the British throughout the 
Northwest, and understood their whole plan; he also knew the 
Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and 
therefore was convinced that if the British could be defeated and 
expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into 
neutrality. Having convinced himself that the enterprise against 
the Illinois settlement might easily succeed, he repaired to the cap- 
ital of Virginia, arriving Nov. 5, 1777. While he was on his way, 
fortunately, Burgoyne was defeated (Oct. 17), and the spirits of the 
colonists were thereby greatly encouraged. Patrick Henry was 
Governor of Yirginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's 
plans. After satisfying the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of 
his project, he received two sets of instructions, — one secret, the 



52 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

other open. The latter authorized him to enlist seven companies 
to go to Kentucky, and serve three months after their arrival in 
the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, 
to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburg, and 
to proceed at once to subjugate the country. 

HE TAKES KASE:ASKIA. 

"With these instructions Col. Clark repaired to Pittsburg, choos- 
ing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew 
all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. 
W. B. Smith to Holstein and Captains Helm and Bowman to 
other localities to enlist men ; but none of them succeeded in rais- 
ing the required number. The settlers in these parts were afraid 
to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few 
could be induced to join the expedition. With these companies 
and several private volunteers Clark commenced his descent of the 
Ohio, which he navigated as far as the falls, where he took posses- 
sion of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present 
cities of Louisville, Ky., and New Albany, Ind. Here, after having 
completed his arrangements and announced to the men their real 
destination, he left a small garrison; and on the 24th of June, dur- 
ing a total eclipse of the sun, which to tliem augured no good, they 
floated down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort 
Massac, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to 
surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to 
Yincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to 
march directly to the Mississippi river and cross it into the Spanish 
country. Before his start he received good items of information: 
one that an alliance had been formed between France and the United 
States, and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois 
country and the inhabitants at the various frontier posts had been led 
by the British to believe that the " Long Knives," or Yirginians, 
were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped 
a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that 
proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, 
if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly, if 
treated with unexpected lenity. The march to Kaskaskia was 
made through a hot July sun, they arriving on the evening of the 
4th of July, 1778. They captured the fort near the village and 
soon after the village itself, by surprise, and without the loss of 



HI8T0EY OF ILLINOIS. 53 

a single man and without killing any of the enemy. After suffi- 
ciently working on the fears of the natives, Clark told therfi they 
were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take 
whichever side of the great conflict they would; also he would pro- 
tect them against any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This 
had the desired effect; and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so 
gratefully surprised by the unlooked-for turn of affairs, at once 
swore allegiance to the American arms; and when Clark desired 
to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and 
through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered 
and gladly placed themselves under his protection. 

In the person of M. Gibault, priest of Kaskaskia, Clark found a 
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain pos- 
session of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians, he 
must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Vin- 
cent, the post next in importance to Detroit, remained yet to be 
taken before the Mississippi valley was conquered. M. Gibault 
told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Yincennes to 
throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted this 
offer, and July 14th, in company with a fellow-townsman, Gibault 
started on his mission of peace. On the 1st of August he returned 
with the cheerful intelligence that everything was peaceably ad- 
justed at A'incennes in favor of the Americans. During the inter- 
val, Col. Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia 
and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, and sent word to 
have a fort (which proved the germ of Louisville) erected at the 
falls of the Ohio. 

While the American commander was thus negotiating with the 
Indians, Hamilton, the British Governor of Detroit, heard of Clark's 
invasion, and was greatly incensed because the country which he 
had in charge should be wrested from him by a few ragged militia. 
He therefore hurriedly collected a force, marched by way of the 
Wabash, and appeared before the fort at Vincennes. The inhabi- 
tants made an effort to defend the town, and when Hamilton's 
forces arrived. Captain Helm and a man named Henry were the 
only Americans in the fort. These men had been sent by Clark. 
The latter charged a cannon and placed it in the open gateway, and 
the Captain stood by it with a lighted match and cried out, as Ham- 
ilton came in hailing distance, "Halt!" The British officer, not 



54 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

knowing the strengtli of the garrison, stopped, and demanded the 
surrender of the fort. Helm exclaimed, " No man shall enter here 
till I know the terms." Hamilton responded, " You shall have the 
honors of war." The entire garrison consisted of one officer and one 
private. 

VINCENNES CAPTURED. 

On taking Kaskaskia, Clark made a prisoner of Rocheblave, 
commander of the place, and got possession of all his written 
instructions for the conduct of the war. From these papers he 
received important information respecting the plans of Col. Ham- 
ilton, Governor at Detroit, who was intending to make a vigorous 
and concerted attack upon the frontier. After arriving at Yiu- 
cennes, however, he gave up his intended campaign for the winter, 
and trusting to his distance from danger and to the difficulty of 
approaching him, sent off his Indian warriors to prevent troops from 
coming down the Ohio, and to annoy the Americans in all ways. Thus 
he sat quietly down to pass the winter with only about eighty soldiers, 
but secure, as he thought, from molestation. But he evidently did 
not realize the character of the men with whom he was contending. 
Clark, although he could muster only one hundred and thirty men, 
determined to take advantage of Hamilton's weakness and security, 
and attack him as the only means of saving himself; for unless he 
captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Accordingly, 
about the beginning of February, 1779, he dispatched a small galley 
which he had fitted out, mounted with two four-pounders and four 
swivels and manned with a company of soldiers, and carrying stores 
for his men, with orders to force her way up the "Wabash, to take 
her station a few miles below Yincennes, and to allow no person to 
pass her. He himself marched with his little band, and spent six- 
teen days in traversing the country from Kaskaskia to Yincennes^ 
passing with incredible fatigue through woods and marshes. He 
was fiv^e days in crossing the bottom lands of the AYabash; and for 
five miles was frequently up to the breast in water. After over- 
coming difficulties which had been thought insurmountable, he 
appeared before the place and completely surprised it. The inhab- 
itants readily submitted, but Hamilton at first defended himself in 
the fort. Next day, however, he surrendered himself and his gar- 
rison prisoners-of-war. By his activity in encouraging the hostili- 
ties of the Indians and by the revolting enormities perpetrated by 



HIBTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 55 

those savages, Hamilton had rendered himself so obnoxious that he 
was thrown in prison and put in irons. Daring his command of 
the British frontier posts he oflered prizes to the Indians for all the 
scalps of the Americans they would bring him, and earned in con- 
sequence thereof the title, "Hair-Bujer General," by which he was 
ever afterward known. 

The services of Clark proved of essential advantage to his coun- 
trymen. They disconcerted the plans of Hamilton, and not only saved 
the western frontier from depredations by the savages, but also 
greatly cooled the ardor of the Indians for carrying on a contest in 
which they were not likely to be the gainers. Had it not been for 
this small army, a union of all the tribes from Maine to Georgia 
against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current 
of our history changed. 

ILLmOIS. 

COUNTY OF ILLINOIS. 

In October, 1778, after the successful campaign of Col. Clark, the 
assembly of Virginia erected the conquered country, embracing all 
the territory northwest of the Ohio river, into the County of Illi- 
nois, which was doubtless the largest county in the world, exceeding 
in its dimensions the whole of Great Britian and Ireland, To speak 
more definitely, it contained the territory now embraced in the great 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. On the 
12th of December, 1778, John Todd was appointed Lieutenant- 
Commandant of this county by Patrick Henry, then Governor of 
Virginia, and accordingly, also, the first of Illinois County. 

NORTHWESTEKN TEKRITORY. 

Illinois continued to form a part of Virginia until March 1, 1784, 
when that State ceded all the territory north of the Ohio to the 
United States, Immediately the general Government proceeded to 
establish a form of government for the settlers in the territories 
thus ceded. This form continued until the passage of the ordi- 
nance of 1787, for the government of the Northwestern Terri- 
tory. No man can study the secret history of this ordinance and 
not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye the des- 



56 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

tinies of these unborn States. American legislation has never 
achieved anything more admirable, as an internal government, 
than this comprehensive ordinance. Its provisions concerning the 
distribution of property, the principles of civil and religious liberty 
which it laid at the foundation of the communities since established, 
and the efficient and simple organization by which it created the 
first machinery of civil society, are worthy of all the praise that has 
ever been given them. ^ 

ORDINANCE OF 1787. 

This ordinance has a marvelous and interesting history. Con- 
siderable controversy has been indulged in as to who is entitled to 
the credit for framing it. This belongs, undoubtedly, to Kathan 
Dane; and to Rufus King and Timothy Pickering belong the 
credit for suggesting the proviso contained in it against slavery, 
and also for aids to religion and knowledge, and for assuring for- 
ever the common use, without charge, of the great national high- 
ways of the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and their tributaries to 
alfthe citizens of the United States. To Thomas Jefferson is also 
due much credit, as some features of this ordinance were embraced 
in his ordinance of 1784. But the part taken by each in the long, 
laborious and eventful struggle which had so glorious a consum- 
mation in the ordinance, consecrating forever, by one imprescript- 
ible and unchangeable monument, the very heart of our country to 
Freedom, Knowledge, and Union, will forever honor the names of 
those illustrious statesmen. 

Mr. Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government 
for the Northwestern Territory. He was an emancipationist and 
favored the exclusion of slavery from the territory, but the South 
voted him down every time he proposed a measure of this nature. 
In 1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the anti- 
slavery clause was pending. This concession to the South was 
expected to carry it. Congress was in session in New York. On 
July 6, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts, came into New 
York to lobby on the Northwestern Territory. Everything 
seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. The state of the 
public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, the basis of his 
.mission, his personal character, all combined to complete one of 
those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 57 

once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like 
the breath of the Ahnighty. 

Cutler vras a graduate of Yale. He had studied and taken de- 
grees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. 
He had published a scientific examination of the plants of New 
England. As a scientist in America his name stood second only to 
that of Franklin Ke was a courtly gentleman of the old style, 
a man of commanding presence and of inviting face. The Southern 
members said they had never seen such a gentleman in the North. 
He came representing a Massachusetts company that desired to 
purchase a tract of land, now included in Ohio, for the purpose of 
planting a colony. It was a speculation. Government money was 
worth eighteen cents on the dollar. This company had collected 
enough to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in 
New York made Dr. Cutler their agent, which enabled him to 
represent a demand for 5,500,000 acres. As this would reduce the 
national debt, ai:d Jefferson's policy was to provide for the public 
credit, it presented a good opportunity to do something. 

Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was 
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the North- 
western region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught 
the inspiration, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The entire South ral- 
lied around him. Massachusetts could not vote against him, be- 
cause many of the constituents of her members were interested 
personally in the Western speculation. Thus Cutler, making 
friends in the South, and doubtless using all the arts of the lobby, 
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convic- 
tions, he dictated one of the most compact and finished documents 
of wise statesmanship that has ever adorned any human law book. 
He borrowed from Jefferson the term "Articles of Compact," which 
preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most sacred char- 
acter. He then followed very closely the constitution of Massa- 
chusetts, adopted three years before. Its most prominent points 
were: 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a semi- 
nary and every section numbered 16 in each township; tliat is, one 
thirty-sixth of all the land for public schools. 

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or 



58 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

the enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 
Beit forever remembered that this compact declared that "re- 
ligion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good govern- 
ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu- 
cation shall always be encouraged." Dr. Cutler planted himself 
on this platform and would not yield. Giving his unqualified dec- 
laration that it was that or nothing, — that unless they could make 
the land desirable they did not want it, — he took his horse and buggy 
and started for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia. On 
July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unani- 
mously adopted. Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Michigan, and Wisconsin, a vast empire, were consecrated to free- 
dom, intelligence, and morality. Thus the great heart of the nation 
was prepared to save the union of States, for it was this act that was 
the salvation of the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon 
the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact 
repealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which 
John Kandolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact and opposed repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the 
way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. 

SYMPATHY WITH SLAVERY. 

With all this timely aid it was, however, a most desperate and 
protracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. 
It was the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the 
southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. It ex- 
isted among the old French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. 
That portion was also settled from the slave States, and this popu- 
lation brought their laws, customs, and institutions with them, A 
stream of population from the North poured into the northern part 
of the State. These sections misunderstood and hated each other 
perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skinning, 
tricky, penurious race of peddlers, tilling the country with tinware, 
brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The Northerner thought of the 
Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing in a hut, and 
rioting in whisky, dirt, and ignorance. These causes aided in 
making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy 
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of 
the deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French set- 
tlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 59 

bring their slaves if they would give them an opportunity to choose 
freedom or years of service and bondage for their cliildren till they 
should become thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they 
must leave the State within sixty days, or be sold as fugitives. 
Servants were whipped for offenses for which white men were fined. 
Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from 
home without a pass was whipped. Tliese famous laws were im- 
ported from the slave States, just as the laws for the inspection of 
flax and wool were imported when there was neither in the State. 

ST. CLAIR, GOVERNOR OF NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. 

On October 5, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was, by Congress, 
elected Governor of this vast territory. St. Clair was born in Scot- 
land and emigrated to America in 1756. He served in the French 
and English war, and was major general in the Revolution. In 
1786 he was elected to Congress and chosen President of that body. 

ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 

After the division of the Northwestern Territory Illinois became 
one of the counties of the Territory of Indiana, from which it was 
separated by an act of Congress Feb. 3, 1S09, forming the Territory 
of Illinois, with a population estimated at 9,000, and then included 
the present State of Wisconsin, It was divided, at the time, into 
two counties, — St. Clair and Randolph. John Boyle, of Ken- 
tucky, was appointed Governor, by the President, James Madison, 
but declining, Ninian Edwards, of the same State, was then 
appointed and served with distinction; and after the organization 
of Illinois as a State he served in the same capacity, being its third 
Governor. 

WAR OF 1812. THE OUTBREAK. 

For some years previous to the war between the United States 
and England in 1812, considerable trouble was experienced with the 
Indians. Marauding bands of savages would attack small settle- 
ments and inhumanly butcher all the inhabitants, and mutilate 
their dead bodies. To protect themselves, the settlers organized 
companies of rangers, and erected block houses and stockades in 
every settlement. The largest, strongest and best one of these was 
Fort Russell, near the present village of Edwardsville. This stockade 



60 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

wa8 made the main rendezvous for troops and military stores, and 
Gov. Edwards, who during the perilous times of 1812, when Indian 
hostilities threatened on every hand, assumed command of the Illi- 
nois forces, established his headquarters at this place. The Indians 
were incited to many of these depredations by English emissaries, 
who for years continued their dastardly work of " setting the red 
men, like dogs, upon the whites." 

In the summer of 1811 a peace convention was held with the 
Pottawatomies at Peoria, when they promised that peace should 
prevail; but their promises were soon broken. Tecumseh, the great 
warrior, and fit successor of Pontiac, started in the spring of 1811, 
to arouse the Southern Indians to war against the whites. The pur- 
pose of this chieftain was well known to Gov. Harrison, of Indiana 
Territory, who determined during Tecumseh's absence to strike and 
disperse the hostile forces collected at Tippecanoe. This he success- 
fully did on Nov. 7, winning the sobriquet of " Tippecanoe," by 
which he was afterwards commonly known. Several peace councils 
were held, at which the Indians promised good behavior, but only 
to deceive the whites. Almost all the savages of the Northwest 
were thoroughly stirred up and did not desire peace. The British 
agents at various points, in anticipation of a war with the United 
States, sought to enlist the lavor of the savages by distributing to 
them large supplies of arms, ammunition and other goods. 

The English continued their insults to our flag upon the high 
seas, and their government refusing to relinquish its offensive course, 
all hopes of peace and safe commercial relations were abandoned, 
and Congress, on the 19th of June, 1812, formally declared war 
against Great Britain. In Illinois the threatened Indian troubles 
had already caused a more thorough organization of the militia and 
greater protection by the erection of forts. As intimated, the In- 
dians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities 
between the two civilized nations, committing great depredations, 
the most atrocious of wliich was the 

MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN. 

During the war of 1812 between the United States and England, 
the greatest, as well as the most revolting, massacre of whites that 
ever occurred in Illinois, was perpetrated by the Pottawatomie In- 
dians, at Fort Dearborn. This fort was built by the Government, 
in 1804, on the south side of the Chicago river, and was garrisoned 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



61 



by 54 men under command of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by 
Lieutenant Helm and Ensign Ronan; Dr. Yoorliees, surgeon. The 
residents at the post at that time were the wives of oihcers Heald 
and Helm and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and 
a few Canadians. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most 
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, the prin- 
cipal tribes around them. 

On the Yth of August, 1812, arrived the order from Gen. Hull, at 
Detroit, to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and distribute all United States 
property to the Indians. Chicago was so deep in the wilderness 




OLD FORT DEARBORN. 

that this was the first intimation the garrison received of the dec- 
laration of war made on the 19th of June. The Indian chief who 
brought the dispatch advised Capt. Heald not to evacuate, and 
that if he should decide to do so, it be done immediately, and by 
forced marches elude the concentration of the savages before the 
news could be circulated among them. To this most excellent ad- 
vice the Captain gave no heed, but on the 12th held a council with 



62 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

the Indians, apprising them of the orders received, and offering a 
liberal reward for an escort of Pottawatomies to Fort Wayne. The 
Indians, with many professions of friendship, assented to all he 
proposed, and promised all he required. The remaining officers re- 
fused to join in the council, for thej had been informed that treach- 
ery was designed, — that the Indians intended to murder those in 
the council, and then destroy those in the fort. The port holes were 
open, displaying cannons pointing directly upon the council. This 
action, it is supposed, prevented a massacre at that time. 

Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Capt. Heald 
not to confide in their promises, or distribute the arms and ammu- 
nitions among them, for it would only put power in their hands to 
destroy the whites. This argument, true and excellent in itself, 
was now certainly inopportune, and would only incense the treach- 
erous foe. But the Captain resolved to follow it, and accordingly on 
the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other property, the 
arms were broken, and the barrels of whisky, of which there was a 
large quantity, were rolled quietly through the sally-port, their 
heads knocked in and their contents emptied into the river. On that 
night the lurking red-skins crept near the fort and discovered the 
destruction of the promised booty going on within. The next morn- 
ing the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river, and 
the Indians asserted that such an abundance of " fire-water" had 
been emptied into the river as to make it taste " groggy." Many 
of them drank of it freely. 

On the 14:th the desponding garrison was somewhat cheered by 
the arrival of Capt. Wells, with 15 friendly Miamis. Capt. Wells 
heard at Fort Wayne of the order to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and 
knowing the hostile intentions oi the Indians, made a rapid march 
through the wilderness to protect, if possible, his niece, Mrs. Heald, 
and the officers and the garrison from certain destruction. But 
he came too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed 
the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the fort 
on the following morning. 

The fatal morning of the 16th at length dawned brightly on the 
world. The sun shone in unclouded splendor upon the glassy waters 
of Lake Michigan. At 9 a. m., the party moved out of the south- 
ern gate of the fort, in military array. The band, feeling the solem- 
nity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Capt. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 63 

Wells, with his face blackened after the manner of the Indians, led 
the advance guard at the head of his friendly Mianiis, the garrison 
with loaded arms, the baggage wagons with the sick, and the women 
and children following, while the Pottawatomie Indians, about 500 
in number, who had pledged their honor to escort the whites in 
eafety to Fort Wayne, brought up the rear. The party took the 
road along the lake shore. On reaching the range of sand-hills 
separating the beach from the prairie, about one mile and a half- 
from the fort, the Indians defiled to the right into the praii'ie, bring 
ing the sand-hills between them and the whites. This divergence 
was scarcely effected when Capt. Wells, who had kept in advance 
with his Indians, rode furiously back and exclaimed, " They are 
about to attack us. Form instantly and charge upon them!" 
These words were scarcely uttered before a volley of balls from 
Indian muskets was poured in upon them. The troops were hastily 
formed into line, and charged up the bank. One veteran of 70 fell 
as they ascended. The Indians were driven back to the prairie, and 
then the battle was waged by 54 soldiers, 12 civilians, and three or 
four women — the cowardly Miarais having fled at the outset — 
against 500 Indian warriors. The whites behaved gallantly, and 
sold their lives dearly. They fought desperately until two-thirds 
of their number were slain; the remaining 27 surrendered. And 
now the most sickening and heart-rending butchery of this calam- 
itous day was committed by a young savage, who assailed one of 
the baggage wagons containing 12 children, every one of which fell 
beneath his murderous tomahawk. When Capt. Wells, who with 
the others had become prisoner, beheld this scene at a distance, he 
exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard by the savages, " If 
this be your game, I can kill too;" and turning his horse, started 
for the place where the Indians had left their squaws and children. 
The Indians hotly pursued, but he avoided their deadly bullets for 
a time. Soon his horse was killed and he severely wounded. With 
a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and re- 
serve him for torture. But an enraged warrior stabbed him in the 
back, and he fell dead. His heart was afterwards taken out, cut in 
pieces and distributed among the tribes. Billy Caldwell, a half- 
breed Wyandot, well-known in Chicago long afterward, buried his 
remains the next day. Wells street in Chicago, perpetuates his 
memory. 



64: HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. A wife 
of one of the soldiers, who had frequently heard that the Indians 
subjected their prisoners to tortures worse than death, resolved not 
to be taken alive, and continued fighting until she was literally cut 
to pieces. Mrs. Heald was an excellent equestrian, and an expert 
in the use of the rifle. She fought bravely, receiving several wounds. 
Though faint from loss of blood, she managed to keep in her saddle. 
A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full 
in the face, and with a sweet smile and gentle voice said, in his 
own language, " Surely you will not kill a squaw." The arm of 
of the savage fell, and the life of this heroic woman was saved. 
Mrs. Helm had an encounter with a stalwart Indian, who attempted 
to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing 
blow on her shoulder, and at the same time she seized the savage 
round the neck and endeavored to get his scalping-knife which 
hung in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling, she 
was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian. The 
latter bore her, struggling and resisting, to the lake and plunged 
her in. She soon perceived it was not his intention to drown her, 
because he held her in such a position as to keep her head out of 
the water. She recognized him to be a celebrated chief called 
Black Partridge. When the tiring ceased she was conducted up 
the sand-bank. 

SLAUGHTER OF PRISONERS. 

The prisoners were taken back to the Indian camp, when a new 
scene of horror was enacted. The wounded not being included in 
the terms of the surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians, 
and the British general, Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for 
American scalps, nearly all the wounded were killed and scalped, 
and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British 
general. In the stipulation of surrender, Capt. Heald had not 
particularly mentioned the wounded. These helpless sufferers, on 
reaching the Indian camp, were therefore regarded by the brutal 
savages as fit subjects upon which to display their cruelty and satisfy 
their desire for blood. Referring to the terrible butchery of the 
prisoners, in an account given by Mrs. Helm, she says: "An old 
squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends or excited by the sanguin- 
ary scenes around her, seemed possessed of demoniac fury. She 
seized a stable-fork and assaulted one miserable victim, who lay 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



65 



groaning and writhing in the agonies of his wounds, aggravated by 
the scorching beams of the sun. With a delicacy of feeling, scarcely 
to have been expected under such circumstances, Wan-bee-nee-wan 
stretched a mat across two poles, between me and this dreadful scene. 
I was thus spared, in some degree, a view of its horrors, although I 
could not entirely close my ears to the cries of the sufferer. The 
following night live more of the wounded prisoners were toma- 
hawked." 

KINZIE FAMILY SAVED. 

That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs was held to 
decide the fate of the prisoners, and it was agreed to deliver them 




OLD KINZIE HOUSE. 



to the British commander at Detroit. After dark, many warriors 
from a distance came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and 
were determined to murder the prisoners regardless of the terms of 
surrender. Black Partridge, with a few of his friends, surrounded 
Kinzie's house to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of the 
bloodthirsty savages. Soon a band of hostile warriors rushed by 
them into the house, and stood with tomahawks and scalping-knives, 
awaiting tlie signal from their chief to commence the work of death. 



QQ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kiiizie: "We are doing everything 
in our power to save yon, but all is now lost; you and your friends, 
together with all the prisoners of the camp, will now be slain." At 
that moment a canoe was heard approaching the shore, when Black 
Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the darkness to make out 
the new comers, and at the same time shouted, "Who are you?" 
In the bow of the approaching canoe stood a tall, manly personage, 
with a rifle in his hand. He jumped ashore exclaiming, " I am 
Sau-ga-nash." "Then make all speed to the house; our friends are 
in danger, and you only can save them." It was Billy Caldwell, 
the half-breed Wyandot. He hurried forward, entered the house 
with a resolute step, deliberately removed his accouterments, placed 
his rifle behind the door, and saluted the Indians: " How now, my 
friends! a good day to you. I was told there were enemies here, 
but am glad to find only friends." Diverted by the coolness of his 
manner, they were ashamed to avow their murderous purpose, and 
simply asked for some cotton goods to wrap their dead, for burial. 
And thus, by his presence of mind, Caldwell averted the murder of 
the Kinzie family and the prisoners. The latter, with their wives 
and children, were dispersed among the Pottawatomie tribes along 
the Illinois, Rock and Wabash rivers, and some to Milwaukee. 
The most of them were ransomed at Detroit the following spring. 
A part of them, however, remained in captivity another year. 

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

By the middle of August, through the disgraceful surrender of 
Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and the evacuation of Fort Dearborn and 
iliassacre of its garrison, the British and Indians were in possession of 
the whole Northwest. The savages, emboldened by their successes, 
penetrated deeper into the settlements, committing great depre- 
dations. The activity and success of the enemy aroused the people 
to a realization of the great danger their homes and families were 
in. Gov. Edwards collected a force of 350 men at Camp Russell, 
and Capt. Russell came from Yincennes w4th about 50 more. Being 
officered and equipped, they proceeded about the middle of October 
on horseback, carrying with them 20 days' rations, to Peoria. Capt. 
Craig was sent with two boats up the Illinois, with provisions 
and tools to build a fort. The little army proceeded to Peoria 
Lake, where was located a Pottawatomie village. They arrived late 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 67 

at night, within a few miles of the village, without their presence 
being known to the Indians. Four men were sent out that night 
to reconnoiter the position of the village. The four brave men who 
volunteered for this perilous service were Thomas Carlin (after- 
ward Governor), and Robert, Stephen and Davis Whiteside. They 
proceeded to the village, and explored it and the approaches to it 
thoroughly, without starting an Indian or provoking the bark of a 
dog. The low lands between the Indian village and the troops were 
covered with a rank growth of tall grass, so highland dense as to 
readily conceal an Indian on horseback, until within a few feet of 
him. The ground had become still more yielding by recent rains, 
rendering it almost impassable by mounted men. To prevent de- 
tection, the soldiers had camped without lighting the usual camp- 
fires. The men lay down in their cold and cheerless camp, with 
many misgivings. They well remembered how the skulking sav- 
ages fell upon Harrison's men at Tippecanoe during the night. To 
add to their fears, a gun in the hands of a soldier was carelessly 
discharged, raising great consternation in the camp. 

AN INDI^m KILLED. 

Through a dense fog which prevailed the following morning, the 
army took up its line of march for tlie Indian town, Capt. Judy 
with his corps of spies in advance. In the tall grass they came up 
with an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The Indian wanted 
to surrender, but Judy observed that he "did not leave home to take 
prisoners," and instantly shot one of them. With the blood 
streaming from his mouth and nose, and in his agony " singing the 
death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally 
wounded a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired. Many guns 
were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known 
to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her hus- 
band killed by her side, tlie agonizing wails of the squaw were 
heart-rending. She was taken prisoner, and afterwards restored 
to her nation. 

TOWN BURNED. 

On nearing the town a general charge was made, the Indians 
fleeing to the interior wilderness. Some of their warriors made a 
stand, when a sharp engagement occurred, but the Indians were 
routed. In their flight they left behind all their winter's store of 



68 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

provisions, which was taken, and their town burned. Some Indian 
children were found who had been left in 1 he hurried flight, also 
some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition and 
with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is 
said to have been killed bj a cowardly trooper straggling behind, 
after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted 
to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian. 

About the time Gov. Edwards started with his little band against 
the Indians, Gen. Hopkins, with 2,000 Kentucky riflemen, left 
Vincennes to cross the prairies of Illinois and destroy the Indian 
villages along the Illinois river. Edwards, with his rangers, ex- 
pected to act in concert with Gen. Hopkins' riflemen. After 
marching 80 or 90 miles into the enemy's country, Gen. Hopkins' 
men became dissatisfied, and on Oct. 20 the entire army turned 
and retreated homeward before even a foe had been met. After the 
victory of the Illinois rangers they heard nothing of Gen. Hopkins 
and his 2,000 mounted Kentucky riflemen ; and apprehensive that a 
large force of warriors would be speedily collected, it was -deemed 
prudent not to protract their stay, and accordingly the retrograde 
march was commenced the very day of the attack. 

PEORIA BURNED. 

The force of Capt. Craig, in charge of the provision boats, was 
not idle during this time. They proceeded to Peoria, where they 
were fired on by ten Indians during the night, who immediately 
fled. Capt. Craig discovered, at daylight, their tracks leading up 
into the French town. He inquired of the French their where- 
abouts, who denied all knowledge of them, and said they " had 
heard or seen nothing; " but he took the entire number prisoners, 
burned and destroyed Peoria, and bore the captured inhabitants 
away on his boats to a point below the present city of Alton, where 
he landed and left them in the woods, — men, women, and children, — 
in the inclement month of November, without shelter, and without 
food other than the slender stores they had themselves gathered up 
before their departure. They found their way to St. Louis in an 
almost starving condition. The burning of Peoria and taking its 
inhabitants prisoners, on the mere suspicion that they sympathized 
with the Indians, was generally regarded as a needless, if not 
wanton, act of military power. 




PONTIAC. THE OTTAWA CHIEF. 



HISTOET OF ILLINOIS. Tl 

SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS. 

In the early part of 1813, the country was put in as good defense 
as the sparse popuhition admitted. In spite of the precaution taken, 
numerous depredations and murders were committed by the In- 
dians, which again aroused the whites, and another expedition was 
sent against the foe, who had collected in large numbers in and 
around Peoria. This army was composed of about 900 men, collect- 
ed from both Illinois and Missouri, and under command of Gen. 
Howard. They marched across the broad prairies of Illinois to 
Peoria, where there was a small stockade in charge of United States 
troops. Two days previously the Indians made an attack on the 
fort, but were repulsed. Being in the enemy's country, knowing 
their stealthy habits, and the troops at no time observing a high de- 
gree of discipline, many unnecessary night alarms occurred, yet the 
enemy were far away. The army marched up the lake to Chili- 
cothe, burning on its way two deserted villages. At the present 
site of Peoria the troops remained in camp several weeks. While 
there they built a fort, which they named in honor of Gen, George 
Rogers Clark, who with his brave Virginians wrested Illinois from 
the English during the Revolutionary struggle. This fort was de- 
stroyed by fire in 1818. It gave a name to Peoria which it wore for 
several years. After the building of Fort Crevecoeur, in 1680, Peo- 
ria lake was very familiar to Western travel and history; but there 
is no authentic account of a permanent European settlement there 
until 1778, when Laville de Meiliet, named after its founder, was 
started. Owing to the quality of the water and its greater salu- 
brity, the location was changed to the present site of Peoria, and by 
1796 the old had been entirely abandoned for the new village. 
After its destruction in 1812 it was not settled again until 1819, 
and then by American pioneers, though in 1813 Fort Clark was 
built there. 

EXPEDITION UP THE MISSISSIPPI. 

The second campaign against the Indians at Peoria closed with- 
out an engagement, or even a sight of the enemy, yet great was the 
benefit derived from it. It showed to the Indians the power and 
resources of his white foe. Still the calendar of the horrible deeds 
of butchery of the following year is long and bloody. A joint ex- 
pedition again moved against the Indians in 1814, under Gov. 



72 HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS. 

Clark of Missouri. This time they went up the Mississippi in 
barges, Prairie du Ohien being the point of destination. There tliey 
found a small garrison of British troops, which, however, soon fled, 
as did the inhabitants, leaving Clark in full possession. He im- 
mediately set to work and erected Fort Shelby. The Governor 
returned to St. Louis, leaving his men in peaceable possession of 
the place, but a large force of British and Indians came down upon 
them, and the entire garrison surrendered. In tlie mean time Gen. 
Howard sent 108 men to strengthen the garrison. Of this number 
Q6 were Illinois rangers, under Capts. Rector and Itiggs, who oc- 
cupied two boats. The remainder were with Lieut. Campbell. 

A DESPERATE FIGHT. 

At Rock Island Campbell was warned to turn back, as an attack 
was contemplated. The other boats passed on up the river and 
were some two miles ahead when Campbell's barge was struck by a 
strong gale which forced it against a small island near the Illinois 
shore. Thinking it best to lie to till the wind abated, sentinels 
were stationed while the men went ashore to cook breakfast. At 
this time a large number of Indians on the main shore under 
Black Hawk commenced an attack. The savages in canoes passed 
rapidly to the island, and with a war-whoop rushed upon the men, 
who retreated and sought refuge in the barge. A battle of brisk 
musketry now ensued between the few regulars aboard the stranded 
barge and the hordes of Indians under cover of trees on the island, 
with severe loss to the former. Meanwhile Capt. Rector and Riggs, 
ahead with their barges, seeing the smoke of battle, attempted to 
return ; but in the strong gale Riggs' boat became unmanageable 
and was stranded on the rapids. Rector, to avoid a similar disaster, 
let go his anchor. The rangers, however, opened with good aim 
and telling effect upon the savages. The unequal combat having 
raged for some time and about closing, the commander's barge, 
with many wounded and several dead on board, — anions: the former 
of whom, very badly, was Campbell himself, — was discovered to be 
on fire. Now Rector and his brave Illinois rangers, comprehending 
the horrid situation, performed, without delay, as cool and heroic a 
deed — and did it well — as ever imperiled the life of mortal man. 
In the howling gale, in full view of hundreds of infuriated savages, 
and within range of their rifles, they deliberately raised anchor. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 7B 

liglitened their barge by casting overboard quantities of provisions, 
and guided it with the utmost labor down the swift current, to the 
windward of the burning barge, and under the galling fire of the 
enemy rescued all the survivors, and removed the wounded and 
dying to their vessel. This was a deed of noble daring and as 
heroic as any performed during the war in the "West. Rector hur- 
ried with his over-crowded vessel to St. Louis. 

It was now feared that Riggs and his company were captured 
and sacrificed by the savages. His vessel, which was strong and well 
armed, was for a time surrounded by the Indians, but the whites 
on the inside were well sheltered. The wind becoming allayed in 
the evening, the boat, under cover of the night, glided safely down 
the river without the loss of a single man. 

STILL ANOTHER EXPEDITION. 

Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of the two expedi- 
tions already sent out, during the year 1814, still another was pro- 
jected. It was under Maj. Zachary Taylor, afterward President. 
Rector and Whiteside, with the Illinoisan, were in command of 
boats. The expedition passed Rock Island unmolested, when it 
was learned the country was not only swarming with Indians, but 
that the English were there in command with a detachment of regu- 
lars and artillery. The advanced boats in command of Rector, White- 
side and Hempstead, turned about and began to descend the rapids, 
fighting with great gallantry the hordes of the enemy, who were 
pouring their fire into them from the shore at every step. 

]N"ear the mouth of Rock river Maj. Taylor anchored his fleet out 
in the Mississippi. During the night the English planted a battery 
of six pieces down at the water's edge, to sink or disable the boats, 
and filled the islands wnth red-skins to butcher the whites, who 
might, unarmed, seek refuge there. But in this scheme they were 
frustrated. In the morning Taylor ordered all the force, except 20 
boatmen on each vessel, to the upper island to dislodge the enemy. 
The order was executed with great gallantry, the island scoured, 
many of the savages killed, and the rest driven to the lower island. 
In the meantime the British cannon told with effect upon the fleet. 
The men rushed back and the boats were dropped down the stream 
out of range of the cannon. Capt. Rector was now ordered with 
his company to make a sortie on the lower island, which he did, 



74 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

driving the Indians back among the willows ; but they being re-in- 
forced, in turn hurled Rector back upon the sand-beach. 

A council of officers called by Taylor had by this time decided 
that their force was too small to contend with the enemy, who 
outnumbered them tliree to one, and the boats were in full retreat 
down the river. As Rector attempted to get under way his boat 
grounded, and the savages, with demoniac yells, surrounded it, 
when a most desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The gallant 
ranger, Samuel Whiteside, observing the imminent peril of his 
brave Illinois comrade, went immediately to his rescue, who but for 
his timely aid would undoubtedly have been overpowered, with all* 
his force, and murdered. 

Thus ended the last, like the two previous expeditions up the 
Mississippi during the war of 1812, in defeat and disaster. The 
enemy was in undisputed posession of all the country north of the 
Illinois river, and the prospects respecting those territories boded 
nothing but gloom. With the approach of winter, however, Indian 
depredations ceased to be committed, and the peace of Ghent, Dec. 
24, 1814, closed the war. 

ILLINOIS AS A STATE. 

* 

OKGANIZATION. 

In January of 1818 the Territorial Legislature forwarded to 
Nathaniel Pope, delegate in Congress from Illinois, a petition pray- 
ing for admission into the national Union as a State. On April 
18th of the same year Congress passed the enabling act, and Dec. 
3, after the State government had been organized and Gov. Bond 
had signed the Constitution, Congress by a resolution declared Illi- 
nois to be "one of the United States of America, and admitted into 
the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all 
respects." 

The ordinance of 1787 declared that there should be at least three 
States carved out of the Northwestern Territory. The boundaries 
of the three, Oliio, Indiana and Illinois, were fixed by this law. 
Congress reserved the power, however, of forming two other States 
out of the territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn 
through the southern boundary of Lake Michigan. It was generally 
conceded that this line would be the northern boundary of Illinois ; 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 75 

but as this would give the State no coast on Lake Michigan; and 
rob her of the port of Chicago and the northern terminus of the 
Illinois & Michigan canal which was then contemplated, Judge 
Pope had the northern boundary moved fifty miles further north. 

BOUNDARY CHANGED. 

Not only is Illinois indebted to Nathaniel Pope for the port where 
now enter and depart more vessels during the year than in any 
other port in the world, for the northern terminus of the Illinois 
& Michigan canal, and for the lead mines at Galena, but the nation, 
the undivided Union, is largely indebted to him for its perpetuity. 
It was he, — his foresight, statesmanship and energy, — that bound 
our confederated Union with bands of iron that can never be broken. 
The geographical position of Illinois, with her hundreds of miles 
of water-courses, is such as to make her the key to the grand arch 
of Northern and Southern States. Extending from the great chain 
of lakes on the north, with snow and ice of the arctic region, to the 
cotton-fields of Tennessee ; peopled, as it is, by almost all races, 
classes and conditions of the human family ; guided by the various 
and diversified political, agricultural, religious and educational 
teachings common to both North and South, — Illinois can control, 
and has controlled, the destinies of our united and beloved republic. 
Pope seemingly foresaw that a struggle to dissolve the Union would 
be made. With a prophetic eye he looked down the stream of time 
for a half century and saw the great conflict between the South and 
North, caused by a determination to dissolve the confederation of 
States; and to preserve the Union, he gave to Illinois a lake coast. 

Gov. Ford, in his History of Illinois, written in 1847, while 
speaking of this change of boundary and its influence upon our 
nation, says: 

"What, then, was the duty of the national Government? Illinois 
was certain to be a great State, with any boundaries which that 
Government could give. Its great extent of territory, its unrivaled 
fertility of soil and capacity for sustaining a dense population, 
together with its commanding position, would in course of time 
give the new State a very controlling influence with her sister 
States situated upon the Western rivers, either in sustaining tho 
federal Union as it is, or in dissolving it and establishing new gov- 
ernments. If left entirely upon the waters of these great rivers, it 



76 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

was plain that, in case of tlireatened disruption, the interest of the 
new State would be to join a Southern and Western confederacy; 
but if a large portion of it could be made dependent upon the com- 
merce and navigation of the great northern lakes, connected as they 
are with the Eastern States, a rival interest would be created to 
check the wish for a "Western and Southern confederacy. 

"It therefore became the duty of the national Government not 
only to make Illinois strong, but to raise an interest inclining and 
binding her to the Eastern and Northern portions of the Union. 
This could be done only through an interest in the lakes. At that 
time the commerce on the lakes was small, but its increase was con- 
fidently expected, and, indeed, it has exceeded all anticipations, 
and is yet only in its infancy. To accomplish this object eflectually, 
it was not only necessary to give to Illinois the port of Chicago and 
a route for the canal, but a considerable coast on Lake Michigan, 
with a country back of it sufficiently extensive to contain a popu- 
lation capable of exerting a decided influence upon the councils of 
the State. 

" There would, therefore, be a large commerce of the north, west- 
ern and central portion of the State afloat on the lakes, for it was 
then foreseen that the canal would be made; and this alone M'ould 
be like turning one of the many mouths of the Mississippi into 
Lake Michigan at Chicago. A very large commerce of the center 
and south would be found both upon the lakes and rivers. Asso- 
ciations in business, in interest, and of friendship would be formed, 
both with the JSTorth and the South. A State thus situated, having 
such a decided interest in the commerce, and in the preservation of 
the whole confederacy, can never consent to disunion; for the Union 
cannot be dissolved without a division and disruption of the State 
itself. These views, urged by Judge Pope, obtained the unquali- 
fied assent of the statesmen of 1S18. 

" These fiicts and views are worthy to be recorded in history as 
a standing and perpetual call upon lUinoisans of every age to 
remember the great trust which has been reposed in them, as the 
peculiar champions and guardians of the Union by the great men 
and patriot sages who adorned and governed this country in the 
earlier and better days of the Republic." 

During the dark and trying days of the Eebellion, well did she 
remember this sacred trust, to protect which two hundred thousand 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 77 

of her sons went to the bloody field of battle, crowning their arms 
with the laurels of war, and keeping inviolate the solemn obliga- 
tions bequeathed to them by their fathers. 

FIRST CONSTITUTION. 

In July and August of 1818 a convention was held at Kaskaskia 
for the purpose of drafting a constitution. This constitution was 
not submitted to a vote of the people for their approval or rejection, 
it being well known that they would approve it. It was about the 
first organic law of any State in the Union to abolish imprisonment 
for debt. The first election under the constitution was held on the 
third Thursday and the two succeeding days in September, 1818. 
Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard Lieuten- 
ant Governor. Their term of olfice extended four years. At this 
time che State was divided into fifteen counties, the population being 
about 40,000. Of this number by far the larger portion were from 
the Southern States. The salary of the Governor was $1,000, while 
that of the Treasurer was $500. The Legislature re-enacted, ver- 
batim, the Territorial Code, the penalties of which were unneces- 
sarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory were used for minor 
offenses, and for arson, rape, horse-stealing, etc., death by hanging 
was the penalty. These laws, however, were modified in 1821. 

The Legislature first convened at Kaskaskia, the ancient seat of 
empire for more than one hundred and fifty years, both for the 
French and Americans. Provisions were made, however, for the 
removal of the seat of government by this Legislature. A place in the 
wilderness on the Kaskaskia river was selected and named Vandalia. 
From Yandalia it was removed to Springfield in the year 1837. 

DERIVATION OF THE NAME ILLINOIS. 

The name of this beautiful "Prairie State" is derived from 
mini, an Indian word signifying superior men. It has a French 
termination, and is a symbol of the manner in which the two races, 
the French and Indians, were intermixed during the early history 
of the country. The appellation was no doubt well applied to the 
primitive inhabitants of the soil, whose prowess in savage warfare 
long withstood the combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the 
one side, and the no less savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the 
other. The Illinois were once a powerful confederacy, occupying 
the most beautiful and fertile region in the great valley of the 



78 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

Mississippi, which their enemies coveted and struggled long and 
hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of war they were dimin- 
ished in number and finally destroyed. " Starved Rock," on the 
Illinois river, according to tradition, commemorates their last trag- 
edy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than surrender. 

The low cognomen of " Sucker," as applied to Illinoisans, is said 
to have had its origin at the Galena lead mines. In an early day, 
when these extensive mines were being worked, men would run up 
the Mississippi river in steamboats in the spring, work the lead 
mines, and in the fall return, thus establishing, as was supposed, a sim- 
ilitude between their migratory habits and those of the fishy tribe 
called "Suckers." For this reason the Illinoisans have ever since 
been distinguished by the epithet " Suckers." Those who stayed 
at the mines over winter were mostly from Wisconsin, and were 
called " Badgers." One spring the Missourians poured into the 
mines in such numbers that the State was said to have taken a puke, 
and the ofiensive appellation of " Pukes " was afterward applied to 
all Missourians. 

The southern part of the State, known as " Egypt," received this 
appellation because, being older, better settled and cultivated, grain 
was had in greater abundance than in the central and northern por- 
tion, and the immigrants of this region, after the manner of the 
children of Israel, went "thither to buy and to bring from thence 
that they might live and not die." 

STATE BANK. 

The Legislature, during the latter years of territorial existence, 
granted charters to several banks. The result was that paper money 
became very abundant, times flush, and credit unlimited; and every- 
body invested to the utmost limit of his credit, with confident 
expectation of realizing a handsome advance before the expiration 
of his credit, from the throng of immigrants then pouring into the 
country. By 1819 it became apparent that a day of reckoning 
would approach before their dreams of fortune could be realized. 
Banks everywhere began to waver, paper money became depreci- 
ated, and gold and silver driven out of the country. The Legisla- 
ture sought to bolster up the times by incorporating the " Bank 
of Illinois," which, with several branches, was created by the ses- 
sion of 1821. This bank, being wholly supported by the credit of 
the State, was to issue one, two, three, five, ten and twenty-dollar 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 79 

notes. It was the duty of the bank to advance, upon personal prop- 
erty, money to the amount of $100, and a larger amount upon real 
estate. All taxes and public salaries could be paid in such bills; 
and if a creditor refused to take them, he had to wait three years 
longer before he could collect his debt. The people imagined that 
simply because the government had issued the notes, they would 
remain at par; and although this evidently could not be the case, 
they were yet so infatuated with their project as actually to request 
the United States government to receive them in payment for their 
public lands! Although there were not wanting men who, like 
John McLean, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, fore- 
saw the dangers and evils likely to arise from the creation of such 
a bank, by far the greater part of the people were in favor of it. 
The new bank was therefore started. The new issue of bills by the 
bank of course only aggravated the evil, heretofore so grievously 
felt, of the absence of specie, so that the people ■were soon com- 
pelled to cut their bills in halves and quarters, in order to make 
small change in trade. Finally the paper currency so rapidly depre- 
ciated that three dollars in these bills were considered worth only 
one in specie, and the State not only did not increase its revenue, 
but lost full two-thirds of it, and expended three times the amount 
required to pay the expenses of the State government. 

Lafayette's visit. 
In the spring of 1825 the brave and generous LaFayette visited 
Illinois, accepting the earnest invitation of the General Assembly, 
and an affectionately written letter of Gov. Cole's, who had formed 
his personal acquaintance in France in 1817. The General in reply 
said: " It has been my eager desire, and it is now my earnest inten- 
tion, to visit the Western States, and particularly the State of Illi- 
nois. The feelings which your distant welcome could not fail to 
excite have increased that patriotic eagerness to admire on that 
blessed spot the happy and rapid results of republican institutions, 
public and domestic virtues. I shall, after the 22d of February 
(anniversary day), leave here for a journey to the Southern States, 
and from New Orleans to the Western States, so as to return to 
Boston on the 14th of June, when the corner-stone of the Bunker 
Hill monument is to be laid, — a ceremony sacred to the whole Union 
and in which I have been engaged to act a peculiar and honorable 
part." 



80 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

General LaFayette and suite, attended bj a large delegation of 
prominent citizens of Missouri, made a visit by the steamer Natch- 
ez to the ancient town of Kaskaskia. Tso military parade was 
attempted, but a multitude of patriotic citizens made him welcome. 
A reception was held. Gov. Cole delivering a glowing address of 
welcome. During the progress of a grand ball held that night, a 
very interesting interview took place between the honored General 
and an Indian squaw whose father had served under him in the 
Hevolutionary war. The squaw, learning that the great white chief 
was to be at Kaskaskia on that night, had ridden all day, from early 
dawn till sometime in the night, from her distant home, to see 
the man whose name had been so often on her father's tongue, and 
with which she was so familiar. In identification of her claim to 
his distinguished acquaintance, she brought with her an old, worn 
letter which the General had written to her father, and which the 
Indian chief had preserved with great care, and finally bequeathed 
on his death-bed to his daughter as the most precious legacy he had 
to leave her. 

By 12 o'clock at night Gen. LaFayette returned to his boat and 
started South. The boat was chartered by the State. 

EA.RLT GOVERNORS. 

In the year 1822 the term of ofiice of the first Governor, Shadrach 
Bond, expired. Two parties sprung up at this time, — one favorable, 
the other hostile, to the introduction of slavery, each proposing a 
candidate of its own for Governor. Both parties worked hard to 
secure the election of their respective candidates ; but the people at 
large decided, as they ever have been at heart, in favor of a free 
State. Edward Coles, an anti-slavery man, was elected, although a 
majority of the Legislature were opposed to him. The subject of 
principal interest during his administration was to make Illinois a 
slave State. The greatest effort was made in 1824, and the propo- 
sition was defeated at the polls by a majority of 1,800. The aggre- 
gate vote polled was 11,612, being about 6,000 larger than at the 
previous State election. African slaves were first introduced into 
Illinois in 1Y20 by Renault, a Frenchman. 

Senator Duncan, afterward Governor, presented to the Legisla- 
ture of 1824-5 a bill for the support of schools by a public tax; and 
William S. Hamilton presented another bill requiring a tax to be 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 81 

used for the purpose of constructing and repairing tlie roads, — both 
of which bills passed and became laws. But although these laws 
conferred an incalculable benetit upon the public, the very name of 
a tax was so odious to the people that, rather than pay a tax of the 
smallest possible amount, they preferred working as they formerly 
did, five days during the year on the roads, and would allow their 
children to grow up without any instruction at all. Consequently 
both laws were abolished in 1826. 

In the year 1826 the office of Governor became again vacant. 
Ninian Edwards, Adolphus F. Hubbard and Thomas C. Sloe were 
candidates. Edwards, though the successful candidate, had made 
himself many enemies by urging strict inquiries to be made into 
the corruption of the State bank, so that liad it not been for his 
talents and noble personal appearance, he would most probably not 
have been elected. Hubbard was a man of but little personal merit. 
Of him tradition has preserved, among other curious sayings, a 
speech on a bill granting a bounty on wolf-scalps. This speech, 
delivered before the Legislature, is as follows: "Mr. Speaker, I rise 
before the question is put on this bill, to say a word for my constit- 
uents. Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a wolf. I cannot say that 
I am very well acquainted with the nature and habits of wolves. 
Mr. Speaker, I have said that I had never seen a wolf; but now I 
remember that once on a time, as Judge Brown and I were riding 
across the Bonpas prairie, we looked over the prairie about three 
miles, and Judge Brown said, ' Hubbard, look! there goes a wolf; ' 
and I looked, and I looked, and I looked, and I said, ' Judge, where?' 
and he said, 'There!' And I looked again, and this time in the 
edge of a hazel thicket, about three miles across the prairie, I think 
I saw the wolf's tail. Mr. Speaker, if I did not see a wolf that 
time, I think I never saw one; but I have heard much, and read 
more, about this animal. I have studied his natural history. 

"By the bye, history is divided into two parts. There is first 
the history of the fabulous; and secondly, of the non-fabulous, or 
unknown age. Mr. Speaker, from all these sources of information 
I learn that the wolf is a very noxious animal ; that he goes prowl- 
ing about, seeking something to devour; that he rises up in the 
dead and secret hours of night, when all nature reposes in silent 
oblivion, and then commits the most terrible devastation upon the 
rising generation of hogs and sheep. 



82 IlISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

" Mr. Speaker, I have done; and I return mj thanks to the house 
for tlieir kind attention to mj remarks." 

Guv. Edwards was a large and well-made man, with a noble, 
jDrincelj appearance. Of him Gov. Ford says: "He never con- 
descended to the common low art of electioneering. "Whenever he 
went out among the people he arrayed himself in the style of a 
gentleman of the olden time, dressed in fine broadcloth, with short 
breeches, long stockings, and high, fair-topped boots; was drawn in 
a fine carriage driven by a negro; and for success he relied upon his 
speeches, which were delivered in great pomp and in style of diffuse 
and florid eloquence. "When he was inaugurated in 1826, he 
appeared before the General Assembly wearing a golden-laced cloak, 
and with great pomp pronounced his first message to the houses 
of the Legislature." 

GKAMMAR AND COOK CONTRASTED. 

Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar, 
who was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1816, and held the 
position for about twenty years, invented the policy of opposing 
every new thing, saying, ''If it succeeds, no one will ask who 
voted against it: if it proves a failure, he could quote its record." 
When first honored with a seat in the Assembly, it is said that 
lie lacked the apparel necessarj'- for a member of the Legislature, 
and in order to procure them he and his sons gathered a large 
quantity of hazel-nuts, which were taken to the Ohio Saline and 
sold for cloth to make a coat and pantaloons. The cloth was the 
blue strouding commonly used by the Indians. 

The neighboring women assembled to make up the garments; the 
cloth was measured every way, — across, lengthwise, and from corner 
to corner,— and still was found to be scant. It was at last con- 
cluded to make a very short, bob-tailed coat and a long pair of leg- 
gins, which being finished, Mr. Grammar started for the State 
capital. In sharp contrast with Grammar was the character of D. 
P. Cook, in honor of whom Cook county was named. Such was 
his transparent integritv and remarkable ability that his will was 
almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man and from 
a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Com- 
mittee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- 
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy 



HISTOKT OF ILLINOIS. 83 

Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, 
Jackson, Clay, Crawford and Adams. There being no choice by 
the people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so bal- 
anced that it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, elect- 
ing him. He then came home to face the wrath of the Jackson 
party in Illinois. 

The first mail route in the State was established in 1S05. This 
was from Yincennes to Cahokia. In 1S24 there was a direct mail 
route from Yandalia to Springfield. The first route from the central 
part of the State to Chicago was established in 1S32, from Shelby- 
ville. The difliciilties and dangers encountered by the early mail 
carriers, in time of Indian troubles, were very serious. The bravery 
and ingenious devices of Harry Milton are mentioned with special 
commendation. When a boy, in 1S12, he conveyed the mail on a 
wild French pony from Shawneetown to St. Louis, over swollen 
streams and through the enemy's country. So infrequent and 
irregular were the communications by mail a great part of the time, 
that to-day, even the remotest part of the United States is unable to 
appreciate it by example. 

The first newspaper published in Illinois was the Illinois Herald^ 
established at Kaskaskia by Mathew Duncan. There is some va- 
riance as to the exact time of its establishment. Gov. Reynolds 
claimed it was started in 1809. Wm. H. Brown, afterwards its 
editor, gives the date as 1S14. 

In 1S31 the criminal code was first adapted to penitentiary pun- 
ishment, ever since which time the old system of whipping and 
pillory for the punishment of criminals has been disused. 

There was no legal rate of interest till 1830. Previously the rate 
often reached as high as 150 per cent., but was usually 50 per cent. 
Then it was reduced to 12, then to 10, and lastly to 8 per cent. 

INDIAX TROUBLES. 

WINXEBAGO WAR. 

The Indians, who for some years were on peaceful terms with 
the whites, became troublesome in 1827. The Wiunebagoes, Sacs 
and Foxes and other tribes had been at war for more than a hun- 
dred years. In the summer of 1827 a war party of the "Winnebasroes 
surprised a party of Chippewas and kilkd eight of them. Four 



84 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

of the murderers were arrested and delivered to the Chippewas, 
bj whom they were immediately shot. This was the first irritation 
of the Wimiebagoes. Red Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to 
avenge the execution of the four warriors of his own people, attacked 
the Chippewas, but was defeated; and being determined to satisfy 
his thirst for revenge by some means, surprised and killed several 
white men. Upon receiving intelligence of these murders, the 
whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena 
formed a body of volunteers, and, re-inforced by a company of United 
States troops, marched into the country of the Winnebagoes. To 
save their nation from the miseries of war, Red Bird and six other 
men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themselves. Some of 
the number were executed, some of them imprisoned and destined, 
like Red Bird, ingloriously to pine away within the narrow confines 
of a jail, when formerly the vast forests had proven too limited for 
them. 

JOHN REYNOLDS ELECTED GOVERNOE. 

In August, 1830, another gubernatorial election was held. The 
candidates were William Kinney, then Lieutenant Governor, and 
John Reynolds, formerly an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 
both Jackson Democrats. The opposition brought forward no can- 
didate, as they were in a helpless minority. Reynolds was the 
successful candidate, and under his administration was the famous 

BLACK HAWK WAR. 

In the year of 1804 a treaty was concluded between the United 
States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. One old chief of 
the Sacs, however, called Black Hawk, who had fought with great 
bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812, had 
always taken exceptions to this treaty, pronouncing it void. In 1831 
he established himself, with a chosen band of warriors, upon the dis- 
puted territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The 
settlers complaining, Gov. Reynolds dispatched Gen. Gaines, with a 
company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers, to the scene of action. 
Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and 
forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east 
of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the 
river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into 
submission, which made him more than ever determined to be 




BLACK HAWK. THE SAC CHIEF. 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 87 

avenged upoi: his enemies. Having rallied around him the warlike 
braves of the Sac; and Fox nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the 
spring of 1S32. Upon hearing of the invasion, Gov. Reynolds 
hastily collecte'^ a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the 
command oi ±5rig-Gen. Samuel Whiteside. 

stillman's kun. 

The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to 
ashes the Indian village known as ''Prophet's Town," proceeded 
for several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forces 
under Gen. Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of 
volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter 
the enemy. They advanced under command of Maj. Stillman, to a 
creek afterwards called "Stillman's run;" and while encamping 
there saw a party of mounted Indians at the distance of a mile. 
Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the 
Indians, killing three of them; but, attacked by the main body 
under Black Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipitate 
flight spread such a panic through the camp that the wliole company 
ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carrv them. On their 
arrival it was found that there had been eleven killed. The party 
came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, 
each squad positive that all who were left behind were massacred. 

It is said that a big, tall Kentuckian, with a loud voice, who 
was a colonel of the militia but a private w^ith Stillman, upon his 
arrival in camo gave to Gen. "Whiteside and the wondering multi- 
tude the follovrdng glowing and bombastic account of the battle: 
"Sirs," said he, "our detachment was encamped among some scat- 
tering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie 
from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was 
just after twilight, in the gloaming of the evening, when we dis- 
covered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column; 
they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prai- 
rie, and such accuracy and precision of military movements were 
never witnessed oy man; they were equal to tlie best troops of 
Wellington in Spain. ^ have said that the Indians came down in 
solid columns, and displayed in tlie form of a crescent; and what was 
most wonderful, tliere were large squares of cavalry resting rtpon 
the points of the curve, which squares were supported again by 



88 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

other columns fifteen deep, extending back through the woods and 
over a swamp three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the 
main bodj^ of Black Hawk's army bivouacked upon the banks of the 
Kisliwakee. It was a terrible and a glorious sight to see the tawny 
warriors as they rode along our flanks attempting to outflank us, 
with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades 
and burnished spears. It was a sight well calculated to strike con- 
sternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and accordingly our 
men soon began to break in small squads, for tall timber. In a 
very little time the rout became general, the Indians were soon 
upon our flauks and threatened the destruction of our entire detach- 
ment. About this time Maj. Stillman, Col. Stephenson, Maj. 
Perkins, Capt. Adams, Mr. Ilackelton, and myself, with some 
others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and pro- 
tect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell 
bravely fighting hajid-to-hand with the savage enemy, and I alone 
was left upon the field of battle. About this time I discovered not 
far to the left a corps of horsemen which seemed to be in tolerable 
order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, leaning down and 
placing my body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of my 
horse so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye 
and the horizon, I discovered by the light of the moon that they 
were gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew they 
were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrogade movement 
and recovered my position, where I remained some time meditating 
what further I could do in the service of my country, M'lien a ran- 
dom ball came whistling by my ear and plainly whispered to me, 
' Stranger, you have no further business here.' Upon hearing this I 
followed the example of my companions in arms, and broke for 
tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little." 

For a long time afterward Maj. Stillnan and his men were sub- 
jects of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their 
expedition was disastrous. Stillman's defeat spread consternation 
throughout the State and nation. The number of Indians M-as 
greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Hawk carried with it 
associations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty. 

ASSAULT ON APPLE RIVER FORT. 

A regiment sent to spy out the country between Galena and Rock 
Island was surprised by a party of seventy Indians, and was on the 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 89 

point of being thrown into disorder when Gen. Whiteside, then 
serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man 
who should turn his back to the enemy. Order being restored, the 
battle began. At its very outset Gen. Whiteside shot the leader of 
the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat. 

In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 150 warriors, attack- 
ed the Apple Eiver Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This 
fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the 
miners. For fifteen consecutive hours the garrison had to sustain 
the assault of the savage enemy ; but knowing very well that no 
quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and des- 
peration that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors, 
were compelled to retreat. 

Another party of eleven Indians murdered two men near Fort 
Hamilton. They were afterwards overtaken by a company of 
twenty men and every one of them was killed. 

KOCK BIVER EXPEDITION. 

A new regiment, under the command of Gen. Atkinson, assem- 
bled on the banks of the Illinois in the latter part of Jmie. Maj. 
Dement, with a small party, was sent out to reconnoittr the move- 
ments of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him 
made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engage- 
ment. Gen. Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians, 
while he with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the 
Indians under Black Hawk. They moved slowly and cautiously 
through the country, passed through Turtle village, and marched 
lip along Eock river. On their arrival news was brought of the 
discovery of the main trail of the Indians. Considerable search 
was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of Indians 
save two who had shot two soldiers the day previous. 

Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock river, at the 
Manitou village, they resolved at once to advance upon the enemy; 
but in the execution of their design they met with opposition from 
their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry handed to him 
a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered 
the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within 
a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all collected 
around the General's quarters, many of them with tears in their 



90 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

eyes, pledging themselves that if forgiven they vrould return to duty 
and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and 
they at once resumed duty. 

THE BATTLE OF BAD-AXE, 

Gen. Henry marched on the 15th of July in pursuit of the 
Indians, reaching Kock river after three days' journey, where he 
learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July 
19th the troops were ordered to commence their march. After 
having made fifty miles, they were overtaken by a terrible thunder- 
storm which lasted all night. Xotliiug cooled, however, in their 
courage and zeal, they marched again fifty miles the next day, 
encamping near the place where the Indians had encamped the 
night before. Hurrying along as fast as they could, the infantry 
keeping up an equal pace with the mounted force, the troops on the 
morning of the 21st crossed the river connecting two of the four 
lakes, by which the Indians had been endeavoring to escape. They 
found, on their way, the ground strewn with kettles and articles of 
bagg-age, which the haste of their retreat had obliged the Indians 
to throw away. The troops, inspired with new ardor, advanced so 
rapidly that at noon they fell in with the rear guard of the Indians. 
Those who closely pursued them were saluted with a sudden 
fire of musketry by a body of Indians who had concealed them- 
selves in the high grass of the prairie. A most desperate charge 
was made upon the Indians, who, unable to resist, retreated 
obliquely, in order to out-flank the volunteers on the right; but the 
latter charged the Indians in their ambush, and expelled them 
from their thickets at the point of the bayonet, and dispersed them. 
Night set in and the battle ended, having cost the Indians 6S of 
their bravest men, while the loss of the Illinoisans amounted to but 
one killed and S wounded. 

Soon after this battle Gens. Atkinson and Henry joined their 
forces and pursued the Indians. Gen. Henry struck the main trail, 
left his horses behind, formed an advance guard of eight men, 
and marched forward upon their trail. "When these eight men 
came within sight of the river, they were suddenly fired upon and 
five of them killed, the remaining three maintaining their ground 
till Gen. Henry came up. Then the Indians, charged upon with 
the bayonet, fell back upon their main force. The battle now 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 91 

became general; the Indians fought with desperate valor, but were 
furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, cutting 
many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest into the river. 
Those who escaped from being drowned took refuge on an island. On 
hearing the frequent discharge of musketry, indicating a general 
engagement, Gen. Atkinson abandoned the pursuit of the twenty 
Indians under Black Hawk himself, and hurried to the scene of 
action, where he arrived too late to take part in the battle. He 
immediately forded the river with his troops, the water reaching 
up to their necks, and landed on the island where the Indians had 
secreted themselves. The soldiers rushed upon the Indians, killed 
several of them, took others prisoner, and chased the rest into 
the river, where they were either drowned or shot before reaching 
the opposite shore. Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing 300 
besides 50 prisoners; the whites but 17 killed and 12 wounded. 

INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE. 

Many painful incidents occurred during this battle. A Sac 
woman, the sister of a warrior of some notoriety, found herself in 
the thickest of the fight, but at length succeeded in reaching the 
river, when, keeping her infant child safe in its blankets by means 
of her teeth, she plunged into the water, seized the tail of a horse 
with her hands whose rider was swimming the stream, and was 
drawn safely across. A young squaw during the battle was stand- 
ing in the grass a short distance from the American line, holding 
her child — a little girl of four years — in her arms. In this posi- 
tion a ball struck the right arm of the child, shattering the bone, 
and passed into the breast of the young mother, instantly killing 
her. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground till the 
Indians were driven from that part of the field. Gen. Anderson, 
of the United States army, hearing its cries, went to the spot, took 
it from under the dead body and carried it to the surgeon to have 
its wound dressed. The arm was amputated, and during the oper- 
ation the half-starved child did not cry, but sat quietly eating a 
hard piece of biscuit. It was sent to Prairie du Chien, where it 
entirely recovered. 

BLACK HAWK CAPTURED. 

Black Hawk, with his twenty braves, retreated up the Wisconsin, 
river. The "Winnebagoes, desirous of securing the friendship of 



S2 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

the whites, went in pursuit and captured and delivered them to 
Gen. Street, the United States Indian agent. Among the prisoners 
were the son of Black Hawk and the prophet of the tribe. These 
with Black Hawk were taken to Washington, D. C, and soon con- 
signed as prisoners at Fortress Monroe. 

At the interview Black Hawk had with the President, he closed 
his speech delivered on the occasion in the following words: " We 
did not expect to conquer the whites. They have too many houses, 
too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to revenge 
injuries which my people could no longer endure. Had I borne 
them longer without striking, my people would have said, ' Black 
Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; he is no Sac' These 
reflections caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no more. It 
is known to you. Keokuk once was here; you took him by the 
hand, and when he wished to return to his home, you were willing. 
Black Hawk expects, like Keokuk, he shall be permitted to return 
too." 

BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH OF BLACK HAWK. 

Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, was born in the prin- 
cipal Sac village, near the junction of Rock river with tlie Missis- 
sippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa. Black 
Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of 
fifteen was permitted to paint, and was ranked among the braves. 
About the year 1783 he went on an expedition against the enemies 
of his nation, the Osages, one of whom he killed and scalped; and 
for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the 
scalp dance. Three or four years afterward he, at the head of two 
hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to 
avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his 
own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce 
battle ensued in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. 
The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the 
Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them near 
the present city of St. Louis his father was slain, and Black Hawk, 
taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced him- 
self chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, 
and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and 
Foxes and a hundred lowas, he waged war against the Osage 



HISTORY OP ILLINOIS. 93 

nation, and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with 
other Indian tribes, all of which he conquered. 

The year following the treaty at St. Louis, in 1804, the United 
States Government erected a fort near the head of Des Moines 
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, 
who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the 
west side of the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moines. 
The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. 
The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, 
and the war of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to 
the Western Indians, induced them to remain hostile to the Ameri- 
cans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five 
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing 
on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn 
massacre had a few days before been perpetrated. Of his con- 
nection with the British but little is known. 

In the early part of 1815, the Indians west of the Mississippi 
■were notified that peace had been declared between the United 
States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black 
Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following 
year. From the time of signing this treaty, in 1816, until the 
breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he and his band passed their 
time in the common pursuits of Indian life. 

Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and 
Fox Indians were urged to move to the west of the Mississippi, 
All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which 
Black Hawk was leader. He strongly objected to the removal, and 
was induced to comply only after being threatened by the Govern- 
ment. This action, and various others on the part of the white 
settlers, provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture 
of his native village, now occupied by the whites. The war fol- 
lowed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and 
had his wishes been complied with at the beginning of the struggle, 
much bloodshed would have been prevented. 

BLACK HAWK SET AT LIBERTY. 

By order of the President, Black Hawk and his companions, 
who were in confinement at Fortress Monroe, were set free on the 
4th day of June, 1833. Before leaving the fort Black Hawk 



94 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

made the following farewell speech to the commander, which is not 
only eloquent but shows that within his chest of steel there beat a 
heart keenly alive to the emotions of gratitude: 

" Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my 
companions, to bid you farewell. Our great father has at length 
been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We 
have buried the tomahawk, and the sound of the rifle hereafter will 
only bring death to the deer and the buflalo. Brothers, you have 
treated the red man very kindly. Tour squaws have made them 
presents, and you have given them plenty to eat and drink. The 
memory of your friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says it 
is time for Black Hawk to sing his death song. Brother, your 
houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and jcnr young 
warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls . 
before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but 
the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his 
white brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hunting grounds, 
and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its 
color is white, and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting 
dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my 
brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as 
a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve 
to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your 
children. Farewell." 

After their release from prison they were conducted, in charge 
of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that 
thev might witness the power of the United States and learn 
their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes 
flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention 
paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal 
procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners b}' an officer. 
At Rock Island the prisoners were given their liberty, amid great 
and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a 
dvvellino- near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner 
of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting and 
fishino". Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he 
passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be 
said that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 95 

with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her up- 
ward of fortv years. 

BLACK hawk's DE.VTH ATJD BTI"KIAL. 

At all times when Black Hawk visited the whites he was 
received with marked attention. lie was an honored guest at the 
old settlers' re-union in Lee county, Illinois, at some of their 
meetings and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 
183S, while on his way to Eock Island to receive his annuity from 
the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a 
fatal attack of bilious fever, and terminated his life October 3. 
After his death, he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by 
the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six 
feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. The body was 
placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture upon a seat 
constructed for the purpose. On his left side the cane given him 
by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his right hand resting 
upon it. Thus, after a long, adventurous and shifting life, Black 
Hawk was gathered to his fathers. 

FEOM 1834 TO 1842. 

INTERNAL IJIPROVEMENTS. 

Ko sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers 
began rapidly to pour into the northern part of Illinois, now free 
from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had 
grown into a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into 
prominence. 

At the general election in IS 34 Joseph Duncan was chosen 
Governor, by a handsome majority. His principal opponent was 
ex-Lieutenant Governor Kinney. A reckless and uncontrollable 
desire for internal public improvements seized the minds of the 
people. In his message to the Legislature, in 1835, Gov. Duncan 
said: " When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter- 
communication penetrating almost every section of our sister States; 
when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearinor with seem- 
ing triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes 
and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen and space, what 
patriot bosom does not beat high with a laudable ambition to give 
Illinois her full share of those advautasres which are adorninsr her 



96 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

sister States, and which a magnificent Providence seems to invite 
by a wonderful adaptation of our whole country to such improve- 
ments?" 

STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENTS INAUGURATED. 

The Legislature responded to the ardent words of the Governor, 
and enacted a system of internal improvements without a parallel 
in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the construction 
of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions. 
This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There 
were a few counties not touched by railroad, or river or canal, and 
they were to be comforted and compensated by the free distribution 
of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond credence, it 
was ordered that work should commence on both ends of each of these 
railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time. 
This provision, which has been called the crowning folly of the 
entire system, was the result of those jealous combinations ema- 
nating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section 
over another in the commencement and completion of the works. 
"We can appreciate better, perhaps, the magnitude of this grand 
system by reviewing a few figures. The debt authorized for these 
improvements in the first instance was $10,230,000. But this, as 
it was soon found, was based upon estimates at least too low by 
half. This, as we readily see, committed the State to a liability of 
over $20,000,000, equivalent to $200,000,000, at the present time, 
with over ten times the population and more than ten times the 
wealth. 

Such stupendous undertakings by the State naturally engendered 
the fever of speculation among individuals. That particular form 
known as the town-lot fever assumed the malignant type at first in 
Chicago, from whence it spead over the entire State and adjoining 
States. It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard 
to locality, and cut up the purses of the purchasers without regard 
to consequences. It was estimated that building lots enough were 
sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the 
United States. 

Chicago, which in 1S30 was a small trading-post, had within a 
few years grown into a city. This was the starting point of the 
wonderful and marvelous career of that city. Improvements, 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 97 

unsurpassed by individual efforts iu the annals of the world, were 
then begun and have been maintained to tliis day. Thougli visited 
by the terrible fire fiend and the accumulations of years swept 
away in a night, yet she has arisen, and to-day is the best built city 
in tlie world. Keports of the rapid advance of property' in Chicago 
spread to the East, and thousands poured into her borders, bringing 
money, enterprise and industry. Every ship that left her port 
carried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions, 
and every vessel that returned was laden with immigrants. It was 
said at the time that the staple articles of Illinois export were town 
plots, and that there was danger of crowding the State with towns 
to the exclusion of land for agriculture. 

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. 

The Illinois and Michigan canal again received attention. This 
enterprise is one of the most important in the early development 
of Illinois, on account of its magnitude and cost, and forming 
as it does the connecting link between the great chain of lakes and 
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Gov. Bond, the first Governor, 
recommended in his first message the building of the canal. In 
1821 the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. 
This work was performed by two young men, who estimated the 
cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It cost, however, when completed, 
$8,000,000. In 1825 a law was passed to incorporate the Canal 
Company, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of 
Daniel P. Cook, Congressman from this State, Congress gave 
800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828 commis- 
sioners were appointed, and work commenced with a new survey 
and new estimates. In 1834—5 the work was again pushed forward, 
and continued until 1848, when it was completed. 

PANIC — REPUDIATION ADVOCATED. 

Bonds of the State were recklessly disposed of both in the East 
and in Europe. "Work was commenced on various lines of railroad, 
but none were ever completed. On the Northern Cross Railroad, 
from Meredosia east eight miles, the first locomotive that ever 
turned a wheel in the great valley of the Mississippi, was run. 
The date of this remarkable event was Nov. 8, 1838. Large suras 
of money were being expended with no assurance of a revenue. 



98 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

and consequently, in 1840, the Legislature repealed the improve- 
ment laws passed three years previously, not, however, until the 
State had accumulated a debt of nearly $15,000,000. Thus fell, 
after a short but eventful life, by the hands of its creator, the most 
stupendous, extravagant and almost ruinous folly of a grand sys- 
tem of internal improvements that any civil community, perhaps, 
ever engaged in. The State banks failed, specie was scarce, an 
enormous debt was accumulated, the interest of which could not 
be paid, people were disappointed in the accumulation of wealth, 
and real estate was worthless. All this had a tendency to create a 
desire to throw off the heavy burden of State debt by repudiation. 
This was boldly advocated by some leading men. The fair fame 
and name, however, of the State was not tarnished by repudiation. 
Men, true, honest, and able, were placed at the head of affairs; and 
though the hours were dark and gloomy, and the times most try- 
ing, yet our grand old State was brought through and prospered, 
until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for public improve- 
ments and for carrying on the late war, slie has, at present, a debt 
of only about $300,000. 

MARTYR FOR LIBERTY. 

The year 1837 is memorable for the death of the first martyr for 
liberty, and the abolishment of American slavery, in the State. 
Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot by a mob in Alton, on the night of the 
Yth of November of that year. lie was at the time editor of the 
Alton Ohserver, and advocated anti-slavery principles in its 
.columns. For this practice three of his presses had been destroyed. 
On the arrival of the fourth the tragedy occurred which cost him 
his life. In anticipation of its arrival a series of meetings were 
held in which the friends of freedom and of slavery were represented. 
The object was to effect a compromise, but it was one in which 
liberty was to make concessions to oppression. In a speech made 
at one of these meetings, Lovejoy said: "Mr. Chairman, what 
have I to compromise? If freely to forgive those who have so greatly 
injured me; if to pray for their temporal and eternal happiness; if 
Btill to wish for the prosperity of your city and State, notwith- 
standing the indignities I have suffered in them, — if this be the 
compromise intended, then do I willingly make it. I do not admit 
that it is the business of any body of men to say whether I shall 



nrSTORY OF ILLINOIS. 101 

or shall not publish a paper in this city. That right was given to 
me by my Creator, and is solemnly guaranteed by the Constitution 
of the United States and of this State. But if by compromise is 
meant that 1 shall cease from that which duty requires of me, I 
cannot make it, and the reason is, that I fear God more than man. 
It is also a very different question, whether 1 shall, voluntarily or 
at the request of my friends, yield up my position, or whether 
I shall forsake it at the hands of a mob. The former I am ready at 
all times to do when circumstances require it, as I will never put 
my personal wishes or interests in competition with the cause of 
that Master whose minister I. am. But the latter, be assured I 
never will do. You have, as lawyers say, made a false issue. There 
are no two parties between whom there can be a compromise. I 
plant myself down on my unquestionable rights, and the ques- 
tion to be decided is, whether I shall be protected in those rights. 
You may hang me, as the mob hung the individuals at Vicksburg; 
you may burn me at the stake, as they did old Mcintosh at St. 
Louis; or, you may tar and feather me, or throw me into the Mis- 
sissippi as you have threatened to do; but you cannot disgrace me. 
I, and I alone, can disgrace myself, and the deepest of all disgrace 
would be at a time like this to deny my Maker by forsaking his 
cause. He died for me, and I were most unworthy to bear his 
name should I refuse, if need be, to die for him.''^ Not long 
afterward Mr. Lovejoy was shot. His brother Owen, being pres- 
ent on the occasion, kneeled down on the spot beside the corpse, 
and sent up to God, in the hearing of that very mob, one of the 
most eloquent prayers ever listened to by mortal ear. He was bold 
enough to pray to God to take signal vengeance on the infernal 
institution of slaver}', and he then and there dedicated his life to 
the work of overthrowing it, and hoped to see the day when slavery 
existed no more in this nation. He died, March 24, 1864, nearly 
three months after the Emancipation Proclamation of President 
Lincoln took effect. Thus he lived to see his most earnest and 
devout prayer answered. But few men in the nation rendered bet- 
ter service in overthrowing the institution of slavery than Elijah 
P. and Owen Lovejoy. 

CARLIN ELECTED GOVERNOR. 

Thomas Carlin, Democrat, was elected Governor in 1838, over 
Cyrus Edwards, Whig. In 1842 Adam W. Snyder was nominated 



102 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

for Governor on the Democratic ticket, but died before election. 
Thomas Ford was placed in nomination, and was elected, ex-Gov- 
ernor Duncan being his opponent. 

PEAIPJE PIRATES. 

The northern part of the State also had its mob experiences, but 
of an entirely different nature from the one just recounted. There 
has always hovered around the frontier of civilization bold, desper- 
ate men, who prey upon the unprotected settlers rather than gain 
a livelihood by honest toil. Theft, robbery and murder were car- 
ried on by regularly organized bands in Ogle, Lee, Winnebago and 
DeKalb counties. The leaders of these gangs of cut-throats were 
among the first settlers of that portion of the State, and conse- 
quently had the choice of location. Among the most prominent of 
the leaders were John Driscoll, William and David, his sons; John 
Brodie and three of his sons; Samuel Aikens and three of his sons; 
"William K. Bridge and Norton B. Boyce. 

These were the representative characters, those who planned 
and controlled the movements of the combination, concealed them 
when danger threatened, nursed them when sick, rested them when 
worn by fatigue and forced marches, furnished hiding places for 
their stolen booty, shared in the spoils, and, under cover of darkness 
and intricate and devious ways of travel, known only to themselves 
and subordinates, transferred stolen horses from station to station; 
for it came to be known as a well-established fact that they had 
stations, and agents, and v/atchmen scattered throughout the coun- 
try at convenient distances, and signals and pass-words to assist 
and govern them in all their nefarious transactions. 

Oo-le county, particularly, seemed to be a favorite and chosen 
field for the operations of these outlaws, who could not be convicted 
for their crimes. By getting some of their number on the juries, 
by producing hosts of witnesses to sustain their defense by per- 
jured evidence, and by changing the venue from one county to 
another, and by continuances from term to term, they nearly always 
managed to be acquitted. At last these depredations became too 
common for longer endurance ; patience ceased to be a virtue, and 
determined desperation seized the minds of honest men, and they 
resolved that if there were no statute laws that could protect them 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 103 

against the ravages of thieves, robbers and counterfeiters, they 
would protect themselves. It was a desperate resolve, and desper- 
ately and bloodily executed. 

BURNING OF OGLE COUNTY COURT-HOUSE. 

At the Spring term of court, 1841, seven of the " Pirates of the 
Prairie," as they were called, were confined in the Ogle county jail 
to await trial. Preparatory to holding court, the judge and lawyers 
assembled at Oregon in their new court-house, which had just 
been completed. Near it stood the county jail in which were the 
prisoners. The " Pirates " assembled Sunday night and set the 
court-house on fire, in the hope that as the prisoners would have to 
be removed from the jail, they might, in the hurry and confusion 
of the people in attending to the fire, make their escape. The 
whole population were awakened that dark and stormy night, to 
see their new court edifice enwrapped in flames. Although the 
building was entirely consumed, none of the prisoners escaped. 
Three of them were tried, convicted and sent to the penitentiary 
for a year. They had, however, contrived to get one of their num- 
ber on the jury, who would not agree to a verdict until threatened 
to be lynched. The others obtained a change of venue and were 
not convicted, and finally they all broke jail and escaped. 

Thus it was that the law was inadequate to the protection of the 
people. The best citizens held a meeting and entered into a solemn 
compact with each other to rid the country of the desperadoes that 
infested it. They were regularly organized and known as " Regu- 
lators." They resolved to notify all suspected parties to leave the 
country within a given time; if they did not comply, they would 
be severely dealt with. Their first victim was a man named Hurl, 
who was suspected of having stolen his neighbor's horse. He was 
ordered to strip, his hands were tied, when thirty-six lashes of a 
raw-hide were applied to his bare back. The next was a man 
named Daggett, formerly a Baptist preacher. He was sentenced 
to receive five hundred lashes on his bare back. He was stripped, 
and all was ready, when his beautiful daughter rushed into the 
midst of the men, begging for mercy for her father. Her appeals, 
with Daggett's promise to leave the country immediately, secured 
his release. That night, new crimes having been discovered, he 
was taken out and whipped, after which he left the country, never 
again to be heard from. 



104: HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

The friends and comrades of the men who had been whipped 
were fearfully enraged, and swore eternal and bloody vengeance. 
Eighty of them assembled one night soon after, and laid plans to 
visit "White Rock and murder every man, woman and child in that 
hamlet. They started on this bloody mission, but were prevailed 
upon by one of their number to disband. Their coming, however, 
had been anticipated, and every man and boy in the town was 
armed to protect himself and his family. 

CAMPBELL KILLED THE MUEDEREKS SHOT. 

John Campbell, Captain of the '' Regulators," received a letter 
from "William Driscoll, filled with most direful threats, — not only 
threatening Campbell's life, but the life of any one who should 
oppose their murderous, thieving operations. Soon after the re- 
ceipt of this letter, two hundred of the "■ Regulators " marched to 
DriscoU's and ordered him to leave the count}' within twenty days, 
but he refused to comply with the order. One Sunday evening, 
just after this, Campbell was shot down in his own door-yard by 
David Driscoll. He fell in the arms of his wife, at which time 
Taylor Driscoll raised his rifle and pointed it toward her, but low- 
ered it without firing. 

News of this terrible crime spread like wild-fire. The very air 
was filled with threats and vengeance, and nothing but the lives of 
the murderous gang would pay the penalty. Old John Driscoll 
was arrested, was told to bid his family good-bye, and then with 
his son went out to his death. The "Regulators," numbering 111, 
formed a large circle, and gave the Driseolls a fair hearing. They 
were found guilty, and the ''Regulators" divided into two "death 
divisions," — one, consisting of fifty-six, with rifles dispatched the 
father, the other fifty-five riddled and shattered the body of the 
son with balls from as many guns. The measures thus inaugu- 
rated to free the country from the dominion of outlaws was a last 
desperate resort, and proved eftectual. 

MORMON "WAR. 

In x\pril, 1S40, the "Latter-Day Saints," or Mormons, came in 
large numbers to Illinois and purchased a tract of land on the east 
side of the Mississippi river, about ten miles above Keokuk. Here 
they commenced building the city of Kauvoo. A more picturesque 
or eligible site for a city could not have been selected. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 105 

The origin, rapid development and prosperity of this religious 
Beet are the most remarkable and instructive historical events of 
the present century. That an obscure individual, without money, 
education, or respectability, should persuade hundreds of thousands 
of people to believe him inspired of God, and cause a book, con- 
temptible as a literary production, to be received as a continuation 
of the sacred revelation, appears almost incredible; yet in less than 
half a century, the disciples of this obscure individual have in- 
creased to hundreds of thousands ; have founded a State in the dis- 
tant wilderness, and compelled the Government of the United 
States to practically recognize them as an independent people. 

THE FOUNDER OF MOEMONISM. 

The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Ver- 
mont, who emigrated while quite young with his father's family to 
western New York. Here his youth was spent in idle, vagabond 
life, roaming the woods, dreaming of buried treasures, and in en- 
deavoring to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a 
forked stick in his hands, or by looking through enchanted stones. 
Both he and his father became famous as " water wizards," always 
ready to point out the spot where wells might be dug and water 
found. Such was the character of the young profligate when he 
made the acquaintance of Sidney Rigdon, a person of considerable 
talent and information, who had conceived the design of founding 
a new religion. A religious romance, written by Mr. Spaulding, a 
Presbyterian preacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, and 
finding in Smith the requisite duplicity and cunning to reduce it 
to practice, it was agreed that he should act as prophet; and the 
two devised a story that gold plates had been found buried in the 
earth containing a record inscribed on them in unknown characters, 
which, when deciphered by tlie power of inspiration, gave the his- 
tory of the ten lost tribes of Israel. 

OKIGIN OF THE SECT. 

This sect had its origin near the village of Palmyra, X. Y., about 
the year 1830. It increased by slow degrees for a year or two, 
during which time the " Book of Mormon " was first printed. Smith, 
the leader and pretended Prophet, then by " revelation " induced 



106 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

his few followers to emigrate to Kirtland in Ohio, — which was to 
be the New Jerusalem, and where a temple was to be built. Here 
they increased considerably in numbers; and here a costly temple 
was begun, but never finished. Here, also, some manufacturing 
enterprises were entered into; and Smith and Rigdon, as president 
and cashier, established a bank, known as the " Kirtland Safety 
Bank." Believers flocked around them ; but their intercourse with 
their "Gentile" neighbors was not cordial; the bank broke; and 
another revelation conveniently came to Smith that the Zion 
should be built up in Northwestern Missouri. Emigration to the 
border was accordingly ordered, and three dififerent settlements 
made there, one succeeding the others, and three " revealed " 
Zions began to be built. In Missouri, the troubles between them 
and their neighbors finally culminated in open hostilities; and 
after a series of conflicts with mobs, and with the State militia, the 
whole band of Mormons was expelled from the State. This was in 
the winter of 1838-9. 

They took the nearest route to Illinois, and landed at Quincy, 
after much suff'ering and in great destitution. In Illinois they 
were treated with great kindness and consideration — their story 
of " persecution for opinion's sake " being generously credited 
by the people. 

In the spring of 1844 Joe Smith announced himself as a candi- 
date for President of the United States. He caused himself to be 
anointed king and priest, instituted the " Danite band," and gave 
out that it was impossible for a woman to get to heaven except as 
the wife of a Mormon elder. Hence the elders might marry as 
many women as he pleased. This was the origin of polygamy. 

In Illinois they remained till the end of 1846 — a period of eight 
years; during which time they increased largely in numbers, and 
built lip a city of 10 or 12 thousand inhabitants. But the same 
class of difficulties sprung up here between them and their neigh- 
bors as elsewhere; and after a series of troubles, during which a 
press was destroyed and the Prophet and his brother killed, they 
were again violently expelled. This time they decided to take a 
westward course, the purpose being to locate perhaps on the Pa- 
cific coast, or in some less remote region among the Rocky Moun- 
tains. 




GEN. ARTHUR ST. CLAIR. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 109 

THE MORMONS REACH SALT LAKE. 

The fugitives proceeded westward, taking the road through Mis- 
souri, but were forcibly ejected from that State aud compelled to 
move indirectly through Iowa. After innumerable hardships the 
advance guard reached the Missouri river at Council Bluffs, when 
a United States officer presented a requisition for 500 men to serve 
in the war with Mexico. Compliance with this order so diminished 
their number of effective men that the expedition was again delayed, 
and the remainder, consisting mostly of old men, women and chil- 
dren, hastily prepared habitations for winter. Their rudely con- 
structed tents were hardly completed before winter set in with great 
severity, the bleak prairies being incessantly swept by piercing 
winds. "While here, cholera, fever and other diseases, aggravated 
by the previous hardships, the want of comfortable quarters and 
medical treatment, hurried many of them to premature graves. 
Under the influence of religious fervor and fanaticism they looked 
death in the face with cheerfulness and resignation, and even exhib- 
ited a gayety which manifested itself in music and dancing during 
the saddest hours of this sad winter. 

At length welcome spring made its appearance, and by April they 
were again organized for the journey; a pioneer party, consisting 
of Brigham Young and 140 others, was sent in advance to locate a 
home for the colonists. On the 21st of July, 1847, a day memora- 
ble in Mormon annals, the van-guard reached the valley of the 
great Salt Lake, having been directed thither, according to their 
accounts, by the hand of the Almighty. Here, in a distant wilder- 
ness, midway between the East and the Pacific, and at that time a 
thousand miles from the utmost verge of civilization, they com- 
menced preparations for founding a colony which has since grown 
into a mighty empire. 

[For a complete history of this people during their sojourn in 
Illinois, the reader is referred to future chapters in this book, in its 
County History.] 



110 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

THE SLAYERY QUESTION. 

Few people are aware of the long continued and persistent 
efforts of the people of the Northwest Territory to introduce slavery. 
In point of fact, it was introduced, and for a long time existed, 
under both the Territorial and State governments. Renault, an ad- 
venturer from France, landed at St. Domingo and procured 500 
slaves, which he brought to Illinois and settled at St. Phillips, 
about the year 1720 — 43 years before the treaty ceding it to Great 
Britain. These slaves, with their progeny, were held by the French 
settlers until the country passed under British rule, and were 
secured to them by the terms of the treaty, and afterward con- 
firmed to them by the Colony of Virginia and by the ordinance of 
1787. The French monarch, by edict, regulated the traffic in negro 
slaves; and it is worthy of note that the provisions of these ordi- 
nances were more humane and merciful than many of the enact- 
ments of the slave States a hundred years later. They provided 
tliat the slaves should be baptized and instructed in the Roman 
Catholic religion; that infirm slaves shall be maintained by the 
master; that they shall be treated kindly; that husband and wife 
and minor children shall not be separated. The ordinance of 1787 
provided that there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi- 
tude in the said Territory, etc. In 1800 there were in Indiana and 
Illinois 133 slaves; in 1810 Illinois alone had 168; in 1820, 917, 
and in 1830, 746. 

But a large portion of the leading spirits in the Territory were 
dissatisfied with the provision of the ordinance excluding slavery, 
and made many attempts to have it repealed. As early as 1796 
Congress was petitioned to repeal or suspend that provision of the 
ordinance. In 1802 Gov. Harrison and a convention of delegates 
memorialized Congress to the same effect. The subject was refer- 
red to a special committee, and in 1803 Mr. Randolph, of Virginia, 
reported adverse to the prayer of the petitioners. The subject 
came up again in 1804, and again in 1807, when it received its 
quietus, by a final report against the change. Several court de- 
cisions have settled the status of slavery under the ordinance. 

Failing in these efforts, resort was had to indenture, by which 
slaves held abroad could be brought to Illinois and indentured for 



HI8T0BT OF ILLINOIS. ' 113 

99 years! Gov. Edwards was a pro-slavery man, and as Governor 
vetoed legislative acts repealing some of these slavery laws. 

So among the first questions to agitate the people of the new 
State after its admission into the Union, was the ever-present 
question of slavery. Failing to procure its introduction through 
the repeal of the ordinance of 1787, a concerted and determined 
eifort was now resolved upon, to reach the desired end by an alter- 
ation of the Constitution in a sovereign State capacity. 

On August 20, 1821, the Missouri compromise bill having passed 
Congress, Missouri was admitted into the Union as a slave StatC^ 
Immediately a large emigration set in to that State from the slave 
States on the seaboard. The route lay chiefly through the southern 
end of Illinois. Many of these emigrants belonged to the richer 
and more intelligent class, and they passed through Illinois with 
their human chattels to seek homes in the new lands of Missouri, 
where they could hold them undisturbed. This was irritating to 
the slavery element of the State. They disliked to see the wealthy 
man pass through and carry his wealth to aid in building up 
another CDmmunity, while the poor man, who brought no riches 
with him, remained among them. This untoward state of affairs 
added increased desire for the introduction of slavery. They would 
adopt measures to make Illinois a slave State, notwithstanding the 
compact that was to stand forever unalterable. 

This sentiment gradually gained ground as the time approached 
for the election of members of the Legislature of 1822-3. The 
plan was to call a convention to change the constitution, provision' 
for which must be made by the Legislature. The election of mem- 
bers turned largely upon this question. The Legislature met, 
when it was found that the Senate had the requisite two-thirds in 
favor of a convention, but the other house had a majority less than 
two-thirds, and on a joint ballot the slavery men would lack one 
vote. But fortune favored the scheme. Our county of Pike was 
luckily in a condition to carry them through the difficulty. She 
had a contested seat in the lower branch. The contestants were 

*To the Illinois Senators, Messrs. Thomas and Edwards, belong the credit or 
discredit, whichever it may be, of originating that celebrated colnpromise meas- 
ure, it having been moved in the Senate by Mr. Thomas as a compromise between 
the two contending parties in that memorable contest. 



114 HISTORY OF ILLINOJS. 

Nicholas Hanson and John Shaw. The slavery men desired to 
re-elect Jesse B. Thomas, a pro-slaverj man, to the United States 
Senate. Hanson would vote for him, and the contested seat was 
given to him, and by his vote Thomas was returned to the Senate. 
But Hanson would vote against a convention; so the contested seat 
question was re-considered, Hanson unseated, and with Sliaw's 
vote the convention question was carried. It will thus be seen that 
political trickery is not entirely an invention of the present day. 

But the people were yet to be heard from. In August, 1824, the 
election took place. The vote stood as given below: 

Total vote cast 11,764 

For a convention ^ 4,965 

Against convention , , . . 6,799 

Majority against 1,834 

This was one of the most exciting and well fought political bat- 
tles in which the people of Illinois were engaged. The writer of 
this, then a boy in a distant State, well remembers the intense 
feeling manifested throughout the Union in the result of the con- 
test. At the beginning, the prospect looked highly favorable for 
the success of the measure. The leading advocates of a convention 
were bold and defiant; and it cannot be denied that they num- 
bered in their ranks a majority of the most prominent men of the 
State. They counted both the United States Senators, ex-Gov. 
Ninian Edwards — liimself a host — and Judge Thomas, an active 
and able politician. They also had in^ their ranks Gov. Bond, 
Lieut.-Gov. Kinney, Elias K. Kane, formerly Member of Congress, 
and nearly all the Judges, State and Federal — Brown, Phillips, John 
and Thomas Reynolds, McRoberts and Smith. Governor Coles, 
Judge Lockwood, and Congressman Daniel P. Cook, headed the 
opposition. Coles was a Yirginian, and had manumitted his slaves 
in Illinois. But one of the most untiring and effective workers 
and organizers in tlieir ranks was Eev. John M. Peck, a Baptist 
minister from New England, afterward editor of the Watchman^ 
at Rock Spring, and author of several valuable historical works. 

There were live newspapers then in Illinois. Of these, three 
were in the interest of freedom, the Edwardsville Spectator^ 
edited by Hboper Warren; the Shawneetown Gazette^ conducted 
by Henry Eddy, and one at Vandalia, conducted by Wm. H. Brown 



. HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 117 

and David Blackwell. The two advocating a convention were 
located at Kaskaskia and Edwardsville. 

Thus these rej^eated attempts to repeal, or annul the sixth sec- 
tion of the ordinance of 1787, were frustrated — first, by the action 
of the nation's best statesmen in Congress ; and lastly, by the good 
sense of tlie people themselves. 

Hancock had a few voters at that day — August, 1824 ; but 
probably none two years before, when the contested election case 
occurred. It may be that the officers and soldiers stationed at 
Fort Edwards exercised the privilege of voting. If so, we find no 
record of it in Pike county. And if so, their vote may have had 
a greater weight than they knew, in determining that agitating 
question for the State. 

LITERARY MEN". 

Among the most prominent literary men of the early daj'S in. 
Illinois, may be mentioned Judge James Hail, a Piiiladelphian, 
who came to the State in 1818. He settled at Shawneetown, and 
soon became associate editor with Henry Eddy of the Gazette. He 
afterwards originated the Illinois Magazine at Vandalia, which 
he conducted with ability, and which he, about 1834, removed to 
Cincinnati, under the title of Western Monthly Magazine. Judge 
Hall was a voluminous writer, and contributed to the literature of 
the West many M^orks of fiction and border histories, among 
which was a "Life of Gen. Harrison.'" 

Gov. John Reynolds was a writer of considerable note in his 
time. He contributed many border sketches to the literature of 
the day, and also an interesting volume of the history of his " Own 
Times," which abounds in incidents, reminiscences and character- 
istic sketches of the prominent men of the State. 

John Russell, of Bluft'dale, was another literarv man among the 
pioneers. He was a Yerinonter by birth; was a quiet and retired 
farmer on the bluffs of the Illinois river, in Greene county. He 
was a frequent contributor to Hall's and other periodicals, and 
afterward edited a pa])er in Greene county. Mr. Russell devoted 
much attention to French literature and manners in the Missis- 
sippi valley, spending several years as a teacher among them in 
Louisiana. Some of his sketches have gone into the standard 
Bcliool books of the countrv. 



118 niSTOKY or Illinois. 

These three, with Kev. Johu M. Peck, and the editors of the 
pjipers heretofore inentined, may be ranked as tlic chief literary 
men in the State in its earlier days. There were others perhaps 
eqnally able, whose names do not now occur to us. 

CONSTITUTIONS. 

The Constitution under which the State was admitted into the 
Union in 181S, remained in force until 1848, when a new one was 
adopted, which did away with many of the most objectionable 
features of the former. Tliis continued in force until August, 
1870, when the present one went into effect. 

Under these three Constitutions, and the laws enacted in accord- 
ance therewith, — some of them unsound, ill-digested and impolitic, 
— the State has in sixty-two years made nnparalleled advancement 
in population and material and moral power. Note her popula- 
tion : 

In 1800, its population was about 3,000. 

In 1810, it had increased to 12,283. 

On its admission into the Union in 1818, it was estimated at 
45,000. 

By the census of 1830, it had gone above 157,000. 

In 1840, it had advanced to 474,000. 

By the' census of 1870, it shows the enormous number of 2,529,- 
410 souls. 

It now contains an estimated population of over three viillions 
of peoj)2e. Three thousand in 1800; three millions in 1880 — less 
than eighty years! Such is American, such is "Western progress; 
such the advance of free principles, guided by free thought on free 
Boil! 



MEXICAN WAR 

During the month of May, 1846, the President called for four 
regiments of volunteers from Illinois for the Mexican war. This 
was no sooner known in the State than nine regiments, numbering 
8,370 men, answered the call, though only four of them, amounting 
to 3,720 men, could be taken. These regiments, as well as their 
officers, were everywhere foremost in the American ranks, and dis- 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 119 

tinguislied themselves by their matchless valor in the bloodiest 
battles of the war. Veterans never fought more noblj and effect- 
ively than did the volunteers from Illinois. At the bloody battle of 
Buena Yista they crowned their lives — many their death — with the 
laurels of war. Never did armies contend more bravely, determinedly 
and stubbornly than the American and Mexican forces at this famous 
battle; and as Illinois troops were ever in the van and on the blood- 
iest portions of the field, we believe a short sketch of the part they 
took in the fierce contest is due them, and will be read with no lit- 
tle interest. 

BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 

General Santa Anna, with his army of 20,000, poured into the 
valley of Aqua N ueva early on the morning of the 22d of February, 
hoping to surprise our army, consisting of about 5,000 men, under 
Gen. Taylor and which had retreated to the " Narrows." They 
were hotly pursued by the Mexicans who, before attacking, sent 
Gen. Taylor a flag of truce demanding a surrender, and assuring 
him that if he refused he would be cut to pieces; but the demand 
was promptly refused. At this the enemy opened fire, and the con- 
flict began. In honor of the day the watchword with our soldiers 
was, " The memory of "Washington." An irregular fire was kept up 
all day, and at night both armies bivouacked on the field, resting on 
their arms. Santa Anna that night made a spirited address to his 
men, and the stirring strains of his own band till late in the night 
were distinctly heard by our troops; but at last silence fell over the 
hosts that were to contend unto death in that narrow pass on the 
morrow. 

Early on the following morning the battle was resumed, and con- 
tinued without intermission until nightfall. The solid columns of 
the enemy were hurled against our forces all day long, but were 
met and held in check by the unerring fire of our musketry and ar- 
tillery. A portion of Gen. Lane's division was driven back by the 
enemy under Gen. Lombardini, who, joined by Gen. Pacheco's divis- 
ion, poured upon the main plateau in so formidable numbers as 
to appear irresistible. 

BRAVERY OF THE SECOND ILLINOIS. 

At this time the 2d Illinois, under Col. Bissell, with a squadron 
of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery came handsomely into action 



120 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

and gallantlj received the concentrated fire of the enemy, which 
they returned with deliberate aim and terrible eifect; every dis- 
charge of the artillery seemed to tear a bloody path through the 
heavy columns of enemy. Says a writer: "The rapid mus- 
ketry of the gallant troops from Illinois poured a storm of lead 
into their serried ranks, which literally strewed the ground with 
the dead and dying." But, notwithstanding his losses, the enemy 
steadily advanced until our gallant regiment received fire from 
three sides. Still they maintained their position for a time with 
unflinching firmness against that immense host. At length, per- 
ceiving the danger of being entirely surrounded, it was determined 
to fall back to a ravine. Col. Bissel, with the coolness of ordinary^*', 
drill, ordered the signal " cease firing " to be made; he then with 
the same deliberation gave the command, "' Face to the rear, Bat- 
talion, about face; forward march," which was executed with the 
regularity of veterans to a point beyond the peril of being out- 
flanked. Again, in obedience to command these brave men halted- 
faced about, and under a murderous tempest of bullets from the foe, 
resumed their well-directed fire. The conduct of no troops could 
have been more admirable; and, too, until that day they had never 
been under fire, when, within less than half an hour eighty of their 
comrades dropped by their sides. How difierent from the Arkansas 
regiment, which were ordered to the plateau, but after delivering 
their first volley gave way and dispersed. 

SADDEST EVENT OF THE BATTLE. 

But now we have to relate the saddest, and, for Illinois, the most 
mournful, event of that battle-worn day. We take the account 
from Colton's History of the battle of Buena Yista, "As the enemy 
on our left was moving in retreat along the head of the Plateau, 
our artillery was advanced until within range, and opened a heavy 
fire upon him, while Cols. Hardin, Bissell and McKee, with their 
Illinois and Kentucky troops, dashed gallantly forward in hot pur- 
suit. A powerful reserve of the Mexican army was then just 
emerging from the ravine, where it had been organized, and 
advanced on the plateau, opposite the head of the southernmost 
gorge. Those who were giving way rallied quickly upon it; w^hen 
the whole force, thus increased to over 12,000 men, came forward 
in a perfect blaze of fire. It was a single column, composed of the 
best soldiers of the republic, having for its advanced battalions the 




SCE^E ON FOX lUVEli. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 123 

veteran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops were soon 
obliged to give ground before it and seek the shelter of the second 
gorge. The enemy pressed on, arriving opposite the head of the 
second gorge. One-half of the column suddenly enveloped it, while 
the other half pressed on across the plateau, having for the moment 
nothing to resist them but the three guns in their front. The por- 
tion that was immediately opposed to the Kentucky and Illinois 
troops, ran down along each side of the gorge, in which they had 
sought shelter, and also circled around its head, leaving no possible 
way of escape for thain except by its mouth, which opened 
upon the road. Its sides, which were steep, — at least an angle of 
45 degrees, — were covered with loose pebbles and stones, and con- 
verged to a point at the bottom. Do\vn there were our poor fel- 
lows, nearly three regiments of them (1st and 2d Illinois and 2d 
Kentucky), with but little opportunity to load or fire a gun, being 
hardly able to keep their feet. Above the whole edge of the 
gorge, all the way around, was darkened by the serried masses of 
the enemy, and was bristling with muskets directed on the crowd 
beneath. It was no time to pause. Those who were not immedi- 
ately shot down rushed on toward the road, their number growing 
less and less as they went, Kentuckians and lUinoisans, officers and 
men, all mixed np in confusion, and all pressing on over the loose 
pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving, precipitous banks, 
and having lines and lines of the enemy firing down from each 
side and rear as they went. Just then the enemy's cavalry, which 
had gone to the left of the reserve, had come over the spur that 
divides the mouth of the second gorge from that of the third, and 
were now closing up the only door through which there was the 
least shadow of a chance for their lives. Many of those ahead 
endeavored to force their way out, but few succeeded. The lancers 
were fully six to one, and their lung weapons were already reeking 
with blood. It was at this time that those M'ho were still back in 
that dreadful gorge heard, above the din of the musketry and the 
sliouts of the enemy around them, the roar of Washington's Bat- 
tery. No music could have been more grateful to their ears. A 
moment only, and the whole opening, where the lancers were busy, 
rang with the repeated explosions of spherical-case shot. They 
gave M'ay. The gate, as it were, was clear, and out upon the road 
a stream of our poor fellows issued. They ran panting down 



124 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

toward the battery, and directly under the fight of iron then pas- 
sing over their heads, into the retreatinej eavah'j. Hardin, McKee, 
Clay, Willis, Zabriskie, Houghton — but why go on? It would be 
a sad task indeed to name over all who fell during this twenty 
minutes' slaughter. The whole gorge, from the plateau to its 
mouth, was strewed with our dead. All dead! No wounded there 
— not a man; for the infantry had rushed down the sides and com- 
pleted the work with the bayonet." 

VICTOKY FOR OUR ARMY. 

The artillery on the plateau stubbornly maintained its position, 
The remnants of the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments, after issuing 
from the fated gorge, were formed and again brought into action, 
the former, after the fall of the noble Hardin, under Lieut. Col. 
Weatherford, the latter under Bissell. The enemy brought forth 
reinforcements and a brisk artillery duel was kept up; but gradually, 
as the shades of night began to cover the earth, the rattle of mus- 
ketry slackened, and when the pall of night was thrown over that 
bloody field it ceased altogether. Each army, after the fierce and 
long struggle, occupied much the same position as it did in the 
morning. However, early on the following morning, the glad 
tidings were heralded amidst our army that the enemy had retreated, 
thus again crowning the American banners with victory. 

OTHER HONORED NAMES OF THIS WAR. 

Other bright names from Illinois that shine as stars in thigi 
war are those of Shields, Baker, Harris and Cofiee, which are 
indissolubly connected with the glorious capture of Yera Cruz 
and the not less famous storming of Cerro Gordo. In this latter 
action, when, after the valiant Gen. Shields had been placed hors 
de combat, the command of his force, consisting of three regiments, 
devoled upon Col. Baker. This ofiicer, with his men, stormed with 
unheard-of prowess the last stronghold of the Mexicans, sweeping 
everything before them. Sucli indeed were the intrepid valor and 
daring courage exhibited by Illinois volunteers during the Mexican 
war that their deeds should live in the memory of their countrymen 
until those latest times when the very name of America shall have 
been forgotten. 



125 

THE WAR FOR THE UNIOK. 

On the fourth day of March, 1861, after the most exciting and 
momentous political campaign known in the history of this country, 
Abraham Lincohi — America's martyred President — was inaugu- 
rated Chief Magistrate of the United States. This fierce contest 
was principally sectional, and as the announcement was flashed over 
the telegraph wires that the Republican Presidential candidate had 
been elected, it was hailed by the South as a justifiable pretext for 
dissolving the Union. Said Jeiferson Davis in a speech at Jackson, 
Miss., prior to the election, "If an abolitionist be chosen Presi- 
dent of the United States you will have presented to you the 
question whether you will permit the government to pass into 
the hands of your avowed and implacable enemies. Without 
pausing for an answer, I will state my own position to be that 
such a result would be a species of revolution by which the 
purpose of the Government would be destroyed, and the obser- 
vances of its mere forms entitled to no respect. In that event, 
in such manner as should be most expedient, I should deem it 
your duty to provide for your safety outside of the Union." Said 
another Southern politician, when speaking on the same sub- 
ject, " We shall fire the Southern heart, instruct the Southern 
mind, give courage to each, and at the proper moment, by one 
organized, concerted action, we can precipitate the Cotton States 
into a revolution." To disrupt the Union and form a government 
which recognized the absolute supremacy of the white population 
and the perpetual bondage of the black was what they deemed 
freedom from the galling yoke of a Republican administration. 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID NOT SEEK THE PRESIDENCY. 

Hon. R. W. Miles, of Knox county, sat on the floor by the side 
of Abraham Lincoln in the Library-room of the Capitol, in Spring- 
field, at the secret caucus meeting, held in January, 1859, when 
Mr. Lincoln's name was first spoken of in caucus as candidate for 
President. When a gentleman, in making a short speech, said, 
" We are going to bring Abraham Lincoln out as a candidate for 
President," Mr. Lincoln at once arose to his feet, and exclaimed, 
"For God's sake, let me alone! I have suffered enough!" This 
was soon after he had been defeated in the Legislature for United 
States Senate by Stephen A. Douglas, and only those who are 



126 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

intimate with that important and unparalleled contest can appre- 
ciate the full force and meaning of these exj^ressive words of the 
martyred President. They were spontaneous, and prove beyond a 
shadow of doubt that Abraham Lincoln did not seek the high posi- 
tion of President. Nor did he use any trickery or chicanery to 
obtain it. But his expressed wish was not to be complied with; 
our beloved country needed a savior and a martyr, and Fate had 
decreed that he should be the victim. After Mr. Lincoln was 
elected President, Mr. Miles sent him an eagle's quill, with which 
the chief magistrate wrote his first inaugural address. The letter 
written by Mr. Miles to the President, and sent with the quill, 
which was two feet in length, is such a jewel of eloquence and 
prophecy that it should be given a place in history: 

Persifer, December 21, 1860. 
Hon. a. Lincoln : 

Dear Sir : — Please accept the eagle quill I promised y^^^- 1^7 the hand of our 
Representative, A. A. Smith. The bird from whose wing the quill was taken, was 
shot by John F. Dillon, in Persifer township, Knox Co., Ills., in Feb., 1857 Hav- 
ing heard that James Buchanan was furnished with an eagle quill to write his 
Inaugural with, and believing that in 18G0, a Republican would be elected to take 
liis place, I determined to save this quill and present it to the fortunate man, wdio- 
€ver he might be. Reports tell us that the bird which furnished Buchanan's quill 
was a captured bird,— tit emblem of the man that used it ; but the bird from 
which this quill was taken, yielded the quill only with his life,— fit emblem of the 
man who is expected to use it, for true Republicans believe that you would not 
think life worth the keeping after the surrender of principle. Great difficulties 
surround you ; traitors to their country have threatened your life ; and should 
you be called upon to surrender it at the post of duty, your memory will live for- 
ever in the heart of every freeman ; and that is a grander monument than can be 
■built of brick or marl^le. 

"For if hearts may not our memories keep, 
Oblivion haste each vestige sweep, 
And let our memories end.'' 



Yours Truly, 



R. W. Miles. 



STATES SECEDING. 



At the time of President Lincoln's accession to power, several 
members of the Union claimed they had withdrawn from it, and 
styling themselves the '' Confederate States of America," organ- 
ized a separate government. The house was indeed divided 
against itself, but it should not fall, nor should it long continue 
divided, was the hearty, determined response of every loyal heart 
in the nation. The accursed institution of human slavery was 
the primary cause for this dissolution of the American Union. 
Doubtless other agencies served to intensify the hostile feel- 
ings which existed between the Korthern and Southern portions 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 127 

of our country, but tlieir remote origin could be traced to this great 
national evil. Had Lincoln's jjredecessor put forth a timely, ener- 
getic effort, he might have prevented tlie bloody war our nation 
was called to pass through. On the other hand every aid was given 
the rebels; every advantage and all the power of the Government 
was placed at their disposal, and when Illinois' honest son took the 
reins of the Kepublic he found Buchanan had been a traitor to his 
trust, and given over to the South all available means of war. 

THE FALL OF SUMTER. 

On the 12th day of April, 1861, the rebels, who for weeks had 
been erecting their batteries upon the shore, after demanding of 
Major Anderson a surrender, opened fire upon Fort Sumter. For 
thirty-four hours an incessant cannonading was continued; the fort 
was being seriously injured; provisions were almost gone, and Major 
Anderson was compelled to haul down the stars and stripes. That 
dear old flag which had seldom been lowered to a foreign foe by 
rebel hands was now trailed in the dust. The first blow of the 
terrible conflict which summoned vast armies into the field, and 
moistened the soil of a nation in fraternal blood and tears, had 
been struck. The gauntlet thus thrown down by the attack on 
Sumter by the traitors of the South was accepted — not, however, 
in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence — but with a firm, 
determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. Tiie duty of 
the President was plain under the constitution and the laws, and 
above and beyond all, the people from whom all political power is 
derived, demanded the suppression of the Kebellion, and stood ready 
to sustain the authority of their representative and executive 
officers. Promptly did the new President issue a proclamation 
calling for his countrymen to join with him to defend their homes 
and their country, and vindicate her honor. This call was made 
April 14, two days after Sumter was first fired upon, and was for 
75,000 men. On the 15th, the same day he was notified, Gov. 
Yates issued his proclamation convening the Legislature. He also 
ordered the organization of six regiments. Troops were in abund- 
ance, and the call was no sooner made than filled. Patriotism 
thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, 
the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, 
the school-house,— every calling offered its best men, their lives and 
their fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity. 



128 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

Bitter words spoken, in moments of political heat were forgotten 
3,nd forgiven, and joining hands in a common cause, they repeated 
'the oath of America's soldier-statesman: " By the Great Eternal^ 
the Union must and shall he jpreservedy The honor, the very- 
life and glory of the nation was committed to the stern arbitrament 
of the sword, and soon the tramp of armed men, the clash of 
musketry and the heavy boom of artillery reverberated throughout 
the continent; rivers of blood saddened by tears of mothers, wives, 
sisters, daughters and sweethearts flowed from the lakes to the 
gulf, but a nation was saved. The sacrifice was great, but the 
Union was preserved. 

CALL FOR TROOPS PROMPTLY ANSWERED. 

Simultaneously with the call for troops by the President, enlist- 
ments commenced in this State, and within ten days 10,000 
volunteers offered service, and the sum of $1,000,000 was tendered 
by patriotic citizens. Of the volunteers who offered their services, 
only six regiments could be accepted under the quota of the State, 
But the time soon came when there was a place and a musket for 
every man. The six regiments raised were designated by numbers 
commencing with seven, as a mark of respect for the six regiments 
which had served in the Mexican war. Another call was antici- 
pated, and the Legislature authorized ten additional regiments to 
be organized. Over two hundred companies were immediately 
raised from which were selected the required number. J^o sooner 
was this done than the President made another call for troops, six 
regiments were again our proportion, although by earnest solicita- 
tion the remaining four were accepted. There were a large number 
of men with a patriotic desire to enter the service who were denied 
this privilege. Many of them wept, while others joined regiments 
from other States. In May, June and July seventeen regiments 
of infantry and five of cavalry were raised, and in the latter month, 
when the President issued his first call for 500,000 volunteers, 
Illinois tendered thirteen regiments of infantry and three of cavalry, 
and so anxious were her sons to have the Rebellion crushed that 
the number could have been increased by thousands. At the 
close of 1861 Illinois had sent to the field nearly 50,000 men, and 
had 17,000 in camp .awaiting marching orders, thus exceeding her 
full quota by 15,000. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 129 

A VAST ARMY RAISED IN ELEVEN DATS. 

In July and August of 1862 the President called for 600,000 
men — our quota of which was 52,296 — and gave until August 18 as 
the limits in which the number might be raised by volunteering, 
after which a draft would be ordered. The State had already fur- 
nished 17,000 in excess of her quota, and it was first thought this 
number would be deducted from the present requisition, but that 
could not be done. But thirteen days were granted to enlist this 
vast army, which had to come from tlie farmers and mechanics. 
The former were in the midst of harvest, but, inspired by love of 
country, over 50,000 of them left their harvests ungathered, their 
tools and their benches, the plows in their furrows, turning their 
backs on their homes, and before eleven days had expired the 
demands of the Government were met and both quotas filled. 

The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as 
if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush 
out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugurated. But 
to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready 
response. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of 
men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, 
patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their 
country's altar. On the 21st of December, 186i, the last call for 
troops was made. It was for 300,000. In consequence of an im- 
perfect enrollment of the men subject to military duty, it became 
evident, ere this call was made, that Illinois was furnishing thous- 
ands of men more than what her quota would have been, had it 
been correct. So glaring had this disproportion become, that 
under this call the quota of some districts exceeded the number of 
able-bodied men in them. 

A GENERAL SUMMARY. 

Following this sketch we give a schedule of all the volunteer 
troops organized from this State, from the commencement to the 
close of the war. It is taken from the Adjutant General's report. 
The number of the regiment, name of original Colonel, call under 
which recruited, date of organization and muster into the United 
States' service, place of muster, and aggregate strength of each 
organization, from whicli we find that Illinois put into her one hun- 
dred and eighty regiments 256,000 men, and into the United States 



130 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

armj, through other States, enough to swell the number to 290,000. 
This far exceeds all the soldiers of the Federal Government in all 
the war of the Revolution. Her total years of service were over 
600,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five years of age, 
when the law of Congress in 1S64 — the test time — only asked for 
those from twenty to forty-five. Her enrollments were otherwise 
excessive. Her people wanted to go, and did not take the pains to 
correct the enrollment ; thus the basis of fixing the quota was too 
great, and the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far abov^e 
any other State. The demand on some counties, as Monroe, for 
example, took every able-bodied man in the county, and then did 
not have enough to fill the quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844: 
men for one hundred days, for whom no credit was asked. She 
gave to the country 73,000 years of service above all calls. "With 
one-thirteenth of the population of the loyal States, she sent regu- 
larly one-tenth of all the soldiers, and in the perils of the closing 
calls, when patriots were few and weary, she sent one-eighth of all 
that were called for by her loved and honored son in the White 
House. Of the brave boys Illinois sent to the front, there were 
killed in action, 5, 8SS; died of wounds, 3,032; of disease, 19,496; 
in prison, 967; lost at sea, 205; aggregate, 29,58S. As upon every 
field and upon every page of the history of this war, Illinois bore 
her part of the suffering in the prison-pens of the South. More 
than 800 names make up the awful column of Illinois' brave sons 
who died in the rebel prison of Andersonville, Ga. "Who can 
measure or imagine the atrocities which would be laid before the 
world were the panorama of sufterings and terrible trials of these 
gallant men but half unfolded to view? But this can never be 
done until new words of horror are invented, and new arts dis- 
covered by which demoniacal fiendishness can be portrayed, and 
the intensest anguish of the human soul in ten thousand forms be 
painted. 

Ko troops ever fought more heroically, stubbornly, and with bet- 
ter efi'ect, than did the boys from the "Prairie State." At Pea 
Eidge, Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, luka, Corinth, Stone River, 
Holly Springs, Jackson, Yicksburg, Chicamauga, Lookout Moun- 
tain, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Chattanooga, and 
on every other field where the clash of arms was heard, her sons 
were foremost. 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 131 

CAPTURE OF THE ST. LOUIS ARSENAL. 

Illinois was almost destitute of firearms at the beginning of the 
conflict, and none could be procured in the East. The traitorous 
Floyd had turned over to the South 300,000 arms, leaving most 
arsenals in the North empty. Gov. Yates, however, received an 
order on the St. Louis arsenal for 10,000 muskets, which he put in 
the hands of Captain Stokes, of Chicago. Several unsuccessful 
attempts were made by the Captain to pass through the large crowd 
of rebels which had gathered around the arsenal, suspecting an 
attempt to move the arms would be made. He at last succeeded 
in gaining admission to the arsenal, but was informed by the com- 
mander that the slightest attempt to move the arms would be dis- 
covered and bring an infuriated mob upon the garrison. This fear 
was well founded, for tlie following day Gov. Jackson ordered 2,000 
armed men from Jefferson City down to capture the arsenal. Capt. 
Stokes telegraphed to Alton for a steamer to descend the river, and 
about midnight land opposite the arsenal, and proceeding to the 
same place with 700 men of the 7th Illinois, commenced loading 
the vessel. To divert attention from his real purpose, he had 500 
guns placed upon a different boat. As designed, this movement 
was discovered by the rabble, and the shouts and excitement upon 
their seizure drew most of the crowd from the arsenal. Capt. 
Stokes not only took all the guns his requisition called for, but 
emptied the arsenal. When all was .ready, and the signal given to 
start, it was found that the immense weight had bound the bow of 
the boat to a rock, but after a few moments' delay the boat fell away 
from the shore and floated into deep water. 

"Which way?" said Capt. Mitchell, of the steamer. ''Straight 
in the regular channel to Alton," replied Capt. Siokes. "What if 
we are attacked?" said Capt. Mitchell. " Then we will fight," was 
the reply of Capt. Stokes. "What if we are overpowered?" said 
Mitchell. " Run the boat to the deepest part of the river and sink 
her," replied Stokes. "I'll do it," was the heroic answer of 
Mitchell, and away they went past the secession battery, past the 
St. Louis levee, and in the regular channel on to Alton. When 
they touched the landing, Capt. Stokes, fearing pursuit, ran to the 
market house and rang the fire bell. The citizens came flocking 
pell-mell to the river, and soon men, women and children were 
tugging away at that vessel load of arms, which they soon had 
deposited in freight cars and off to Springfield. 



132 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS, ^ 

LIBEKALITY AS WELL AS PATRIOTISM. 

The people were liberal as well as patriotic; and while the men 
were busy enlisting, organizing and equipping companies, the ladies 
were no less active, and the noble, generous work performed by 
their tender, loving hands deserves mention along with the bravery, 
devotion and patriotism of their brothers upon the Southern fields 
of carnage. 

The continued need of money to obtain the comforts and neces- 
saries for the sick and wounded of our army suggested to the loyal 
women of the North many and various devices for the raising of 
funds. Every city, town and village had its fair, festival, picnic, 
excursion, concert, which netted more or less to the cause of 
hospital relief, according to the population of the place and the 
amount of energy and patriotism displayed on such occasions. 
Especially was this characteristic of our own fair State, and scarcely 
a hamlet within its borders which did not send something from its 
stores to hospital or battlefield, and in the larger towns and cities 
were well -organized soldiers' aid societies, working systematically 
and continuously from the beginning of the war till its close. The 
great State Fair held in Chicago in May, 1865, netted $250,000. 
Homes for traveling soldiers were established all over the State, in 
which were furnished lodging for 600,000 men, and meals valued 
at $2,500,000. Food, clothing, medicine, hospital delicacies, 
reading matter, and thousands of other articles, were sent to the 
boys at the front. 

MESSAGES OF LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. 

Letters, messages of love and encouragement, were sent by 
noble women from many counties of the State to encourage the 
brave sons and brothers in the South. Below we give a copy of a 
printed letter sent from Knox county to the "boys in blue," as 
showing the feelings of the women of the l^orth. It was headed, 
" From the Women of Knox County to Their Brothers in the 
Field." It was a noble, soul-inspiring message, and kindled anew 
the intensest love for home, country, and a determination to crown 
the stars and stripes with victory : 

" You have gone out from our homes, but not from our hearts. 
Never for one moment are you forgotten. Through weary march 
and deadly conflict our prayers have ever followed you; your 
sufferings are our sufferings, your victories our great joy. 



HI8T0KY OF ILLINOIS. 133 

" If there be one of you who knows not the dear home ties, for 
whom no mother prays, no sister watches, to him especially we 
speak. Let him feel that thougli he may not have one mother he 
has many; he is the adopted child and brother of all our hearts. 
]^ot one of you is beyond the reach of onr sympathies; no picket- 
station so lonely that it is not enveloped in the halo of our 
prayers. 

" During all the long, dark months since our country called you 
from us, your courage, your patient endurance, your fidelity, have 
awakened our keenest interest, and we have longed to give you an 
expression of that interest. 

"By the alacrity with which you sprang to arms, by the valor 
with which those arms have been wielded, you have placed our 
State in the front ranks; you have made her worthy to be the home 
of our noble President. For thus sustaining the honor of our 
State, dear to us as life, we thank you. 

" Of your courage we need not speak. Fort Donelson, Pea 
Eidge, Shiloh, Stone River, Yicksburg, speak with blood-bathed 
lips of your heroism. The Army of the Southwest fights beneath 
no defeat-shadowed banner; to it, under God, the nation looks for 
deliverance. 

"But we, as women, have other cause for thanks. "We will not 
speak of the debt we owe the defenders of our Government; that 
blood-sealed bond no words can cancel. But wc are your debtors 
in a way not often recognized. You have aroused us from the 
aimlessness into which too many of our lives had drifted, and have 
infused into those lives a noble pathos. "We could not dream our 
time away while our brothers were dying for us. Even your suffer- 
ings have worked together for our good, by inciting us to labor for 
their alleviation, thus giving us a work worthy of our womanhood. 
Everything that we have been permitted to do for your comfort 
has filled our lives so much the fuller of all that makes life valua- 
ble. You have thus been the means of developing in us a nobler 
type of womanhood than without the example of your heroism we 
could ever have attained. For this our whole lives, made purer 
and nobler by the discipline, will thank you. 

*'This war will leave none of us as it found us. We cannot 
buffet the raging wave and escape all trace of the salt sea's fuam. 
Toward better or toward worse we are hurried with fearful 



134 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

haste. If we at home feel this, what must it be to you! Our 
hearts throb with agony when we think of you wounded, suffering, 
dying; but the thought of no physical pain touches us half so 
deeply as the thought of the temptations which surround you. 
We could better give you up to die on the battle-field, true to your 
God and to your country, than to have you return to us with 
blasted, blackened souls. When temptations assail fiercely, you 
must let the thought that your mothers are praying for strength 
enable you to overcome them. But fighting for a worthy cause 
worthily ennobles one; herein is our confidence that you will 
return better men than you went away. 

" By all that is noble in your manhood ; by all that is true in 
our womanhood; by all that is grand in patriotism; by all that is 
sacred in religion, we adjure you to be faitliful to yourselves, to us, 
to your country, and to your God. l^ever were men permitted to 
fight in a cause more worthy of their blood. Were you fighting 
for mere conquest, or glory, we could not give you up; but to sus- 
tain a jyrinciple, the greatest to which human lips have ever given 
utterance, even your dear lives are not too costly a sacrifice. Let 
that principle, the corner-stone of our independence, be crushed, 
and we are all slaves. Like the Suliote mothers, we might well 
clasp our children in our arms and leap down to death. 

"To the stern arbitrament of the sword is now committed the 
honor, the very life of this nation. You fight not for yourselves 
alone; the eyes of the whole world are on you; and if you fail our 
Nation's death-wail will echo through all coming ages, moaning a 
requiem over the lost hopes of oppressed humanity. But you will 
not fail, so sure as there is a God in Heaven. He never meant 
this richest argosy of the nations, freighted with the fears of all 
the world's t}Tants, with the hopes of all its oppressed ones, to 
flounder in darkness and death. Disasters may come, as they have 
come, but tliey will only be, as they have been, ministers of good. 
Each one has led the nation upward to a higher plane, from whence 
it has seen with a clearer eye. Success could not attend us at the 
West so long as we scorned the help of the black hand, which 
alone had power to open the gate of redemption; the God of 
battles would not vouchsafe a victory at the East till the very foot- 
prints of a McClellan were washed out in blood. 

"But now all things seem ready; we have accepted the aid of 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 135 

that hand; those footsteps are obliterated. In his own good time 
we feel that God will give us the victory. Till that hour comes we 
bid you fight on. Though we have not attained that heroism, or 
decision, which enables us togweyou up without a struggle, which 
can prevent our giving tears for your hlood, though many of us 
must own our hearts desolate till you return, still we bid you stay 
and fight for our country, till from this fierce baptism of blood she 
shall be raised complete; the dust shaken from her garments puri- 
fied, a new Memnon singing in the great Godlight." 

Sherman's march to the sea. 

On the 15th of November, 1864, after the destruction of Atlanta, 
and the railroads behind him, Sherman, with his army, began his 
march to the sea-coast. The almost breathless anxiety with which 
his progress was watched by the loyal hearts of the nation, and the 
trembling apprehension with which it was regarded by all who 
hoped for rebel success, indicated this as one of the most remark- 
able events of the war; and so it proved. Of Sherman's army, 45 
regiments of infantry, three companies of artillery, and one of 
cavalry were from this State. Lincoln answered all rumors of 
Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible; there is a mighty sight 
of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 
300 battle flags. The first United States flag that floated over 
Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to 
every fleld and hospital to care for her sick and wounded sons. 

Illinois gave the country the great general of the war, U. S. 
Grant. 

character of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed 
in all hearts, that must have the supreme place in this sketch of 
our glory and of our nation's [honor: that name is Abraham 
Lincoln. The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is diflicult on 
account of its symmetry. In this age we look with admiration at 
his uncompromising honesty; and well we may, for this saved us. 
Thousands throughout the length and breadth of our country, who 
knew him only as "Honest Old Abe," voted for him on that 
account; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could have 
carried us through the fearful night of war. When his plans were 
too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause too sub- 



136 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

lime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all 
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us; when not one 
ray shone upon our cause; when traitors were haughty and exult- 
ant at the South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North; when 
the loyal men seemed almost in the minority; when the stoutest 
heart quailed, the bravest cheek paled; when generals were defeat- 
ing each other for place, and contractois were leeching out the very 
heart's blood of the republic; when everything else had failed us, 
we looked at this calm, patient man standing like a rock in the 
storm, and said, " Mr. Lincoln is honest, and we can trust him still" 
Holding to this single point with the energy of faith and despair, 
we held together, and under God he brought us through to victory. 
His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With 
such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate 
effects, that his foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. 
He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory will shed 
a glory upon this age that will fill the eyes of men as they look 
into history. Other men have excelled him in some points; but, 
taken at all points, he stands head and shoulders above every other 
man of 6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the 
perils of unparalleled civil war; a statesman, he justified his 
measures by their success; a philanthropist, he gave liberty to one 
race and salvation to another; a moralist, he bowed from the sum- 
mit of human power to the foot of the cross; a mediator, he exer- 
cised mercy under the most absolute obedience to law; a leader, 
he was no partisan; a commander, he was untainted with blood; a 
ruler in desperate times, he was unsullied with crime; a man, he 
has left no word of passion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, 
no act of jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected, 
without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into these 
troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good and all that 
is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming time the 
representative of the divine idea of free government. It is not 
too much to say that away down in the future, wlien the republic 
has fallen from its niche in the wall of time; when the great war 
itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the 
horizon; when the Anglo-Saxon shall be spoken only by the tongue 
of the stranger, then the generations looking tliis way shall see 
the great President as the supreme figure in this vortex of history. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



137 



THE WAE ENDED — THE UNION KESTOEED. 

The rebellion was ended with the surrender of Lee and his army, 
and Johnson and his command in April, 1865. Our armies at the 
time were up to their maximum strength, never so formidable, 
never so invincible; and, until recruiting ceased by order of Sec- 
retary Stanton, were daily strengthening. The necessity, however, 




LINCOLN MONUMENT AT SPRINGFIELD. 

for SO vast and formidable immbers ceased with the disbanding of 
the rebel forces, which had for more than four years disputed the 
supremacy of the Government over its domain. And now the 
joyful and welcome news was to be borne to the victorious legions 
that their work was ended in triumph, and they were to be per- 
mitted "to see homes and friends once more." 



138 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 



ScHBDXJLB— Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the 
fleld, commencing April, 1861, and ending December ol, 1S65, with number of regiment, name 
of original commanding othcer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, 
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization. 

INFANTRY. 



Commanding officer at organiza 
tion. 



May 24, 1861. 
May 25, 1801. 
May 24, 1861. 



May 28, 1861 



Col. John Cook 

" Richard J. Oglesby.. . 

" Eleazer A. Paine 

" Jas. D. Morgan 

" W. H. L. Wallace... . 

" John McArthur 

" John B. Wyman 

" John M . Palmer 

" Tho8. J.Turner 

" Robert F. Smith 

" Leonard F. Ross 

" Michael K. Lawler 

" John B. Turchin 

" Chas. C. Marsh 

" Ulysses S.Grant 

" Henry Dougherty 

" Jas. A. Mulligan 

" Fredericli Ilecker 

" Wm. N. Coler 

" John M. Loomis 

" Nap. B. Buford , 

" A.K.Johnson 

" Jas. S. Kearden 

" Philip B. Fouke jSept. 30, 1861. 

" John A. Logan Sept. 8, 1801.. 

Dec. 31, 1861. 

Aug. 15, 1861. 

Sept. r, 1861. 



Date of organization and 
muster into the United 
States service. 



July 2.5, 1861. 



June V\ 1861. 
June 15, 1861. 
June 25, 1861. 
June 18, 1861. 
July 8, 1861. 



Get. 31, 18t;i. 



Aug. 3, 1861 . 
July2T, 1861. 



John Logan 

Chas. E. llovev 

Edward N. Kirk 

Gus. A. Smith 

Nich. Greusel 

Julius White 

Wm. P. Carlin 

Austin Li?ht 

Steph. G. Hicks 

Isaac C. Piigh 

Wm.A. Webb.. 

Julius Raith 

Chas. Noblesdorff . . . 

John E. Smith 

John A. Davis 

John Bryuer 

Isham N. Ilaynie 

Wm. R.Morrison... 

Moses M. Bane 

G. W. Cumming 

Isaac G. Wilson 

W. H. W. Cushman. 

Thos. W. Hams 

David Stuart 

Robert Kirkham — 

Silas D. Baldwin.... 

Wm. F. Lvnch 

P. Sidney Post 

Silas C. "Toler 

Jacob Fry 

James M. True 

Francis Mora 

Lt. Col. D. D. Williams.. 
Col. Daniel Cameron .... 

Patrick E. Burke 

Rosell M. Hough 

Elias Stuart 

Jos. H. Tucker 

O. T. Reeves 

Othniel Gilbert 



Sept. 23, 1861 

Sept. 18,1361 

Aug. 15, 1861. .. 
December, 1861... 

Aug. 10, 1861 

Aug, 9. 1861 

Sept. 17, 1861 

Dec. 16,1861 

Sept. 13, 1861 

Dec. 26, 1''61 

Dec. 28, 1861 

Oct. 1. 1861 

Nov. 18,1861 

Dec. 31, 1861 

Sept. 12, 1861 

Dec. '61, Feb. '62.. 

Nov. 19, 1861 

March. 1862 

Feb. 18,1862 

Oct. 31, 1861 

Feb. 27, 1862 

Dec. 26, 1861 

Dec. 24, 1861 

August. 1861 

Feb. 17, 1862 

March 7,1862.... 
April 10,1862 



Dec. 31, 1862. 
Mavis, 1862. 
April. 1862... 
Juno 13, 1862. 
June 20, 1862. 
June 14, 1862. 
Julv4, 1862.. 
July 26, 1862. 



Place where mustered 
into the United Statei 
service. 



Cairo, Illinois. 



Dixon 

Jacksonville. 

Freeport 

Quiucy 

Peoria 

Anna 



Joliet . . . 
Mattoon... 
Belleville. 
Chicago.. . 
Chicago... 



Camp Butler. 



Camp 
Camp 
Camp 
Camp 
Camp 
Camp 
Camp 



Butler. 
Butler. 
Butler. 
Butler. 
Butler. 
Butler. 
Butler. 



.Aurora 

Chicago 

Camp Butler... 

Chicago 

Salem.. 

Decatur 

Chicago 

Camp^Butler. .. 

Chicago 

Galeua 

Camp Butler... 

Peoria 

Camp Butler... 
Camp Butler, . 

Quincy 

Camp "Douglas. 

Geneva , 

Ottawa 

Anna 

Camp Douglas 
Shawneetown .. 
Camp Douglas. 
Camp Douglas 
St. Louis, Mo.. 

Anna . 

Carrollton 

Anna 

Anna 

Camp Butler 

Camp Douglas. 
St. Loui'i, Mo.. 
Camp Douglas. 
Camp Butler.. . 
Camp Douglas. 
Camp Butler.. . 
Camp Douglas. 



P»9 
Vci- 

174T 
185* 
1265 
1759 
1384 
1675 
1113 
2015 
2028 
183.9 
1259 
2043 
1095 
1817 
1266 
1164 
1982 
989 
1083 
1602 
1193 
1939 
1547 
1878 
1973 
1711 
1660 
1558 
1012 
1593 
1157 
1388. 
1807 
1277 
1211 
1824 
1902 
1512 
1716 
2015 
2051 
1874 
1482 
1761 
1550 
1519 
1434 
1720 
1287 
1180 
1754 
2202 
1762 
1647 
1385 
1730 
1228 
1624 
1684 
1694 
979 
889 
912 
1006 
940 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



139 



ScHEDtTLE — Showing statement of volunteer troops orcjanizcd within the State, and pent to the 
field, commencing April, 1861, and endinj^ December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name 
of ori^innl commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, 
place of muBler, and the aggregate etreugth of each orgauizalion. 

INFANTRY. 



72 
73 

74 
75 
76 
77 
78 
79 
80 
81 
82 
83 
84 
85 
86 
87 
88 
89 
90 
91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
96 
97 
98 
99 

100 

101 

102 

103 

IO4 

IO5 

106 

IO7 

IOr 

109 

lib 
111 
112 
113 



Commanding ofBcer at organiza 
tion. 



Col. Frederick A. Starring., 

" Jas. P. Jaquess 

" Jason Marsh 

" George Kyan 

" Alouzo W. Mack 

" David P. Grier 

" W. 11. Bcnnison 

'• Lyman Guinnip 

" Thos. G. Allen 

" .lau. J. Dollins.. 

" Frederick Uecker 

" AbncrC. Harding 

•' Louis IL Waters 

" Robert S. Moore 

" David D. Irons 

" John E. Whiting 

" F. T. Sherman 

■' John Christopher 

" Timothy O'Mera 

" Henry M. Day 

•' Smith D. Atkins 

'■ Ilolden Putnam 

'■ Wm. W. Orme 

'■ Lawr'n S. Church 

" ThoB. E. Champion. ... 
F. S. Rutherford. 



Date of organization and 
muster into the United 
States service. 



Aug. 21,1862... 

Sept. 4, 1862... 
Sept. 2, 1862. . 
Aug. 22, 1862. 
♦Sept. 3, 1862. 
Sept. 1, 1862... 
Aug. 28, 1862.. 
Aug. 25, 1862... 
Aug. 26, 186a.. 



Aug. 21, 1862.. 
Sept. 1, 1862.. 
Aug. 27, 1882. 

Sept 22, 1862. 
Aug. 27, 1862.. 
*Ang. 25. 186.;. 
Nov. 22, 1862.. 
Sept. 8, 1862.. 
Sept. 4,1862... 
Oct. 13, 1862... 
Aug. 20, 1862.. 
Sept. 4,1862... 
Sept. 6, 1862.. 
Sept. 8, 1802. 



J. J. Funkhouscr Sept. 3, li-02 



G. W. K. Bailey 

Fred. A. Bartleson. 

ChaH. II. Fox 

Wm. McMurtry 

Amos C. Babcock.. 

Absalom B. Moore.. 

Daniel Dustin 

Robert B. Latham.. 

Thomas Snell 

John Warner 

Alex. J. Nimmo 

Thos. 8. Casey 

James S. Martin.... 

T.J. Henderson 

Geo. B. Iloge 

114| ■' James W. Judy 

115 " JesHO IL Moore 

lie " Nathan II.Tupper.. 

117 " Risden M. Moore... 

118 " John G. Fonda 

119 " Thos. .J. Kenney 

120 " George W. -McKeaig 

121 Never organized 

122 Col. John I. Rinaker...: 

123 " James Moore 

124 " Thomas J. Sloan.... 

125 " Oscar P. Harmon. . . 

126 " Jonathan Richmond 

127 " John Van.\rman 

128 " Robert M. Hudley... 

129 " George P. Smith 

130 " Nathaniel Niles 

1-31 " George W. Neeley.. 
132 " Thomas C. Pickett. 

m " Thad. Phillips 

1-34 " W. W McChesney... 
135 " Johns. Wolfe 



Aug. 26, 1862. 
Aug. 30, 1862. 
Sept. 2, 1862.. 



Oct, 2, 1862. . . 
Aug. 27, 1862. 
Sept. 2, 1862. 
Sept. 17, 1862. 
Sept. 4,1862.. 
Aug. 28, 1862. 
Sept. 11, 1861. 



Sept. 18, 1862. 
Sept. 12, 1862. 
Oct. 1,1862... 
Sept. 18, 1862. 
Sept. 13, 1S62. 
Sept. 30, 1862.. 
Sept. 19, 1862.. 
Nov 29, m;2. 
Oct. 7, 1862... 
Oct. 29, 1862... 



Sept. 4, 1862.. 
Sept. 6 1862 . 
Sept. 10. 1862. 
Sept. 4, 1862.. 

*Sept. 5, 1862. 
Dec 18, 1862.. 
Sept. 8, 1862.. 
Oct. 25. 1865.. 
Nov. 13, 1862.. 
Tunel, 1864... 
May 31, 1864... 

June 6,1864.. 



Place where mustered 
into the United States 
service. 



Camp Douglas 

Camp Butler 

Rockford 

Dixon 

Kankakee 

Peoria. ., 

Quiucy 

Danville 

Ccntralia 

Anna 

Camp Butler 

Monmouth 

Quincy , 

Peoria , 

Peoria 

Shawneetown , 

('amp Douglas , 

Camp Douglas. 

Camp Douglas 

Camp Butler 

Rockford 

Princeton and Chicago... 

Bloomington, 

Rockford 

Rockford 

Camp Butler 

Ccntralia 

Florence, Pike Co., 

Joliet 

.Jacksonville 

Knoxville 

peoria 

Ottawa 

( hicago 

Lincoln 

Camp Butler 

Peoria 

Anna 

Anna 

Salem 

Peoria 

Camp Douglas 

CampButler 

Camp Butler 

Decatur 

Camp Butler 

CampButler 

guincy 
amp Butler 



Carlinville..,.. 

Mattoon 

Cam J) Butler... 

Danville 

Chicago 

Camp Douglas. 
Camp Butler.. . 

Pontiac 

Camp But'er. .. 
Camp Massac. . 

Camp Fry 

Camp Butler. 

Camp Fry 

Mattoon 



S-B -1 

s ^ 



»5 3 



1471 
968 
989 
987 
1110 
1051 
102)i 
974 
92S 
1187 
961 
1286 
956 
959 
993 
994 
907 

938 
1041 
1265 
1036 
1091 
1427 
1206 
108^ 
107S 
936 
921 
911 
998 
917 
977 
1001 
1097 
944 
927 
967 
873 
994 
1095 
1258 
990 
960 
952 
995 
1101 
952 
844 



1050 
1130 
933 

998 
957 
866 
1011 
932 
880 
853 
851 
878 
852 



140 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



Schedule — Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the 
field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name 
of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States' service, 
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization. 

INFANTRY^ 



a 
p 


Commanding officer at organiza- 
tion. 


Date of organization and 
muster into the United 
States service. 


Place where mustered 
into the United States 
service. 


> 
r-p* 


ISfi 


Col. Fred. A. Johns.. 


June 1, 1864 




842 


137 


" John Wood 


June 5, 1864 . 




849 


138 


" J.W.Goodwin 


June 21, 1864 




835 


139 


" Peter Davidson 


June 1,1864.. . 




878 


140 


'• L.H.Whitney 


June 18 18&4 


Camp Butler 

Elgin 


871 
842 


141 


" Stephen Bronson 

" Rollin V. Anliney 

" Dudley C. Smith 

" Cyrus Hall 

" George W. Lackey 


Junel6i 1B64 


149 


June 18, 1864 


851 


143 


June 11,1864 


Mattoon 

Alton, Ills 


865 


144 


Oct. 21, 1864 


1159 
880 
1056 


145 


June 9, 1864 


14f) 


" Henry H. Dean 

•' Hiram F. Sickles 


Sept. 20,1864 


Camp Butler 

Chicago 


147 


Feb. 18, 1865 

Feb. 11, 1865 


1047 
917 


148 


" Horace H. Wilsie 


149 


" Wm. C. Kueffner 




983 


l.'O 


" George W. Keener 


Feb. 14, 1865 

Feb. 25, 1865 

Feb. 18, 1865 




933 


Til 


" French B. Woodall 




970 


159. 


" F.D.Stephenson 




945 


153 


" Stephen Bronson 


Feb. 27, 1865 




1076 


154 


" McLean F.Wood 

" Gustavus A. Smith 

" Alfred F. Smith 


Feb. 22, 1865. . . . 




994 


155 


Feb. 28. 1865 




929 


156 


March 9, 1865 


Chicago 


975 




" J.W.Wilson 


Dec. 1, 1861 


985 








903 




Capt. John Curtis 


June 21, 1864 


Camp Butler 

Camp Butler 


91 




'■ Simon J. Stookey 


JunelS, 18&4 


90 




" James Steele 


Chicago 


86 



CAVALRY. 



Col. Thomas A. Marshall.. .. 

" Silas Noble 

" Eugene A. Carr 

" T.Lyle Dickey , 

" John J. Updegraff 

" Thomas H. Cavanaugh. 

" Wm. Pitt Kellogg 

" J ohn F. Farnsworth. . . . 

" Albert G. Brackett 

" James A. Barrett 

" Robert G. IngersoU.. .. 

" ArnoVoss 

" Joseph W. Bell 

" Horace Capron 

" Warren Stewart 

•' Christian Thielman 

" John L. Beveridge 



June, 1861 

Aug. 34, " .. 

Sept. 21, " 

Sept. 30, " 

December " 

Nov., '61, Jan., '6a. 

August, '61 

Sept. 18, '61 

Oct. 26, '61 

Nov. 25, '61 

Dec. 20, '61 

Dec, '61, Feb., '62.. 



Jan. 7, '63 

Organized Dec. 25, '63. 
Jan. and April, '63. . . . 
Jan. 28, '64 



Bloomington... 
Camp Butler... 
Camp Butler... 

Ottawa 

Camp Butler... 
Camp Butler... 
Camp Butler... 
St. Charles.. .. 
Camp Douglas. 
Camp Butler... 

Peoria 

Camp Butler. . 
Camp Douglas. 
Peoria ... 
Camp Butler.. . 
Camp Butler... 
St. Charles 



1306 
1861 
2183 
1656 
1669 
2248 
228-i 
2412 
2619 
1934 
2:363 
2174 
1759 
1565 
1473 
1463 
1247 



FIRST REGIMENT— ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



Co: 

A 
B 
O 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I 

K 
L 
M 



Field 
Capt. 



and Staflf. 

C. M. Willard 

Ezra Taylor 

C. Haughtaling 

Edward McAllister. 
A. C. Waterhouse. . 
John T. Cheney . . . 

Arthur O'Leary 

Axel Silversparr 

Edward Bouton 

A. Franklin 

John Rourke 

John B.Miller 

Recruits 



Oct. 31, 
Jan. 14, 
Dec. 19, 
Feb. 25, 
Feb. 28 
Feb. 20 
Feb. 15, 
Jan. 9, 
Feb. 22 
Aug. 13 



1861. 

•63. . . 

'61... 

•63.. 
,'63.. 

'63.. 

'63. . . 
62. . . . 
, '62.. 
, '63 



Chicago 

Chicago 

Ottawa 

Ptaiufield 

Chicago 

Camp Butler. . 

Cairo 

Chicago , 

Chicago 

Shawneetown 

Chicago 

Chicago , 



7 
168 
204 
175 
141 
148 
159 
113 
147 
169 
96 
153 
1.54 
883 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



141 



Schedule— Showing statement of volunteer troops organized within the State, and sent to the 
field, commencing April, 1861, and ending December 31, 1865, with number of regiment, name 
of original commanding officer, date of organization and muster into United States eervice, 
place of muster, and the aggregate strength of each organization. 

LIGHT ARTILLERY. 











> 


o 


Commanding officer at organiza- 


Date of organization and 


Place where mustered 






tion. 


muster into the United 


into the United States 






States service. 


service. 


II 

TO' 



SECOND REGIMENT— ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



Capt, 



Peter Davidson 

Riley Madison 

Caleb Hopkins 

Jasper M. Dresser. . . . 

Adolph Schwartz 

John W. Powell .... 
Charles J. Stolbrand. 
Andrew Steinbeck. . . 
Charles W, Keith. .. 
Benjamin F. Rogers. 
William H. Bolton... 
John C. Phillips 

Field and Staff 

Recruits 



Aug. 17, 1861. 
June 20, '61.. . 
Aug. 5, '61.... 
Dec. 17, '61... 
Feb. 1, '62..... 
Dec. 11, '61*... 
Dec. 31, '61.,.. 



Feb. 28, '62. 
June 6, '62. 



Peoria 

Springfield 

Cairo 

Cairo 

Cairo 

Cape Girardeau, Mo., 

Camp Butler 

Camp Butler. 

Camp Butler 

Camp Butler 

Chicago 

Chicago 



116 
127 
154 
117 
136 
190 
108 
115 
107 
108 
145 
100 
10 
1171 



INDEPENDENT BATTERIES. 



Board of Trade 

Springfield 

Mercantile 

Elgin 

Coggswell's... 
Henshaw's — 

Bridges' 

Colvin's 

Busteed's 



Capt. 



James S. Stokes. . .' 

Thomas F. Vaughn 

Charles G. Cooley 

George W. Renwick. . . 

William Coggswell 

Ed. C. Henshaw 

Lyman Bridges 

John H. Colvin 



July 31, 1862. 
Aug. 21, '62.. 
Aug. 29, '63.. 
Nov. 15, '62.. 
Sept. 23, '61.. 
Oct. 15. '62. . . 
Jan. 1, '62.... 
Oct. 10, '63. . . 



Chicago 

Camp Butler. . . 

Chicago 

Elgin 

Camp Douglas. 

Ottawa 

Chicago 

Chicago 

Chicago 



258 
199 
270 
242 
221 
196 
252 
91 
127 



RECAPITULATION. 

Infantry 185,941 

Cavalry 32,082 

Artillery 7,277 



DUELS. 

The code of chivalry so common among Southern gentlemen 
and so frequently brought into use in settling personal differences 
has also been called to settle the " affairs of honor " in our own 
State, however, but few times, and those iu the earlier days. 
Several attempts at duels have occurred ; before the disputants met 
in mortal combat the differences were amicably and satisfactorily 
settled; honor was maintained without the sacrifice of life. In 
1810 a law was adopted to suppress the practice of dueling. This 
law held the fatal result of dueling to be murder, and, as it was 
intended, had the effect of making it odious and dishonorable. 
Prior to the constitution of 1848, parties would evade the law by 



142 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

goin^ beyond the jurisdiction of the State to engage in their con- 
tests of honor. At that time thej incorporated in the Constitution 
an oath of office, which was so broad as to cover the whole world. 
Any person who had ever fought a duel, ever sent or accepted a 
challenge or acted the part of second was disfrancliised from holding 
office, even of minor importance. After this went into effect, no 
other duel or attempt at a duel has been engaged in witliin the 
State of Illinois, save those fought by parties living outside of 
the State, who came here to settle their personal differences. 

THE FIEST DUEL, 

The first duel fought within the boundaries of this great State 
was between two young military officers, one of the French and 
the other of the English army, in the year 1765. It was at the 
time the British troops came to take possession of Fort Chartres, 
and a woman was the cause of it. The affair occurred early 
Sunday morning, near the old fort. They fought with swords, and 
in the combat one sacrificed his life. 

BOND AND JONES. 

In 1809 the next duel occurred and was bloodless of itself, but out 
of it grew a quarrel which resulted in the assassination of one of 
the contestants. The principals were Shadrach Bond, the first 
Governor, and Rice Jones, a bright young lawyer, who became quite 
a politician and the leader of his party. A personal difference arose 
between the two, which to settle, the parties met for mortal combat 
on an island in the Mississippi. The weapons selected were hair- 
trigger pistols. After taking their position Jones' weapon was 
prematurely discharged. Bond's second, Dunlap, now claimed that 
according to the code Bond had the right to the next fire. But 
Bond would not take so great advantage of his opponent, and said 
it was an accident and would not fire. Such noble conduct 
touched the generous nature of Jones, and the difficulty was at 
once amicably settled. Dunlap, however, bore a deadly hatred for 
Jones, and one day while he was standing in the street in Kaskaskia, 
conversing with a lady, he crept up behind him and shot him dead 
in his tracks. Dunlap successfully escaped to Texas, 

EECTOR AND BAETON. 

In 1812 the bloody code again brought two young men to the 
field of honor. They were Thomas Rector, a son of Capt. Stephen 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 145 

Rector who bore such a noble part in the war of 1S12, and Joshua 
Barton. They had espoused the quarrel of older brothers. The 
affair occurred on Bloody Island, in the Mississippi, but in the 
limits of Illinois. This place was frequented so often by Missou- 
rians to settle personal difficulties, that it received the name of 
Bloody Island. Barton fell in this conflict. 

STEWART AND BENNETT. 

In 1819 occurred the first duel fought after the admission of the 
State into the Union. This took place in St. Clair county between 
Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett. It was intended to be a 
sham duel, to turn ridicule against Bennett, the challenging party* 
Stewart was in the secret but Bennett was left to believe it a 
reality. Their guns were loaded with blank cartridges. Bennett, 
suspecting a trick, put a ball into his gun without the knowledge 
of his seconds. The word "fire" was given, and Stewart fell 
mortally wounded. Bennett made his escape but was subsequently 
captured, convicted of murder and suffered the penalty of the law 
by hanging. 

PEARSON AND BAKEK. 

In 1840 a personal difference arose between two State Senators, 
Judge Pearson and E. D. Baker. The latter, smarting under the 
epithet of "falsehood," threatened to chastise Pearson in the public 
streets, by a " fist fight." Pearson declined making a "blackguard'' 
of himself but intimated a readiness to fight as gentlemen, accord- 
ing to the code of honor. The affair, however, was carried no 
further. 

HARDIN AND DODGE. 

The exciting debates in the Legislature in 1S40-'41 were often 
bitter in personal "slings," and threats of combats were not 
infrequent. During these debates, in one of the speeches by the 
Hon. J. J. Hardin, Hon. A. P. Dodge thought he discovered a 
personal insult, took exceptions, and an " affair" seemed imminent. 
The controversy was referred to friends, however, and amicably 
settled. 

m'cLERNAND and SMITH. 

Hon. John A. McClernand, a member of the House, in a speech 
delivered during the same session made charges against the Whig 
Judges of the Supreme Court. Tliis brought a note from Judge 



146 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

T. W. Smith, by the hands of Ids "friend'' Dr. Merriman, to 
McClernand. This was construed as a challenge, and promptly 
accepted, naming the place of meeting to be Missouri; time, early; 
the weapons, rifles; and distance, 40 paces. At this critical junc- 
ture, the Attorney General had a warrant issued against the Judge, 
whereupon he was arrested and placed under bonds to keep the 
peace. Thus ended this attempt to vindicate injured honor. 

LINCOLN AND SHIELDS. 

During the hard times subsequent to the failure of the State and 
other banks, in 1842, specie became scarce while State money was 
plentiful, but worthless. The State officers thereupon demanded 
specie payment for taxes. This was bitterly opposed, and so fiercely 
contested that the collection of taxes was suspended. 

During the period of the greatest indignation toward the State 
officials, under the nom de 2:)lume of " Rebecca," Abraham Lincoln 
had an article published in the Sangamo Journal, entitled " Lost 
Township." In this article, written in the form of a dialogue, the 
officers of the State were roughly handled, and especially Auditor 
Shields. The name of the author was demaded from the editor by 
Mr. Shields, who was very indignant over the manner in which he 
was treated. ' The name of Abraham Lincoln was given as the 
author. It is claimed by some of his biographers, however, that 
the article was prepared by a lady, and that when the name of the 
author was demanded, in a spirit of gallantry, Mr. Lincoln gave 
his name. In company with Gen. Whiteside, Gen. Shields pur- 
sued Lincoln to Tremont, Tazewell county, where he was in attend- 
ance upon the court, and immediately sent him a note "requiring 
a full, positive and absolute retraction of all oflensive allusions " 
made to him in relation to his "private character and standing as 
a man, or an apology for the insult conveyed." Lincoln had been 
forewarned, however, for William Butler and Dr. Merriman, of 
Springfield, had become acquainted with Shields' intentions and by 
riding all night arrived at Tremont ahead of Shields and informed 
Lincoln what he might expect. Lincoln answered Shields' note, 
refusing to offer any explanation, on the grounds that Shields' note 
assumed the fact of his (Lincoln's) authorship of the article, and 
not pointing out what the offensive part was, and accompanying the 
same with threats as to consequences. Mr. Shields answered this, 
disavowing all intention to menace; inquired if he was the author, 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 147 

asked a retraction of that portion relating to his private character. 
Mr. Lincohi, still technical, returned this note with the verbal 
statement " that there could be no farther negotiations until the 
first note was withdrawn." At this Shields named Gen. White- 
side as his " friend," when Lincoln reported Dr. Merriman as his 
"friend." These gentlemen secretly pledged themselves to agree 
upon some amicable terms, and compel their principals to accept 
them. The four went to Springfield, when Lincoln left for Jack- 
sonville, leaving the following instructions to guide his friend, Di-. 
Merriman: 

" In case Whiteside shall signify a wish to adjust this affair with- 
out further difficulty, let him know that if the present papers be 
withdrawn and a note from Mr. Shields, asking to know if I am the 
author of the articles of which he complains, and asking that I shall 
make him gentlemanly satisfaction, if I am the author, and this 
without menace or dictation as to what that satisfaction shall be, a 
pledge is made that the following answer shall be given: 

I did write the "Lost Township" letter which appeared in the Journal of the 
2d inst., but had no participation, in any form, in any other article alluding to 
you. I wrote that wholly for iiolitical effect. I had no intention of injuring 
your personal or private character or standing, as a man or gentleman ; and I did 
not then think, and do not now thiuk, that that article could produce or has pro- 
duced that effect against you; and, had I anticipated such an effect, would have 
foreborne to write it. And I will add that your conduct toward me, so far as I 
know, had always been gentlemanly, and that I had no personal pique against 
you, and no cause for any. 

" If this should be done, I leave it to you to manage what shall 
and what shall not be published. If nothing like this is done, the 
preliminaries of the fight are to be: 

" 1st. Weapons. — Cavalry broad swords of the largest size, pre- 
cisely equal in all respects, and such as are now used by the cavalry 
company at Jacksonville. 

"■ 2d, Position. — A plank ten feet long and from nine to twelve 
inches broad, to be firmly fixed on edge, on the ground, as a line 
between us which neither is to pass his foot over on forfeit of iiis 
life. Next a line drawn on the ground on either side of said plank, 
and parallel with it, each at the distance of the whole length of the 
sword, and three feet additional from the plank; and tlie passing of 
his own such line by either party during the fight, shall be deemed 
a surrender of the contest. 



148 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

"3d. Time. — On Thursday evening at 5 o'clock, if you can get 
it so; but in no case to be at a greater distance of time than Friday 
evening at 5 o'clock. 

"4th. Place. — "Within three miles of Alton, on the opposite 
side of the river, the particular spot to be agreed on by you. 

" Any preliminary details coming within the above rules, you are 
at liberty to make at your discretion, but you are in no case to 
swerve from these rules, or pass beyond their limits." 

The position of the contestants, as prescribed by Lincoln, seems 
to have been such as both would have been free from coming in 
contact with the sword of the other, and the first impression is that 
it is nothing more than one of Lincoln's jokes. He possessed very 
long arms, however, and could reach his adversary at the stipulated 
distance. 

Not being amicably arranged, all parties repaired to the field of 
combat in Missouri. Gen. Hardin and Dr. English, as mutual 
friends of both Lincoln and Shields, arrived in the meantime, and 
after much correspondence at their earnest solicitation the affair 
was satisfactorily arranged, Lincoln making a statement similar to 
the one above referred to. 

SHIELDS AND BUTLER. 

William Butler, one of Lincoln's seconds, was dissatisfied with 
the bloodless termination of the Lincoln-Shields affair, and wrote an 
account of it for the Sangamo Journal. This article reflected dis- 
creditably upon both the principals engaged in that controversy. 
Shields replied by the hands of his friend Gren. Whiteside, in a 
curt, menacing note, which was promptly accepted as a challenge 
by Butler, and the inevitable Dr. Merriman named as his friend, 
who submitted the following as preliminaries of the fight: 

Time. — Sunrise on the following morning. ? 

Place. — Col. Allen's farm (about one mile north of State House.) 

Weapons. — Rifles. 

Dista7hce. — One hundred yards. 

The parties to stand with their right sides toward each other — 
the rifles to be held in both hands horizontally and cocked, arms 
extended downwards. Neither party to move his person or his 
rifle after being placed, before the word fire. The signal to be: 
"Are you ready? Fire! one — two — three 1" about a second of 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 149 

time intervening between each word. Neither party to fire before 

the word " fire," nor after the word " three." 

Gen. Whiteside, in language curt and abrupt, addressed a note to 
Dr. Merriman declining to accept the terms. Gen. Shields, how- 
ever, addressed another note to Butler, explaining the feelings of 
his second, and offering to go out to a lonely place on the prairie to 
figlit, where there would be no danger of being interrupted; or, if 
that did not suit, he would meet him on his own conditions, when 
and where he pleased. Butler claimed the afiair was closed and 
declined the proposition. 

WHITESIDE AND MERKIMAN. 

Now Gen. Whiteside and Dr. Merriman, who several times had 
acted in the capacity of friends or seconds, were to handle the 
deadly weapons as principals. While second in the Shields-Butler 
JiasGO, White&'idQ declined the terms proposed by Butler, in curt 
and abrupt language, stating that tlie place of combat could not be 
dictated to him, for it was as much his right as Merriman's, who, 
if he was a gentleman, would recognize and concede it. To this 
Merriman replied by the hands of Capt. Lincoln. It will be 
remembered that Merriman had acted in the same capacity for Lin- 
coln. Whiteside then wrote to Merriman, asking to meet him at 
St. Louis, when he would hear from him further. To this Merri- 
man replied, denying his right to name place, but offered to meet 
in Louisiana, Mo. • This Whiteside would not agree to, but later 
signified his desire to meet him there, but the affair being closed, 
the doctor declined to re-open it. 

PRATT AND CAMPBELL. 

These two gentlemen were members of the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1847, and both from Jo Davies county. A dispute arose 
which ended in a challenge to meet on the field of honor. They 
both repaired to St. Louis, but the authorities gaining knowledge 
of their bloody intentions, had both parties arrested, which ended 
this " affair." ■ 

DRESS AND MANNERS. 

The dress, habits, etc., of a people throw so much light upon their 
conditions and limitations that in order better to show the circum- 
stances surrounding the people of the State, we will give a short 



150 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

exposition of the manner of life of our Illinois people at different 
epochs. The Indians themselves are credited by Charlevoix vs^ith 
being "very laborious," — raising poultry, spinning the wool of the 
buffalo and manufacturing garments therefrom. These must have 
been, hovs/^ever, more than usually favorable representatives of their 
race. 

" The working and voyaging dress of the French masses," says 
Reynolds, " was simple and primitive. The French were like the 
lilies of the valley (the Old Ranger was not always exact in his 
quotations), — they neither spun nor wove any of their clothing, but 
purchased it from the merchants. The white blanket coat, known 
as the capot, was the universal and eternal coat for the winter with 
the masses, A cape was made of it that could be raised over the 
head in cold weather. 

" In the house, and in good weather, it hung behind, a cape to 
the blanket coat. The reason that I know these coats so well is, 
that I have worn many in my youth, and a working man never wore 
a better garment Dressed deer-skins and blue cloth were worn 
commonly in the winter for pantaloons. The blue handkerchief 
and the deer-skin moccasins covered the head and feet generally of 
the French Creoles. In 1800, scarcely a man thought himself clothed 
unless he had a belt tied around his blanket coat, and on one side 
was hung the dressed skin of a pole-cat, tilled with tobacco, pipe, 
flint and steel. On the other side was fastened, under the belt, the 
the butcher-knife. A Creole in this dress felt like Tarn O'Shanter 
filled with usquebaugh; he could face the devil. Checked calico 
shirts were then common, but in winter flannel was frequently 
worn. In the summer the laboring men and the voyagers often 
took their shirts off in hard work and hot weather, and turned out 
the naked back to the air and sun." 

" Among the Americans," he adds, " home-made wool hats were 
the 'Common wear. Fur hats were not common, and scarcely a boot 
was seen. The covering of the feet in winter was chiefly moccasins 
made of deer-skins, and shoe packs of tanned leather. Some wore 
shoes, but not common in very early times. In the summer the 
greater portion of the young people, male and female, and many of 
the old, went barefoot. The substantial and universal outside wear 
was the blue linsey hunting-shirt. This is an excellent garment, 
and I have never felt so happy and healthy since I laid it off. It is 




^^ll'*""'IM,, L II .11.111.11 .III I. ,i,ill, ,| I JjJ |,||l|l|llg^^^^^^^^^^ 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 153 

made of wide sleeves, open before, with ample size so as to envelop 
the body almost twice around. Sometimes it had a large cape, 
which answers well to save the shoulders from the rain. A belt is 
mostly used to keep the garment close around the person, and, 
nevertlieless, there is nothing tight about it to hamper the body. 
It is often fringed, and at times the fringe is composed of red, and 
other gay colors. The belt, frequently, is sewed to the hunting-shirt. 
The vest was mostly made of striped linsey. The colors v/ere made 
often with alum, copperas and madder, boiled with the bark of trees, 
in such a manner and proportions as the old ladies prescribed. The 
pantaloons of the masses were generally made of deer-skin and 
linsey. Course blue cloth was sometimes made into pantaloons. 

" Linsey, neat and tine, manufactured at home, composed generally 
the outside garments of the females as well as the males. The 
ladies had linsey colored and woven to suit their fancy. A bonnet, 
composed of calico, or some gay goods, was -worn on the head when 
they were in the open air. Jewelry on the pioneer ladies was 
uncommon; a gold ring was an ornament not often seen." 

In 1820 a change of dress began to take place, and before 1830, 
according to Ford, most of the pioneer costume had disappeared. 
"The blue linsey hunting-shirt, with red or white fringe, had given 
place to the cloth coat. [Jeans would be more like the fact.] The 
raccoon cap, with the tail of the animal dangling down behind, had 
been thrown aside for hats of wool or fur. Boots and shoes had 
supplied the deer-skin moccasins; and the leather breeches, strapped 
tight around the ankle, had disappeared before unmentionables of a 
more modern material. The female sex had made still greater pro. 
gress in dress. The old sort of cotton or woolen frocks, spun, woven 
and made with their own fair hands, and striped and cross-barred 
with blue dye and turkey red, had given place to gowns of silk and 
calico. The feet, before in a state of nudity, now charmed in shoes 
of calf-skin or slippers of kid; and the head, formerly unbonneted, 
but covered with a cotton handkerchief, now displayed the charms 
of the female face under many forms of bonnets of straw, silk and 
leghorn. The young ladies, instead of walking a mile or two to 
church on Sunday, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands 
until within a hundred yards of the place of worship, as formerly, 
now came forth arrayed complete in all the pride of dress, mounted 
on fine horses and attended by their male admirers." 



154 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ) 

The last half century has doubtless witnessed clianges quite as 
great as those set forth by our Illinois historian. The chronicler 
of to-day, looking back to the golden days of 1830 to 1840, and 
comparing them with the present, must be struck with the tendency 
of an almost monotonous uniformity in dress and manners that 
comes from the easy inter-communication afforded by steamer, rail- 
way, telegraph and newspaper. Home manufacturers have been 
driven from the household by the lower-priced fabrics of distant 
mills. The Kentucky jeans, and the copperas-colored clothing of 
home manufacture, so familiar a few years ago, have given place to 
tlie cassimeres and cloths of noted factories. The ready-made- 
clothing stores, like a touch of nature, made the whole world kin- 
and may drape the charcoal man in a dress-coat and a stove-pipe 
hat. The prints and silks of England and France give a variety of 
choice, and an assortment of colors and shades such as the pioneer 
women could hardly have dreamed of. Godey, and Demorest, and 
Harper's Bazar are found in our modern farm-houses, and the latest 
fashions of Paris are not uncommon. 

PHYSICAL FEATUKES OF ILLINOIS. 

In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is 
about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude 
from Maine to North Carolina. The climate varies from Portland 
to Eichmond. It favors every product of the continent, including 
the tropics, with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces 
every great food of the world except bananas and rice. It is hardly 
too much to say that it is the inost productive spot known to civil- 
ization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full of minerals; 
with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel; with per- 
fect natural drainage, and abundant springs, and streams, and navi- 
gable rivers; half way between the forests of the North and the 
fruits of the South; within a day's ride of the great deposits of 
iron, coal, copper, lead and zinc; and containing and controlling 
the great grain, cattle, pork and lumber markets of the world, it is 
not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position. 

There are no mountains in Illinois; in the southern as well as in 
the northern part of the State there are a few hills; near the banks 
of the Illinois, Mississippi, and several other rivers, the ground is 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 155 

elevated, forming the so-called bluffs, on which at the present day 
may be found, unetfaced by the hand of Time, the marks and traces 
left by the water which was formerly much higher; whence it may 
be safe to conclude that, where now the fertile prairies of Illinois 
extend, and the rich soil of the country yields its golden harvests, 
must have been a vast sheet of water, the mud deposited by which 
formed the soil, thus accounting for the present great fertility of the 
country. 

Illinois is a garden 400 miles long and 150 miles wide. Its soil 
is chiefly a black, sandy loam, from 6 inches to 60 feet thick. About 
the old French towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half 
without rest or help. She leads all other States in the number 
of acres actually under plow. Her mineral wealth is scarcely 
second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, lead, zinc, 
copper, many varieties of building stone, marble, fire clay, cuma 
clay, common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint, — 
in fact, everything needed for a high civilization. 

AGEICULTUEE. 

If any State of the Union is adapted for agriculture, and the other 
branches of rural economy relating thereto, such as the raising of 
cattle and the culture of fruit trees, it is pre-eminently Illinois. 
Her extremely fertile prairies recompense the farmer at less 
trouble and expense than he would be obliged to incur elsewhere, in 
order to obtain the same results. Her rich soil, adapted by nature 
for immediate culture, only awaits the plow and the seed in order 
to mature, within a few months, a most bountiful harvest. A 
review of statistics will be quite interesting to the reader, as well as 
valuable, as showing the enormous quantities of the various cereals 
produced in our prairie State: 

In 1876 there was raised in the State 130,000,000 of bushels of 
corn, — twice as much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn 
raised in the United States. It would take 375,000 cars to transport 
this vast amount of corn 1o market, which would make 15,000 trains 
of 25 cars each. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one- 
tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, 
but it is true, that the hay crop of the country is worth more than 
the cotton crop. The hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana- 



166 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



Go to Charleston, S. C, aud see them peddling handfuls of hay or 
grass, almost as a curiosity, as we regard Chinese gods or the cryo- 
lite of Greenland; drink your coffee and condensed milk; and walk 
back from the coast for many a league through the sand and burs 
till you get up into the better atmosphere of the mountains, with- 
out seeing a waving meadow or a grazing herd; then you will begin 
to appreciate the meadows of tlie Prairie State. 

The value of her farm implements was, in 1876, $211,000,000, 
and the value of live stock was only second to New York. The 
same year she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about 
one-half of all that were packed in the United States. She marketed 
$57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals, — more than any other 
State, and a seventh of all the States. 

Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles 
of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the 
amount of lumber sold. 

Illinois was only second in many important matters, taking the 
reports of 1876. This sample list comprises a few of the more 
important: Permanent school fund; total income for educational 
purposes; number of publishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value 
of farm products and implements, and of live stock; in tons of coal 
mined. 

The shipping of Illinois was only second to l!^ew York. Out of 
one port during the business hours of the season of navigation she 
sent forth a vessel every nine minutes. This did not include canal- 
boats, which went one every five minutes. 

No wonder she was only second in number of bankers or in phy- 
sicians and surgeons. 

She was third in colleges, teachers and schools ; also in cattle, 
lead, hay, flax, sorghum and beeswax. 

She was fourth in population, in children enrolled in public 
schools, in law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. 

She was fifth in value of real and personal property, in theologi- 
cal seminaries, and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, 
and in boots and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. 

She was only seventh in the production of wood, while she was 
the twelfth in area. Surely that was well done for the Prairie State. 
She then had, in 1876, much more wood and growing timber than 
she had thirty years before. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 157 

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactured 
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which placed her well up toward 
New York and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing 
establishments increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent. ; capital 
employed increased 350 per cent.; and the amount of product in- 
creased 400 per cent. She issued 5,500,000 copies of commercial 
and financial newspapers, being only second to New York. She had 
6,759 miles of railroad, then leading all other States, worth $636,- 
458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train long 
enouo-h to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Iler 
stations were only five miles apart. She carried, in 1876, 15,795,- 
000 passengers an average of 36^ miles, or equal to taking her 
entire population twice across the State. More than two-thirds of 
her land was within five miles of a railroad, and less than two per 
cent, was more than fifteen miles away 

The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central 
railroad. The road was incorporated m 1850, and the State gave 
each alternate section for six miles on each side, and doubled the 
price of the remaining land, so keeping herself good. The road 
received 2,595,000 acres of land, and paid to the State one-seventh 
of the gross receipts. The State received in 1877, $350,000, and 
had received up to that year in all about $7,000,000. It was prac- 
tically the people's road, and it had a most able and gentlemanly 
manao-eraent. Add to the above amount the annual receipts from 
the canal, $111,000, and a large per cent, of the State tax was pro- 
vided fore 

GOYERNOKSOF ILLINOIS. 

Shadrach Bond— W&s, the first Governor of Illinois. He was a 
native of Maryland and born in 1773; was raised on a farm; re- 
ceived a common English education, and came to Illinois in 1794 
He served as a delegate in Congress from 1811 to 1815, where he 
procured the right of pre-emption of public land. He was elected 
Governor in 1818; was beaten for Congress in 1824 by Daniel P. 
Cook. He died at Kaskaskia, April 11, 1830. 

Edward Coles— Wd^^ born Dec. 15, 1786, in Virginia. His father 
was a slave-holder; gave his son a collegiate education, and left to 
him a large number of slaves. These he liberated, giving each 
head of a family 160 acres of land and a considerable sum of money. 



158 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

He was President Madison's private secretary'. He came to Illinois 
in 1819, was elected Governor in 1822, on the anti-slavery ticket; 
moved to Philadelphia in 1833, and died in 1868. 

Ninian Edimrds. — In 1809, on the formation of the Territory of 
Illinois, Mr. Edwards was appointed Governor, which position he 
retained until the organization of the State, when he was sent to 
the United States Senate. He was elected Governor in 1826. He 
was a native of Maryland and born in 1775; received a collegiate 
education; was Chief Justice of Kentucky, and a Kepublican in 
politics. 

John Reynolds — Was born in Pennsylvania in 1788, and came 
with his parents to Illinois in 1800, and in 1830 was elected Gov- 
ernor on the Democratic ticket, and afterwards served three terras 
in Congress. He received a classical education, yet was not polished. 
He was an ultra Democrat; attended the Charleston Convention in 
1860, and urged the seizure of United States arsenals by the 
South. He died in 1865 at Belleville, childless. 

Josej>li Duncan. — In 1834 Joseph Duncan was elected Governor 
by the Whigs, although formerly a Democrat. He had previously 
served four terms in Congress. He was born in Kentucky in 1794; 
had but a limited education; served with distinction in the war of 
1812; conducted the campaign of 1832 against Black Hawk. He 
came to Illinois when quite young. 

Thomas Carlin — Was elected as a Democrat in 1838. He had 
but a meager education ; held many minor offices, and was active 
both in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was born in 
Kentucky in 1789; came to Illinois in 1812, and died at Carrollton, 
Feb. 11, 1852. 

Thomas T'ord—WsiS born in Pennsylvania in the year 1800; was 
brought by his widowed mother to Missouri in 1804, and shortly 
afterwards to Illinois. He received a good education, studied law; 
was elected four times Judge, twice as Circuit Judge, Judge of 
Chicago and Judge of Supreme Court. He was elected Governor 
by the Democratic party in 1842; wrote his history of Illinois in 
1847 and died in 1850. 

Augustus C. French— Was, born in New Hampshire in 1808; 
was admitted to the bar in 1831, and shortly afterwards moved to 
Illinois when in 1846 he was elected Governor. On the adoption 
of the Constitution of 1848 he was again chosen, serving until 1853. 
He was a Democrat in politics. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. J 59 

Joel A. Matteson — Was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1808. 
His father was a fanner, and gave his son only a common school 
education. He first entered upon active life as a small tradesman, 
but subsequently became a large contractor and manufacturer. He 
was a heavy contractor in building the Canal. He was elected Gov- 
ernor in 1852 upon the Democratic ticket. 

William H. Bissell — "Was elected by the Republican party in 
1856, He had previously served two terms in Congress; was 
colonel in the Mexican war and has held minor official positions. He 
was born in JSTew York State in 1811; received a common educa- 
tion; came to Illinois early in life and engaged in the medical pro- 
fession. This he changed for the law and became a n(5ted orator, 
and the standard bearer of the Republican party in Illinois. He 
died in 1860 while Governor. 

Richard Yates — "The war Governor of Illinois," was born in 
Warsaw, Ky., in 1818; came to Illinois in 1831: served two terms 
in Congress; in 1860 was elected Governor, and in 1865 United 
States Senator. He was a college graduate, and read law under J. J. 
Hardin. He rapidly rose in his chosen profession and charmed the 
people with oratory. He filled the gubernatorial chair during the 
trying days of the Rebellion, and by his energy and devotion won 
the title of " War Governor." He became addicted to strong drink, 
and died a drunkard. 

Riohard J. Ogleshy — Was born in 1821:, in Kentucky; an orphan 
at the age of eight, came to Illinois when only 12 years old. *He 
was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade; worked some at 
farming and read law occasionally. He enlisted in the Mexican 
War and was chosen First Lieutenant. After his returii he aarain 
took up the law, but during the gold fever of 1849 went to Califor- 
nia; soon returned, and, in 1852, entered upon his illustrious 
political career. He raised the second regiment in the State, to 
suppress the Rebellion, and for gallantry was promoted to Major 
General. In 1861 he was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1872, 
and resigned for a seat in the United States Senate. He is a staunch 
Republican and resides at Decatur. 

Shelby M. Cullom — Was born in Kentucky in 1828; studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his 
profession in 1848; was elected to the State Legislature in 1856, 
and again in 1860. Served ou the war commission at Cairo, 1862, 



160 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

and was a member of the 39th, 40th and 41st Congress, in all of which 
he served with credit to his State. He was again elected to the 
State Legislature in 1872, aad re-elected in 1874, and was elected 
Governor of Illinois in 1876, which office he still holds, and has 
administered with marked ability. 

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS. 

Pierre Menard — Was the first Lieut. Gov. of Illinois. He was 
born in Quebec, Canada, in 1767, He came to Illinois in 1790 
where he engaged in the Indian trade and became wealthy. He 
died in 1844. Menard county was named in his honor. 

Adolphus F . Hubbard — Was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1822. Four 
years later he ran for Governor against Edwards, but was beaten. 

William, Kinney — Was elected in 1826. He was a Baptist 
clergyman; was born in Kentucky in 1781 and came to Illinois in 
1793. 

Zadoch Casey — Although on the opposition ticket to Governor 
Reynolds, the successful Gubernatorial candidate, yet Casey was 
elected Lieut. Gov. in 1830. He subsequently served several terms 
in Congress. 

Alexander M. Jenkins — Was elected on ticket with Gov. Duncan 
in 1834 by a handsome majority. 

S, H. Anderson — Lieut. Gov. under Gov. Cariin, was chosen in 
1838. He was a native of Tennessee. 

Johii Moore — Was born in England in 1793; came to Illinois in 
1830; was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1842. He won the name of 
" Honest John Moore." 

Joseph B. Wells — Was chosen with Gov. French at his first 
election m 1846. 

William McMurtry. — In 1848 when Gov. French was again 
chosen Governor, William McMurtry of Knox county, was elected 
Lieut, Governor, 

Gustavus P. Koerner — Was elected in 1852. He was born in 
Germany in 1809. At the age of 22 came to Illinois. In 1872 he 
was a candidate for Governor on Liberal ticket, but was defeated. 

John Wood — Was elected in 1856, and on the death of Gov. 
Bissell became Governor. 

Francis A. Hoffman — Was chosen with Gov. Yates in 1860. 
He was born in Prussia in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



161 



William Bross — Was born in New Jersey, came to Illinois in 
1848, was elected to office in 1864. 

John Dougherty — Was elected in 1868. 

John L. Beveredge — Was chosen Lieut. Gov. in 1872. In 1873 
Oglesby was elected to the U, S. Senate when Beveridge became 
Governor. 

Andrew Shuman — Was elected Nov. 7, 1876, and is the present 
incumbent. 

SUPERINTENDENT OP PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



Ninian W. Edwards 1854-56 

W. H. Powell 1857-58 



Newton Bateman 185&-76 

Samuel M. Etter 1876 



ATTORNEY GENERALS. 



Daniel P. Cook 1819 

William Hears 1820 

Samuel D. Lockwood 1821-22 

James Turney 1823-28 

George Forquer 1829-32 

James Semple .1833-34 

Nmian E.Edwards .1834-35 

Jesse B. Thomas, Jr 1835 

Walter B. Scates 1836 

Asher F. Linder 1837 



Geo. W. Olney 1838 

Wickliflfe Kitchell 1839 

Josiah Lamborn 1841-43 

James A. McDougall 1843-46 

David B. Campbell 1846 

[Office abolished and re-created in 1867] 

Robert G. Ingersoll 18G7-68 

Washington Bushnell 1869-72 

James K. Edsall 1873-79 



TREASURERS. 



John Thomas 1818-19 

R. K. McLaughlin 1819-22 

Ebner Field 1823-26 

James Hall 1827-30 

John Dement 1831-36 

Charles Gregory 1836 

John D. Whiteside 1837-40 

M. Carpenter 1841-48 

John Moore 1848-56 



James Miller 1857-60 

William Butler 1861-63 

Alexander Starne 1863-64 

James H. Beveridge 1865-66 

George W. Smith 1867-68 

Erastus N. Bates 1869-73 

Edward Rutz 1873-75 

Thomas S. Ridgeway 1876-77 

Edward Rutz 1878-79 



SECRETARIES OF STATE. 



Elias K. Kane 1818-22 

Samuel D. Lockwood 1832-23 

David Blackwell 1823-24 

Morris Birkbeck 1824 

George Forquer 1825-28 

Alexander P. Field 1829-40 

Stephen A. Douglas 1840 

Lyman Trumbull 1841-43 



Thompson Campbell 1843-46 

Horace S. Cooley 1846-49 

David L. Gregg 1850-53 

Alexander Starne 1853-56 

Ozias M. Hatch 1857-60 

Sharon Tyndale 1865-68 

Edward Rummel 1869-73 

George H. Harlow 1873-79 



162 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

AUDITORS. 

Elijah C. Berry 1818-31 Thompson Campbell 1846 

I. T. B. Stapp 1831-35 Jesao K. Dubois 1857-64 

Levi Davis 1835-40 Oiliu II. Miner 1865-68 

James Shields 1841-43 Charles E. Lippencott 1869-76 

W. L. D. Ewing 1843-45 Thompson B. Needles 1877-79 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

Ninian Edwards. — On the organization of the State in 1S18, 
Edwards, the popuhir Territorial Governor, was chosen Senator for 
the short term, and in 1819 re-elected for full term. 

Jesse B. Thomas — One of the federal judges during the entire 
Territorial existence was chosen Senator on organization of the 
State, and re-elected in 1823, and served till 1829. 

John McLean — In 1824 Edwards resigned, and McLean was 
elected to till his unexpired term. He was born in North Carolina 
in 1791, and came to Illinois in 1815; served one terra in Congress, 
and in 1829 was elected to the U. S. Senate, but the following year 
died. He is said to have been the most gifted man of his period in 
Illinois. 

Elias Kent Kane— ^2.% elected Nov. 30, 1824, for the term be- 
e-innincf March 4, 1825. In 1830 he was re-elected, but died before 
the expiration of his term. He was a native of New York, and in 
1814 came to Illinois. He was first Secretary of State, and after- 
wards State Senator. 

David Jeuiett Baker— Wa& appointed to fill the unexpired term 
of John McLean, in 1830, Nov. 12, but the Legislature refused to 
endorse the choice. Baker was a native of Connecticut, born in 
1792, and died in Alton in 18G9. 

John M. Rohinson. — Instead of Baker, the Governor's appointee, 
the Legislature chose Robinson, and in 1834 lie was re-elected. In 
1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the State, but within two 
months died. He was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois 
while quite young. 

William, L. D. Kwing-Wo.Q elected in 1835, to fill the vacancy 
occasioned by the death of Kane. He was a Kentuckian. 

Richard M. Young— W&s elected in 1836, and held his seat 
from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1843, a full term. He was a 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 163 

native of Kentucky; was Circuit Judge before his election to the 
Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He died in an insane asylum 
at Washington. 

Samuel McRoberts — The first native Illinoisian ever elevated to 
the high ofiice of U. S. Senator from this State, was born in 1799, 
and died in 1843 on his return home from "Washington. He was 
elected Circuit Judge in 1824, and March 4, 1841, took his seat in 
the U. S. Senate. 

Sidneij Breese — Was elected to the U. S. Senate, Dec. 17, 1842, 
and served a full term. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y. 
He was Major in the Black Hawk war; Circuit Judge, and in 1841 
was elected Supreme Judge, He served a full term in the U. S. 
Senate, beginning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected to the 
Legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in 1857, to the Supreme 
Court, which position he held until his death in 1878. 

James Semple — Was the successor of Samuel McRoberts, and 
was appointed by Gov. Ford in 1843. He was afterwards elected 
Judge of the Supreme Court. 

Stephen A. Douglas — Was elected Dec. 14, 1846. He had pre- 
viously served three terms as Congressman. He became his own 
successor in 1853 and again in 1859. From his first entrance in the 
Senate he was acknowledged the peer of Clay, Webster and Cal- 
houn, with whom he served his first term. His famous contest 
with Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the most memor- 
able in the annals of our country. It was called the battle of the 
giants, and resulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and Lincoln 
to the Presidency. He was born in Brandon, Vermont, April 23, 
1813, and came to Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was 
appointed Secretary of State by Gov, Carlin in 1840, and shortly 
afterward to the Supreme Bencli. 

James Shields — Was elected and assumed his seat in the U. S. 
Senate in 1849, March 4. He was born in Ireland in 1810, came 
to the United States in 1827. He served in the Mexican army, was 
elected Senator from Wisconsin, and in 1879 from Missouri for a 
short term. 

Lyman Trumbull — Took his seat in the d, S. Senate March 4, 
1855, and became his own successor in 1861. He had previously 
served one term in the Lower House of Congress, and served on 
the Supreme Bench. He was born in Connecticut; studied law 



164 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

and came to Illinois early in life, where for years he was actively 
engaged in politics. He resides in Chicago. 

Ormll H. Browning — "Was appointed U. S. Senator in 1861, to 
fill the seat made vacant by the death of Stephen A. Douglas, until 
a Senator could be regularly elected. Mr. Browning was born in 
Harrison county, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and 
settled in Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of law, 
and was instrumental, with his friend, Abraham Lincoln, in form- 
ing the Republican party of Illinois at the Bloomington Conven- 
tion. He entered Johnson's cabinet as Secretary of the Interior, 
and in March, 1868, was designated by the President to perform the 
duties of Attorney General, in addition to his own, as Secretary of 
the Interior Department. 

William A. Richardson — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 
1863, to fill the unexpired term of his friend, Stephen A Douglas. 
He was born in Fayette county, Ky., about 1810, studied law, 
and settled in Illinois; served as captain in the Mexican War, and, 
on the battle-field of Buena Yista, was promoted for bravery, by a 
unanimous vote of his regiment. He served in the Lower House 
of Congress from 1847 to 1856, continually. 

Richard Yates — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1865, serv- 
ing a full term of six years. He died in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 27, 
1873. 

Joh7i A. Logan— Wb.^ elected to the U. S. Senate in 1871. He 
was born in Jackson county, 111., Feb. 9, 1826, received a common 
school education, and enlisted as a private in the Mexican War, 
where he rose to the rank of Regimental, Quartermaster. On 
returning home he studied law, and came to the bar in 1852; was 
elected in 1858 a Representative to the 36th Congress and re-elected 
to the 37th Congress, resigning in 1861 to take part in the sup- 
pression of the Rebellion; served as Colonel and subsequently as a 
Major General, and commanded, with distinction, the armies of 
the Tennessee. He was again elected to the U. S. Senate in 1879 
for six years. 

David Davis — Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1877 for a term 
of six years. He was born in Cecil county, Md., March 9, 1815, 
graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, studied law, and removed to 
Illinois in 1835; was admitted to the bar and settled in Blooming- 
ton, where he has since resided and amassed a large fortune. He 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 166 

was for many years tlie intimate friend and associate of Abraham 
Lincoln, rode the circuit with him each year, and after Lincoln's 
election to the Presidency, was appointed by him to fill the position 
of Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. NINETEENTH CONGRESS. 

John McLean 1818 Daniel P. Cook 1825-36 

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTIETH CONGRESS. 

Daniel P. Cook 1819-20 Joseph Duncan 1827-28 

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS. 

Daniel P. Cook 1821-22 Joseph Duncan 1829-30 

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS. TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS. 

Daniel P. Cook 1823-24 Joseph Duncan 1831-33 

TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 

Joseph Duncan 1833-34 Zadock Casey 1833-34 

TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. 

Zadock Casey 1835-36 William L. May 1835-36 

John Reynolds 1835-36 

TWENTT-PIPTH CONGRESS. 

Zadock Casey 1837-38 William L. May 1837-38 

John Reynolds 1837-38 

TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. 

Zadock Casey 1839-40 John T. Stuart 1839-40 

John Reynolds 1839-40 

TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. 

Zadock Casey 1841-42 John T. Stuart 1841-43 

John Reynolds 1841-42 

TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. 

Robert Smith 1843-44 Joseph P. Hoge 1843-44 

Orlando B. Finklin 1843-44 John J. Hardin 1843-44 

Stephen A. Douglas 1843-44 John Wentworth 1843-44 

John A. McClernand 1843^4 

TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS. 

Robert Smith 1845-40 Joseph P. Hoge 1845-46 

Stephen A. Douglas 1845-40 John A. McClernand 1845^6 

Orlando B. Finklin 1845-40 John Wentworth 1845-46 

John J. Hardin 1845 

THIRTIETH CONGRESS. 

John Wentworth 1817-48 Orlando B. Finklin 1847-48 

Thomas J. Turner 1847 Robert Smith 1847^8 

Abraham Lincoln 1847-48 William A. Richardson 1847-48 

John A. McClernand 1847-48 



166 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS. 

John A. McClernand 1849-50 Edward D. Baker 1849-50 

John Wentworth :. .1849-50 William H. Bissell 1849-50 

Timothy R. Young 1849-50 Thomas L. Harris 1849 

William A. Richardson 1849-50 

THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS. 

William A. Richardson. 1851-53 Richard Yates 1851-52 

Thompson Campbell . .1851-52 Richard S. Maloney 1851-52 

Orlando B. Finklin. 1851-52 Willis 1851-52 

John Wentworth 1851-52 William H. Bissell 1851-52 

THIRTV-THIRD CONGRESS. 

William H. Bissell. 1853-54 Thompson Campbell 1853-54 

John C. Allen 1853-54 James Knox 1853-54 

Willis 1853-54 Jesse O. Norton 1853-54 

Elihu B. Washburne 1853-54 William A. Richardson 1863-54 

Richard Yates • .1853-54 

THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. 

Elihu B. Washburne 1855-56 Samuel S. Marshall 1855-56 

Lyman Trumbull 1855-56 J. L. D. Morrison 1855-56 

James H. Woodworth 1855-56 John C. Allen 1855-56 

James Knox 1855-56 Jesse O. Norton 1855-56 

Thompson Campbell 1855-56 William A. Richardson 1855-56 

THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. 

Elihu B. Washburne .1857-58 Samuel S. Marshall 1857-58 

Charles D. Hodges 1857-58 Isaac N. Morris 1857-58 

William Kellogg 1857-58 Aaron Shaw 1857-58 

Thompson Campbell 1857-58 Robert Smith 1857-58 

John F. Farnsworth 1857-58 Thomas L. Harris 1857-58 

Owen Lovejoy 1857-58 

THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. 

Elihu B. Washburne 1859-60 John F. Farnsworth 1859-60 

John A.Logan 1859-60 Philip B. Fouke 1859-60 

Owen Lovejoy 1859-60 Thomas L. Harris 1859-60 

John A. McClernand... 1859-60 William' Kellogg 1859-60 

Isaac N Morris 1859-60 James C. Robinson 1859-60 

THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. 

Elihu B. Washburne 1861-62 Isaac N. Arnold. 1861-62 

James C. Robinson 1861-62 Philip B. Fouke 1861-62 

John A. Logan 1861-62 William Kellogg 1861-62 

Owen Lovejoy 1861-63 Anthony L. Knapp 1861-63 

John A. McClernand 1861-62 William A. Richardson 1861-62 

THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. 

Elihu B. Washburne 1863-64 William J. Allen 1863-64 

Jesse O. Norton 1863-64 Isaac N. Arnold 1863-64 

James C. Robinson 1863-64 John R. Eden 1863-64 







CENTRAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, JACKSONVILLB. 




B«K&li.-£(. 



ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, CHAMPAIGN-FOUNDED BY THE STATE, 
ENDOWED BY CONGRESS. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



169 



Lewis "W. Ross 1863-64 

John T. Stuart 1863-64 

Owen Lovejoy 1863-64 

"William R. Morrison 1863-64 

John C. Allen 1863-64 



John F. Farnsworth 1863-64 

Charles W. Morris 1863-64 

Eben C. IngersoU 1863-64 

Antaony L. Knapp 1863-64 



THIRTY-NINTn CONGRESS. 



Elihu B. "Washburne 1865-66 

Anthony B. Thornton 1865-66 

John Wentworth 1865-66 

Abner C. Hardin 1865-66 

Eben C. IngersoU 1865-66 

Barton C. Cook 1865-66 

Shelby M. Cullom 1865-66 



John F. Farnsworth 1865-66 

Jehu Baker 1865-66 

Henry P. H. Bromwell 1865-66 

Andrew Z. Kuykandall 1865-66 

Samuel S. Marshall 1865-66 

Samuel W. Moulton 1865-66 

Lewis W. Ross 1865-66 



FORTIETH CONGRESS. 



Elihu B. Washburne 1867-68 

Abner C. Hardin 1867-68 

Eben C. IngersoU 1867-68 

Norman B. Judd 1867-68 

Albert G. Burr 1867-68 

Burton C. Cook 1867-68 

Shelby M. Oullom 1867-68 



John F. Farnsworth 1867-68 

Jehu Baker 1867-68 

Henry P. H. Bromwell 1867-68 

John A. Logan , 1867-68 

Samuel S. Marshall 1867-68 

Green B. Raum 1867-68 

Lewis W. Ross 1867-68 



FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. 

Norman B. Judd 1869-70 

John F. Farnsworth 1869-70 

H. C. Burchard 1869-70 

John B. Hawley 1869-70 

Eben C IngersoU 1869-70 



Shelby M. Cullom 1869-70 

Thomas W. McNeely 1869-70 

Albert G. Burr 1869-70 

Samuel S. Marshall 1869-70 

John B. Hay 1869-70 



Burton C. Cook 1869-70 John M. Crebs. 



.1869-70 



Jesse H. Moore 1869-70 John A. Logan 1869-70 



FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS. 

Charles B. Farwell 1871-73 

John F. Farnsworth. 1871-72 

Horatio C. Burchard 1871-72 

John B. Hawley 1871-72 

Bradford N. Stevens 1871-72 

Henry Snapp 1871-72 



James C Robinson 1871-72 

Thomas W. McNeely 1871-72 

Edward Y. Rice 1871-73 

Samuel S. Marshall 1871-72 

John B. Hay 1871-72 

John M. Crebs 1871-72 



Jesse H. Moore 1871-72 John S. Beveredge 1871-72 



FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 



John B. Rice 1873-74 

Jasper D. Ward 1873-74 

Charles B. Farwell 1873-74 

Stephen A. Hurlbut 1873-74 

Horatio C. Burchard 1873-74 

John B. Hawley 1873-74 

Franklin Corwin 1873-74 



Robert M. Knapp 1873-74 

James C. Robinson 1873-74 

John B. McNulta 1873-74 

Joseph G. Cannon 1873-74 

John R. Eden 1873-74 

James S. Martin 1873-74 

William R. Morrison 1873-74 



170 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, 



Greenbnry L. Fort 1873-74 

Granville Barrere 1873-74 

William H. Ray 1873-74 

FOKTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 

Bernard G. Caulfield 1875-76 

Carter H. Harrison 1875-76 

Charles B. Farwell 1875-76 

Stephen A. Hurlbut 1875-76 

Horatio C. Burchard 1875-76 

Thomas J. Henderson 1875-76 

Alexander Campbell 1875-76 

Greenbury L. Fort 1875-76 

Richard H. Whiting 1875-76 

John C. Bagby 1875-76 

PORTy-FIFTH 

William Aldrich 1877-78 

Carter H. Harrison 1877-78 

Lorenzo Brentano : 1877-78 

William Lathrop 1877-78 

Horatio C. Burchard 1877-78 

Thomas J. Henderson 1877-78 

Philip C. Hayes 1877-78 

Greenbury L.^Fort 1877-78 

Thomas A. Boyd 1877-78 

Benjamin F. Marsh 1877-78 

FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS 



Isaac Clements 1873-74 

Samuel S. Marshall 1873-74 



Scott Wike 1875-76 

William M. Springer 1875-76 

Adlai E. Stevenson 1875-76 

Joseph G. Cannon 1875-76 

John R. Eden 1875-7ft 

W. A. J. Sparks 1875-76 

William R. Morrison .1875-7& 

William Hartzell 1875-76 

William B. Anderson 1875-76 

CONGRESS. 

Robert M. Kncipp 1877-78 

William M. Springer 1877-78 

Thomas F. Tipton 1877-78 

Joseph G. Cannon 1877-78 

John R. Eden 1877-78 

W. A. J. Sparks 1877-78 

William R. Morrison 1877-78 

William Hartzell 1877-78 

Richard W. Townshend 1877-78 



William Aldrich 1879-80 

George R. Davis 1879-80 

Hiram Barber 1879-80 

John C. Sherwin 1879-80 

R. M. A. Hawk 1879-80 

Thomas J. Henderson 1879-80 

Philip C. Hayes 1879-80 

Greenbury L. Fort 1879-80 

Thomas A. Boyd 1879-80 

Benjamin F. Marsh 1879-80 



James W. Singleton 1879-80' 

William M. Springer 1879-80 

A. E. Stevenson 1879-80 

Joseph G. Cannon 1879-80 

Albert P. Forsythe 1879-80 

W. A. J. Sparks 1879-80 

William R. Morrison 1879-80 

John R. Thomas 1879-80 

R. W. Townshend 1879-80 



CHICAGO. 



While we cannot, in the brief space we have, give more than a 
meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, yet we feel the history of 
the State would be incomplete without speaking of its metropolis, 
the most wonderful city on the globe. 

In comparing Chicago as it was a few years since with Chicago 
of to-dav, we behold a chancre whose veritable existence we should 



HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 171 

be inclined to doubt were it not a stern, indisputable fact. Eapid 
as is the customary development of places and things in the United 
States, the growth of Chicago and her trade stands without a parallel. 
The city is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan at the 
mouth of the Chicago river. It lies 14 feet above the lake, having 
been raised to that grade entirely by the energy of its citizens, its 
site having originally been on a dead level with the water of the 
lake. 

The city extends north and south along the lake about ten miles, 
and westward on the prairie from the lake five or six miles, embrac- 
ing an area of over 40 square miles. It is divided by the river 
into three distinct parts, known as the North, West and South 
Divisions, or "Sides," by which they are popularly and commonly 
known. These are connected by 33 bridges and two tunnels. 

The first settlement of Chicago was made in 1804, during which 
year Fort Dearborn was built. At tlie close of 1830 Chicago con- 
tained 12 houses, with a population of about 100. The town was 
organized in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1837. The first 
frame building was erected in 1832, and the first brick house in 
1833. The first vessel entered the harbor June 11, 1834; and at 
the first official census, taken July 1, 1837, the entire population 
was found to be 4,170. In 1850 the population had increased to 
29,963; in 1860, to 112,172; in 1870, 298,977; and, according to 
the customary mode of reckoning from the number of names in 
the City Directory, the population of 1879 is over 500,000. 

Nicholas Perrot, a Frenchman, was the first white man to visit 
the site of Chicago. This he did in 1671, at the instigation of M. 
Toulon, Governor of Canada. He was sent to invite the Western 
Indians to a convention at Green Bay. It has been often remarked 
that the first white man who became a resident of Chicaofo was a 
negro. His name was Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from 
the West Indies. He settled there in 1796 and built a rude cabin on 
the north bank of the main river, and laid claim to a tract of land 
surrounding it. He disappeared from the scene, and his claim was 
"jumped" by a Frenchman named Le Mai, who commenced trad- 
ing with the Indians. A few years later he sold out to John Kin- 
zie, who was then an Indian trader in the country about St. 
Joseph, Mich., and agent for the American Fur Company, which 
had traded at Chicago with the Indians for some time; and thi& 



1Y2 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

fact had, probably more than any other, to do with the determina- 
tion of the Government to establish a fort there. The Indians 
were growing numerous in that region, being attracted by the 
facilities for selling their wares, as well as being pressed northward 
by the tide of emigration setting in from the south. It was judged 
necessary to have some force near that point to keep them in 
check, as well as to protect the trading interests. Mr. Kinzie 
moved his family there the same year Fort Dearborn was builtj 
and converted the Jean Baptiste cabin into a tasteful dwelling. 

For about eight years things moved along smoothly. The garri- 
son was quiet, and the traders prosperous. Then the United States 
became involved in trouble with Great Britain. The Indians took 
the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the 
civilized nations, committinsj great depredations, the most atro- 
cious of which was the massacre of Fort Dearborn, an account of 
which may be found in this volume under the heading of " The 
War of 1812." 

THE GREAT FIRE. 

From the year 1840 the onward march of the city of Chicago 
to the date of the great fire is well known. To recount its marvel- 
ous growth in population, wealth, internal resources and improve- 
ments and everything else that goes to make up a mighty city, 
would consume more space than we could devote, however interest- 
ing it might be. Its progress astonished the world, and its citizens 
stood almost appalled at the work of their own hands. She was 
happy, prosperous and great when time brought that terrible Octo- 
ber night (Oct. 9, 1871) and with it the great fire, memorable as 
ihe greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensation conveyed 
to the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye, 
the ear, or other senses or sympathies, cannot be adequately 
described, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of lan- 
guage. Asa spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well as 
the most appalling ever offered to mortal eyes. From any 
elevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean of 
flame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed 
city. 

Added to the spectacular elements of the Cspnflagration — the 
intense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires and 
pyramids of flame shooting into the heavens — was its constant and 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 173 

terrible roar, drowning even the voices of the shrieking multitude; 
and ever and anon — for a while as often as every half-minute — 
resounded far and wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or fall- 
ing walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weak 
and unnerve the strong abounded. But they were only the accom- 
paniment which the orchestra of nature were furnishing to the 
terrible tragedy there being enacted. 

The total area burned over, including streets, was three and a 
third square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was 
17,450 ; persons rendered homeless, 98,500 ; persons killed, about 
200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business, 
it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was 
$190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insur- 
ance. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time; 
and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned district was 
rebuilt, and at present there is scarcely a trace of the terrible dis- 
aster, save in the improved character of the new buildings over 
those destroyed, and the general better appearance of the city — 
now the finest, in an architectural sense, in the world. 

One of the features of this great city worthy of mention is the 
Exposition, held annually. The smouldering ruins were yet smok- 
ing when the Exposition Building was erected, only ninety days 
being consumed in its construction. The accompanying engrav- 
ing of the building, the main part of which is 1,000 feet long, 
will give an idea of its magnitude. 

COMMEKCE OF CHICAGO. 

The trade of Chicago is co-extensive with the world. Every- 
where, in every country and in every port, the trade-marks of her 
merchants are seen. Everywhere, Chicago stands prominently 
identified with the commerce of the continent. A few years ago, 
grain was carted to the place in wagons; now more than 10,000 
miles of railroad, with thousands of trains heavily ladened with the 
products of the land center there. The cash value of the produce 
handled during the year 1878 was $220,000,000, and its aggregate 
weight was 7,000,000 tons, or would make 700,000 car loads. 
Divided into trains, it would make 28,000 long, heavily ladened 
freight trains, wending their way from all parts of the United States 
toward our great metropolis. These trains, arranged in one con- 



174 HISTOBY OF ILLINOIS. 

tinuous line, would stretch from London across the broad Atlantic 
to New York and on across our continent to San Francisco. 

In regard to the grain, lumber and stock trade, Chicago has sur- 
passed all rivals, and, indeed, not only is without a peer but excels 
any three or four cities in the world in these branches. Of grain, 
the vast quantity of 134,851,193 bushels was received during the 
year 1878. This was about two-fifths more than ever received 
before in one year. It took 13,000 long freight trains to carry it 
from the fields of the Northwest to Chicago. This would make a 
continuous train that would reach across the continent from New 
York to San Francisco. Speaking more in detail, we have of the 
various cereals received during the year, 62,783,577 bushels of corn, 
29,901,220 bushels of wheat, 18,251,529 bushels of oats, 133,981,104 
pounds of seed. The last item alone would fill about 7,000 freight 
cars. 

The lumber received during the year 1878 was, 1,171,364,000 feet, 
exceeded only in 1872, the year after the great fire. This vast 
amount of lumber would require 195,000 freight cars to transport 
it. It would build a fence, four boards high, four and one-half 
times around the globe. 

In the stock trade for the year 1878, the figures assume propor- 
tions almost incredible. They are, however, from reliable and 
trustworthy sources, and must be accepted as authentic. There 
were received during the year, 6,339,656 hogs, being 2,000,000 more 
than ever received before in one year. It required 129,916 stock 
cars to transport this vast number of hogs from the farms of the 
West and Northwest to the stock yards of Chicago. These hogs 
arranged in single file, would form a connecting link between 
Chicago and Pekin, China. 

Of the large number of hogs received, five millions of them were 
slaughtered in Chicago. The aggregate amount of product manu- 
factured from these hogs was 918,000,000 pounds. The capacity of 
the houses engaged in slaughtering operations in Chicago is 60,000 
hogs daily. The number of hands employed in these houses is 
from 6,000 to 8,000. The number of packages required in which 
to market the year's product is enormously large, aggregating 500,- 
000 barrels, 800,000 tierces and 650,000 boxes. 

There has been within the stock j^ards of the city, during the 
year 1878, 1,036,066 cattle. These were gathered from the plains 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 175 

of Oregon, "Wyoming and Utah, and the grazing regions of Texas, 
as well as from all the Southern, "Western and Northwestern States 
and Territories and from the East as far as Ohio. If these cattle 
were driven from Chicago southward, in single file, through the 
United States, Mexico, and the Central American States into South 
America, the foremost could graze on the plains of Brazil, ere the 
last one had passed the limits of the great city. 

Not only does Chicago attract to its great market the products of 
a continent, but from it is distributed throughout the world manu- 
factured goods. Every vessel and every train headed toward that 
city are heavily ladened with the crude products of the farm, of the 
forests, or of the bowels of the earth, and every ship that leaves her 
docks and every train that flies from her limits are filled with 
manufactured articles. These goods not only find their way all 
over our own country but into Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, 
South America, Mexico, and the Islands of the sea; indeed, every 
nook and corner of the globe, where there is a demand for her 
goods, her merchants are ready to supply. 

The wholesale trade for the year 1878 reached enormous fiorures, 
aggregating $280,000,000. Divided among the leading lines, we 
find there were sold of dry goods, $95,000,000 worth. The trade in 
groceries amounted to $66,000,000; hardware, $20,000,000; boots 
and shoes, $24,000,000; clothing, $17,000,000; carpets, $8,000,000; 
millinery, $7,000,000; hats and caps, $6,000,000; leather, $8,000,- 
000; drugs, $6,000,000; jewelry, $1,500,000; musical instruments, 
$2,300,000. Chicago sold over $5,000,000 worth of fruit during 
the year, and for the same time her fish trade amounted to $1,100,- 
000, and her oyster trade $1,500,000. The candy and other con- 
fectionery trade amounted to $1,531,900. This would fill all the 
Christmas stockings in the United States. 

In 1852, the commerce of the city reached the hopeful sum of 
$20,000,000; since then, the annual sales of one firm amount to 
that much. In 1870, it reached $400,000,000, and in 1878 it had 
grown so rapidly that the trade of the city amounted during that 
year to $650,000,000. Her manufacturing interests have likewise 
grown. In 1878, her manufactories employed in the neighborhood 
of 75,000 operators. The products manufactured during the year 
were valued at $230,000,000. In reviewing the shipping interests of 
Chicago, we find it equally enormous. So considerable, indeed, is the 



176 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

commercial navy of Chicago, that in the seasons of navigation, one 
vessel sails every nine minutes during the business hours; add to 
this the canal-boats that leave, one every five minutes during the 
same time, and you will see something of the magnitude of her 
shipping. More vessels arrive and depart from this port during the 
season than enter or leave any other port in the world. 

In 1831, the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who 
went on foot to Niles, Mich,, once in two weeks, and bror.ght back 
what papers and news he could find. As late as 1846, there was 
often but one mail a week. A post-office was established in 
Chicago in 1833, and the postmaster nailed up old boot legs upon 
one side of his shop to serve as boxes. It has since grown to be 
the largest receiving office in the United States. 

In 1844, the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by 
plank roads. The wooden-block pavement appeared in 1857. In 
1840, water was delivered by peddlers, in carts or by hand. Then 
a twenty-five horse power engine pushed it through hollow or bored 
logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the 
houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and 
the first steam fire-engine in 1859, Gas was utilized for lighting 
the city in 1850. The Young Men's Christian Association was 
organized in 1858. Street cars commenced running in 1854. The 
Museum was opened in 1863. The alarm telegraph adopted in 
1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The telephone introduced 
in 1878. 

One of the most thoroughly interesting engineering exploits of 
the city is the tunnels and water-works system, the grandest and 
most unique of any in the world; and the closest analysis fails to 
detect any impurities in the water furnished. The first tunnel is 
five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 
50,000,000 gallons per day. The second tunnel is seven feet in 
diameter and six miles long, running four miles under the city, and 
can deliver 100,000,000 gallons per day. This water is distributed 
through 410 miles of water mains. 

Chicago river is tunneled for the passage of pedestrians and vehi- 
cles from the South to the West and JXorth divisions. 

There is no grand scenery about Chicago except the two seas, one 
of water, the other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about 
it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes it a place never to 



HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS. 177 

be forsaken. Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the 
wealth of one-fourth of the territory of this great republic. The 
Atlantic sea-coast divides its margins between Portland, Boston, 
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, but Chicago has 
a dozen empires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of 
coal that can run all the machinery of the world for 500 centuries; 
in a garden that can feed the race by the thousand years; at the 
head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a summer resort 
equaled by no great city in the land; with a climate that insures 
the health of her citizens; surrounded by all the great deposits of 
natural wealth in mines and forests and herds, Chicago is the 
wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future. 

STATES OF THE UNION. 

THEIR SETTLEMENT, ORIGIN OF NAME AND MEANING, COGNOMEN, MOT- 
TOES, ADMISSION INTO THE UNION, POPULATION, AREA, NUMBER OF 
SOLDIERS FURNISHED DURING THE REBELLION, NUMBER OF REPRE- 
SENTATIVES IN CONGRESS, PRESENT GOVERNORS, ETC., ETC., ETC. 

Alabama. — This State was first explored by LaSalle in 1684, and 
settled by the French at Mobile in 1711, and admitted as a State in 
1817. Its name is Indian, and means " Here we rest," Has no 
motto. Population in 1860,964,201; in 1870,996,992. Furnished 
2,576 soldiers for the Union army. Area 50,722 square miles. 
Montgomery is the capital. Has 8 Representatives and 10 Presi- 
dential electors. Rufus W. Cobb is Governor; salary, $3,000; 
politics. Democratic. Length of term, 2 years. 

Arkansas — Became a State in 1836. Population in 1860, 435,- 
450; in 1870,484,471. Area 52,198 square miles. Little Rock, 
capital. Its motto is Regnant Populi — " The people rule." It has 
the Indian name of its principal river. Is called the " Bear State." 
Furnished 8,289 soldiers. She is entitled to 4 members in Congress? 
and 6 electoral votes. Governor, W. R.Miller, Democrat; salary, 
$3,500; term, 2 years. 

California — Has a Greek motto. Eureka., which means " I have 
found it." It derived its name from the bay forming the peninsula 
of Lower California, and was first applied by Cortez. It was first 
visited by the Spania^ ,3 i\ 1542, and by the celebrated English 



178 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

navigator, Sir Francis Drake, in 1578. In 1846 Fremont took 
possession of it, defeating the Mexicans, in the name of the United 
States, and it was admitted as a State in 1850. Its gold mines 
from 1868 to 1878 produced over $800,000,000. Area 188,982 square 
miles. Fopuhition in 1860, 379,994. In 1870, 560,247. She gave 
to defend the Union 15,225 soldiers. Sacramento is the capital. 
Has 4 Representatives in Congress. Is entitled to 6 Presidential 
electors. Present Governor is William Irwin, a Democrat; term, 
4 years; salary, $6,000. 

Colorado — Contains 106,475 square miles, and had a population 
in 1860 of 34,277, and in 1870, 39,864. She furnished 4,903 
soldiers. Was admitted as a State in 1876. It has a Latin motto, 
Nil sine Numine, which means, " Nothing can be done without 
divine aid." It was named from its river. Denver is the capital. 
Has 1 member in Congress, and 3 electors. T. W. Pitkin is Gov- 
ernor; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years; politics, Eepublican. 

Connecticut — Qui transtulit sustinet, " He who brought us over 
sustains us," is her motto. It was named from the Indian Quon- 
ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River." It is called the "Nutmeg 
State." Area 4,674 square miles. Population 1860, 460,147; in 
1870, 537,454. Gave to the Union army 55,755 soldiers. Hart- 
ford is the capital. Has 4 Representatives in Congress, and is 
entitled to 6 Presidential electors. Salary of Governor $2,000; 
term, 2 years. 

Delaware.-r-^^ Liberty and Independence," is the motto of this 
State. It was named after Lord De La Ware, an English states- 
man, and is called, " The Blue Hen," and the " Diamond State." It 
was first settled by the Swedes in 1638. It was one of the original 
thirteen States. Has an area of 2,120 square miles. Population in 
1860, 112,216; in 1870, 125,016. She sent to the front to defend 
the Union, 12,265 soldiers. Dover is the capital. Has but 1 mem- 
ber in Congress; entitled to 3 Presidential electors. John W. 
Hall, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $2,000; term, 2 years. 

Florida — Was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512, on Easter 
Sunday, called by the Spaniards, Pascua Florida, which, with the 
variety and beauty of the flowers at this early season caused him to 
name it Florida — which means in Spanish, flowery. Its motto is, 
" In God we trust." It was admitted into the Union in 1845. It has 
an area of 59,268 square miles. Population in 1860, 140,424; in 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 179 

1870, 187,756. Its capital is Tallahassee. Has 2 members in Con- 
gress. Has 4 Presidential electors. George F. Drew, Democrat, 
Governor; term, 4 years; salary, $3,500. 

Georgia — Owes its name to George 11. , of England, who first 
established a colony there in 1732. Its motto is, " Wisdom, justice 
and moderation." It was one of the original States. Population 
in 1860, 1,057,280; 1870, 1,184,109. Capital, Atlanta. Area 58, 
OuO square miles. Has 9 Representatives in Congress, and 11 
Presidential electors. Her Governor is A. H. Colquitt, Democrat; 
term, 4 years; salary, $4,000. 

Illinois — Motto, "State Sovereignty, National Union." Name 
derived from the Indian word, Illini, meaning, superior men. It 
is called the ''Prairie State," and its inhabitants, "Suckers." 
Was lirst explored by the French in 1673, and admitted into the 
Union in 1818. Area 55,410 square miles. Population, in 1860 
1,711,951; in 1870, 2,539,871. She sent to the front to defend the 
Union, 258,162 soldiers. Capital, Springfield. Has 19 members in 
Congress, and 21 Presidential electors. Shelby M. CuUom, Repub. 
lican, is Governor; elected for 4 years; salary, $6,000. 

Indiana — Is called "Hoosier State." Was explored in 1682, 
and admitted as a State in 1816. Its name was suggested by its 
numerous Indian population. Area 33,809 square miles. Popu- 
lation in 1860, 1,350,428; in 1870, 1,680,637. She put into the 
Federal army, 194,363 men. Capital, Indianapolis. lias 13 mem- 
bers in Congress, and 15 Presidential electors. J. D. Williams, 
Governor, Democrat; salary, $3,000; term, 4 year. 

Iowa — Is an Indian name and means "This is the land." Its 
motto is, "Our liberties we prize, our. rights we will maintain." 
It is called the "Hawk Eye State." It was first visited by 
Marquette and Joliet in 1673; settled by New Englanders in 
1833, and admitted into the Union in 1846. Des Moines is the 
capital. It has an area of 55,045, and a population in 1860 of 674,913, 
and in 1870 of 1,191,802, She sent to defend the Government, 
75,793 soldiers. Has 9 members in Congress; 11 Presidential 
electors. John H. Gear, Republican, is Governor; salary, $2,500; 
term, 2years. • 

Kansas — Was admitted into the Union in 1861, making the 
thirty-fourth State. Its motto is Ad astra per aspera^ " To the 
stars through difficulties." Its name means, " Smoky water," and 



180 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

is derived from one of her rivers. Area 78,841 square miles. 
Population in 1860, 107,209; in 1870 was 362,812. She furnished 
20,095 soldiers. Capital is Topeka. Has 3 Representatives in Con- 
gress, and 5 Presidential electors. John P, St. John, Governor; 
politics, Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years.' 

Kentucky — Is the Indian name for "At the head of the rivers." 
Its motto is, " United we stand, divided we fall." The sobriquet 
of "dark and bloody ground " is applied to this State. It was first 
settled in 1769, and admitted in 1792 as the fifteenth State. Area 
37,680. Population in 1860, 1,155,684; in 1870, 1,321,000. She 
put into the Federal army 75,285 soldiers. Capital, Frankfort. 
Has 10 members in Congress ; 12 Electors. J. B. McCreary, 
Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000 ; term, 4 years. 

Louisiana — Was called after Louis XIY,, who at one time 
owned that section of the country. Its motto is " Union and Con- 
fidence." It is called "The Creole State." It was visited by La 
Salle in 1684, and admitted into the Union in 1812, making the 
eighteenth State.- Population in 1860, 708,002; in 1870,732,731. 
Area 46,431 square miles. She put into the Federal army 5,224 
soldiers. Capital, New Orleans. Has 6 Representatives and 8 
Electors. F. T. Nichols, Governor, Democrat; salary, $8,000; 
term, 4 years. 

Maine. — This State was called after the province of Maine in 
France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned 
that province. Its motto is Dirigo., meaning " I direct." It is 
called "The Pine Tree State." It was settled by the English in 
1625. It was admitted as a State in 1820. Area 31,766 square 
miles. Population in 1860, 628,279; in 1870, 626,463; 69,738 sol- 
diers went from this State. Has 5 members in Congress, and 7 
Electors. Selden Conner, Republican, Governor; term, 1 year; 
salary, $2,500. 

Maryland — Was named after Henrietta Maria, Queen of 
Charles I. of England. It has a Latin motto, Crecite et multiplica- 
miniy meaning " Increase and Multiply." It was settled in 1634, 
and was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 11,- 
124 square miles. Population in 1860 was 687,049; in 1870, 780,- 
806. This State furnished 46,053 soldiers. Capital, Annapolis. 
Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. J. H. Carroll, 
Democrat, Governor; salary, $4,500; term, 4 years. 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 181 

Massachusetts — Is tlie Indian for " The country around the great 
hills," It is called the " Bay State," from its numerous bays. Its 
motto is Ense petit placidam sub lihertate quietem^ " By the sword 
she seeks placid rest in liberty." It was settled in 1620 at Plymouth 
by English Puritans. It was one of the original thirteen States, 
and was the first to take up arms against the English during the 
Kevolution. Area 7,800 square miles. Population in 1860, 1,231,- 
066 ; in 1870, 1,457,351. She gave to the Union army 146,467 sol- 
diers. Boston is the capital. Has 11 Representatives in Con- 
gress, and 13 Presidential electors. Thomas Talbot, Republican, is 
Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 1 year. 

Michigan — Latin motto, Luehor, and Si qucBris i)enins%dain 
amcBnam circumspice, '' I will defend "—" If you seek a pleasant 
peninsula, look around you." The name is a contraction of two 
Indian words meaning "Great Lake." It was early explored by 
Jesuit missionaries, and in 1837 was admitted into the Union. It 
is known as the " Wolverine State." It contains 66,243 square 
miles. In 1860 it had a population of 749,173; in 1870, 1,184,059. 
She furnished 88,111 soldiers. Capital, Lansing. Has 9 Repre- 
sentatives and 11 Presidential electors. C. M. Croswell is Gov- 
ernor; politics. Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 2 years. 

Minnesota— Is an Indian name, meaning " Cloudy Water." It 
has a French motto, VEtoile dii Word — " The Star of the North." 
It was visited in 1680 by La Salle, settled in 1846, and admitted 
into the Union in 1858. It contains 83,531 square miles. In 1860 
had a population of 172,023; in 1870, 439,511. She gave to the 
Union army 24;002 soldiers. St. Paul is the capital. Has 3 mem- 
bers in Congress, 5 Presidential electors. Governor, J. S. Pills- 
bury. Republican; salary, $3,000; term, 2 years. 

Mississippi — Is an Indian name, meaning " Long River," and the 
State is named from the " Father of Waters." The State was first 
explored by De Sota in 1541; settled by the French at Natchez in 
1716, and was admitted into the Union in 1817. It has an area of 
47,156 square miles. Population in 1860, 791,305; in 1870,827,- 
922. She gave to suppress the Rebellion 545 soldiers. Jackson is 
the capital. Has 6 representatives in Congress, and 8 Presidential 
electors. J. M. Stone is Governor, Democrat; salary, $4,000; 
term, 4 years. 

Missouri — Is derived from the Indian word " muddy," which 



182 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 

more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Its motto 
is Salus populi suprema lex esto^ " Let the welfare of the people 
be the supreme law." The State was first settled by the French 
near Jefferson City in 1719, and in 1821 was admitted into the 
Union. It has an area of 67,380 square miles, equal to 43,123,200 
acres. It had a population in 1860 of 1,182,012; in 1870, 1,721,- 
000. She gave to defend the Union 108,162 soldiers. Capital, 
Jefferson City. Its inhabitants are known by the offensive eogno- 
man of " Pukes." Has 13 representatives in Congress, and 15 
Presidential electors. J. S. Phelps is Governor; politics, Demo- 
cratic; salary, $5,000; term, ■! years. 

Nebraska — Has f^r its motto, " Equality before the law." Its 
name is derived from one of its rivers, meaning " broad and shal- 
low, or low." It was admitted into the Union in 1867. Its capital 
is Lincoln. It had a population in 1860 of 28,841, and in 1870, 
123,993, and in 1875,246,280. It has an area of 75,995 square 
miles. She furnished to defend the Union 3,157 soldiers. Has but 
1 Kepresentative and 3 Presidential electors. A. Nance, Repub- 
lican, is Governor; salary, $2,500; term, 2 years. 

Nevada — " The Snowy Land " derived its name from the Span- 
ish. Its motto is Latin, Volens et potens^ and means " willing 
and able." It was settled in 1850, and admitted into the Union in 
1864. Capital, Carson City. Its population in 1860 was 6,857; 
in 1870 it was 42,491. It has an area of 112,090 square miles. 
She furnished 1,080 soldiers to suppress the Rebellion. Has 1 Rep- 
resentative and 3 Electors. Governor, J. H. Kinkhead, Republican; 
salary, $6,000 ; term, 4 years. 

Neio Hampsldre — Was first settled at Dover by the English in 
1623. Was one of the original States. Has no motto. It is 
named from Hampshii-e county in England. It also bears the 
name of " The Old Granite State." It has an area of 9;280 miles, 
which equals 9,239,200 acres. It had a population in 1 860 of 326,- 
073, and in 1870 of 318,300. She increased the Union array with 
33,913 soldiers. Concord is the capital. Has 3 Representatives 
and 5 Presidential electors. N. Head, Republican, Governor; 
salary, $1,000; term, 1 year. 

New Jersey — Was named in honor of the Island of Jersey in the 
British channel. Its motto is " Liberty and Independence." It was 
first settled at Bergen by the Swedes in 1624. It is one of the orig- 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 183 

inal thirteen States. It has an area of 8,320 square miles, or 5,324,- 
800 acres. Population in 1860 was 672,035 ; in 1870 it was 906,096. 
She put into the Federal army 75,315 soldiers. Capital, Trenton. 
Has 7 Representatives and 9 Presidential electors. Governor, 
George B. McClelland, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 3 years. 

New York. — The " Empire State " was named by the Duke of 
York, afterward King James II. of England. It has a Latin motto. 
Excelsior., which means " Still Higher." It was first settled by the 
Dutch in 1614 at Manhattan. It has an area of 47,000 square 
miles, or 30,080,000 acres. The population in 1860 was 3,880,735 ; 
in 1870 it was 4,332,759. It is one of the original thirteen States. 
Capital is Albany. It gave to defend our Government 445,959 
men. Has 33 members in Congress, and 35 Presidential electors. 
Governor, L. Robinson, Democrat; salary, $10,000; term, 3 years. 

North Carolina — "Was named after Charles IX., King of Prance. 
It is called " The Old North," or " The Turpentine State." It was 
first visited in 1524 by a Florentine navigator, sent out by Francis 
I., King of France. It was settled at Albemarle in 1663. It was 
one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 50,704 square 
miles, equal to 32,450,560 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 
992,622, and in 1870, 1,071,361. Raleigh is the capital. She 
furnished 3,156 soldiers to put down the Rebellion. Has 8 mem- 
bers in Congress, and is entitled to 10 Presidential electors. Z. B. 
Vance, Democrat, is Governor; salary, $5,000; term, 4 years. 

Ohio — Took its name from the river on its Southern boundary, 
and means " Beautiful." Its motto is Im'perium in Iniperio — 
"An Empire in an Empire." It was first permanently settled in 
1788 at Marietta by New Englanders. It was admitted as a State 
in 1803. Its capital is Columbus. It contains 39,964 square 
miles, or 25,576,960 acres. Population in 1860, 2,339,511; in 1870 
it had 2,665,260. She sent to the front during the Rebellion 310,- 
654 soldiers. Has 20 Representatives, and 22 Presidential electors. 
Governor, R. M. Bishop, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years. 

Oregon — Owes its Indian name to its principal river. Its motto 
is Alis volat fropriis — "She flics with her own wings. " It was 
first visited by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was set- 
tled by the English in 1813, and admitted into the Union in 1859. 
Its capital is Salem. It has an area of 95,274 square miles, equal 
to 60,975,360 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 52,465; in 



184 HISTOKY OF ILLINOIS, 

1870, 90,922. She furnished 1,810 soldiers. She is entitled to 1 
member in Congress, and 3 Presidential electors. W. W". Thayer, 
Republican, is Governor; salary, $1,500 ; terra, 4 years. 

Pennsylvania. — This is the "Keystone State," and means "Penn's 
Woods," and was so called after "William Penn, its original owner. 
Its motto is, " Yirtue, liberty and independence." A colony was 
established by Penn in 1682. The State was one of the original 
thirtee;n. It has an area of 46,000 square miles, equaling 29,440,- 
000 acres. It had in 1860 a population of 2,906,215; and in 1870, 
3,515,993. She gave to suppress the Rebellion, 338,155. Harris- 
burg is the capital. Has 27 Representatives and 29 electors. H. 
M.Hoyt, is Governor; salary, $10,000; politics. Republican; term 
of office, 3 years. 

Rhode Island. — This, the smallest of the States, owes its name to 
the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said 
to greatly resemble. Its motto is " Hope," and it is familiarly 
called, "Little Rhody." It was settled by Roger Williams in 1636. 
It was one of the original thirteen States. It has an area of 1,306 
square miles, or 835,840 acres. Its population in 1860 numbered 
174,620; in 1870, 217,356. She gave to defend the Union, 23,248. 
Its capitals are Providence and Newport. Has 2 Representatives, 
and 4 Presidential electors. C. Vanzandt is Governor; politics, 
Republican; salary, $1,000; term, 1 year. 

South Carolina. — The Palmetto State wears the Latin name of 
Charles IX., of France (Carolus). Its motto is Latin, Animis 
opihusque parati, " Ready in will and deed." The first permanent 
settlement was made at Port Royal in 1670, where the French 
Huguenots had failed three-quarters of a century before to found a 
settlement. It is one of the original thirteen States. Its capital is 
Columbia. It has an area of 29,385 square miles, or 18,806,400 
acres, with a population in 1860 of 703,708; in 1870, 728,000. 
Has 5 Representatives in Congress, and is entitled to 7 Presidential 
electors. Salary of Governor, $3,500; term, 2 years. 

Tennessee— Iq the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e, 
the Mississippi, which forms its western boundary. She is called 
"The Big Bend State." Her motto is, " Agriculture, Commerce." 
It was settled in 1757, and admitted into the Union in 1796, mak- 
ing the sixteenth State, or the third admitted after the Revolution- 
ary War— Yermont being the first, and Kentucky the second. It 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 185 

has an area of 45,600 S(|iuire miles, or 29,184,000 acres. In 1860 
its population numbered 1,109,801, and in 1870, 1,257,983. She 
furnished 31,092 soldiers to suppress the Rebellion. Nashville is 
the capital. Has 10 Representatives, and 12 Presidential electors. 
Governor, A. S. Marks, Democrat; salary, $4,000; term, 2 years. 

Texas — Is the American word for the Mexican name by which 
all that section of the country was known before it was ceded to the 
United States. It is known as " The Lone Star State." The first set- 
tlement was made by LaSalle in 1685. After the independence of 
Mexico in 1822, it remained a Mexican Province until 1836, when 
it gained its independence, and in 1845 was admitted into the 
Union. It has an area of 237,504 square miles, equal to 152,002,- 
560 acres. Its population in 1860 was 604,215; in 1870, 818,579. 
She gave to put down the Rebelion 1,965 soldiers. Capital, Austin. 
Has 6 Representatives, and 8 Presidential electors. Governor, O. 
M. Roberts, Democrat; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years. 

Yermont — Bears the French name of her mountains Verde Mont 
"Green Mountains." Its motto is "Freedom and Unity." It 
was settled in 1731, and admitted into the Union in 1791. Area 
10,212 square miles. Population in 1860, 315,098 ; in 1870, 330,551- 
She gave to defend the Government, 33,272 soldiers. Capital, Mont- 
pelier. Has 3 Representatives, and 5 electors. Governor, H. Fair- 
banks, Republican; term, 2 years; salary, $1,000. 

Virginia. — The Old Dominion, as this State is called, is the 
oldest of the States. It was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, 
the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his 
first attempt to colonize that region. Its motto is Sic semper 
tyrannis, " So always with tyrants." It was first settled at James- 
town, in 1607, by the English, being the first settlement in the 
United States. It is one of original thirteen States, and had before 
its division in 1862, 61,352 square miles, but at present contains 
but 38,352 square miles, equal to 24,545,280 acres. The population 
in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, and in 1870 it was 1,224,830. Rich- 
mond is the capital. Has 9 Representatives, and 11 electors. Gov- 
ernor, F. W. M. Halliday, Democrat; salary, $5,500; term, 4 years. 

West Virginia. — l^lotto, 31 ontani semper liberi, " Mountaineers 
are always free." This is the only State ever formed, under the 
Constitution, by the division of an organized State. This was done 
in 1862, and in 1863 was admitted into the Union. It lias an area of 



186 



HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 



23,000 square miles, or 14,720,000 acres. The population in 1860 
was 376,000; in 1870 it numbered 445,616. She furnished 32,003. 
Capital, Wheeling. Has 3 Representatives in Congress, and is 
entitled to 5 Presidential electors. The Governor is H. M. Mathews, 
Democrat; term, 4 years; salary, $2,700. 

Wisconsin — Is an Indian name, and means "Wild-rushing 
channel." Its motto, Civitatas successit harbarum, " The civilized 
man succeeds the barbarous." It is called " The Badger State." 
The State was visited by the French explorers in 1665, and a settle- 
ment was made in 1669 at Green Bay. It was admitted into the 
Union in 1848. It has an area of 52,924 square miles, equal to 
34,511,360 acres. In 1860 its population numbered 775,881; in 
1870, 1,055,167. Madison is the capital. She furnished for the 
Union army 91,021 soldiers. Has 8 members in Congress, and is 
entitled to 10 Presidential electors. The Governor is W. E. Smith; 
politics. Republican; salary, $5,000; term, 2 years. 




HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. 187 

ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND DUMB. 

The first class of unfortunates to attract the notice of the legis- 
lature were the deaf mutes. The act establishing the institution for 
the education of these unfortunates was approved by Gov. Carlin, 
Feb. 23, 1839, the asylum to be located at Jacksonville. The 
original building, afterward called the south wing, was begun in 
1842, and completed in 1849, at a cost of about $25,000. A small 
portion of the building was ready for occupancy in 1846, and on 
the 26th day of January, of that year, the Institution was formally 
opened, with Mr. Thomas Officer as principal. The first term 
opened with but four pupils, which has increased from year to year, 
until the average attendance at the present time is about 250. 

ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOR THE INSANE. 

In response to an appeal from the eminent philanthropist. 
Miss D. L. Dix, an act establishing the Illinois Hospital 
for the Insane, was approved by Gov. French, March 1, 1847. 
Nine trustees were appointed, with power to select a site, 
purchase land, and erect buildings to accommodate 250 patients. 
On the 1st of May the board agreed upon a site, 1^ miles 
from the court-house in Jacksonville. In 1851 two wards in 
the east wing were ready for occupancy, and the first patient 
was admitted Nov. 3, 1851. In 1869 the General Assembly passed 
two acts creating the northern asylum for the insane, and the 
southern asylum for the insane, which was approved by Gov. 
Palmer, April 16, 1869. Elgin was selected as a location for the 
former, and Anna for the latter. The estimated capacity of the 
three asylums is 1,200 patients. In addition to the State institu- 
tions for the insane, there are three other asylums for their benefit, 
one in Cook county, which will accommodate about 400 patients, 
and two private institutions, one at Batavia, and one at Jack- 
sonville. 

ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE-MINDED. 

The experimental school for feeble-minded children, the first 
institution of its kind in the North-west, was created by an act 
approved, Feb. 15, 1865. It was an outgrowth of the institution 
for deaf and dumb, to which idiots are frequently sent, under a 
mistaken impression on the part of parents, that their silence 
results from inability to hear. The selection of a site for the 



ISS IIISTOKY OF ILLINOIS. 

building was intrusted to seven commissioners, who, in July, 1S75, 
agreed upon the town of Lincoln. The building was begun in 
1ST5, and completed three j-ears later, at a cost of $154,209. The 
average attendance in 1878 was 22-1. 

THE CHICAGO CHARITABLE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. 

The association for founding this institution was organized in 
May, 1858, and Pearson street, Chicago, selected for the erection 
of the building. In 1865 the legislature granted the institution 
a special charter, and two years later made an appropriation of 
§5,000 a year for its maintenance, and in 1871 received it into the 
circle of State institutions; thereupon the name was changed by 
the substitution of the word Illinois for Chicago. The building 
was swept away by the great fire of 1871, and three years later the 
present building was completed, at a cost of $12,813. 

THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY' 

Is located at Carbondale. 'This University was opened in 1874, 
and occupies one of the finest school edifices in the United States. 
It includes, besides a normal department proper, a preparatory 
department and a model school. The model school is of an 
elementary grade; the preparatory department is of the grade of a 
hiffh school, with a course of three rears. The normal course of four 
years embraces two courses, a classical and a scientific course; both 
make the study of the English language and literature quite 
prominent. 

THE ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY', 

Located at Urbana, was chartered in 1867. It has a corps of twen- 
ty-five instructors, including professors, lecturers and assistants. 
and has an attendance of over 400 pupils. It comprises four 
colleges (1) Agriculture, (2) Engineering, (3) Natural Science, 
(4) Literature and Science. These colleges embrace twelve subor- 
dinate schools and courses of instruction, in which are taught 
domestic science and art, commerce, military science, wood engrav- 
ing, printing, telegraphy, photographing and designing. This insti- 
tution is endowed with the national land grant, and the amount of 
its productive fund is about $320,000. The value of its grounds, 
l)uildings, etc., is about $640,000. It is well supplied with appara- 
tus, and has a library of over 10,000 volumes. 



HI OF mtu COITI, 



CHAPTER I. 



PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY AND NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 



Hancock County is situated about forty miles north of the center 
of the State, on its west line, and within what is known as the 
"Military Bounty Land Tract." It is bounded on the south by 
Adams county, to which it was attached from 1825 to 1829, east by 
McDonough and Schuyler, north by Henderson, and west by the 
Mississippi r^ver, which separated it from Clarke county, Missouri, 
and Lee county, Iowa, and constitutes about two-fifths of its whole' 
boundary. It lies between forty degrees and ten minutes and forty ' 
degrees and forty minutes north latitude; and between thirteen 
degrees and thirty-five minutes and fourteen degrees and five min- 
utes west longitude from Washington. It is thirty miles long from 
north to south, and on an average of twenty-four" miles wide from 
east to west — its northern line measuring just twelve miles to its 
intersection with the Mississippi, while its southern measures a 
little oyer thirty miles. Its western line, following the meander- 
ings of the river, measures about forty-five miles. 

_ The county includes sixteen whole congressional townships and 
eight fractional ones (the eight being about equal to five and a 
quarter whole ones), subdivided into 769 square miles, or sections, 
containing about 492,160 acres. 

The central portion of the county is composed of one grand prai- 
rie, bordered on the west by the wooded blutts of the Mississippi, 
and east and south by the timber lands skirting the margins of 
Crooked and Bear creeks, and their numerous tributaries. 

The Burlington branch of the C, B. &. Q. Railroad passing 
through the county from Dallas City to the southwest corner of 
section 35, three north, seven west, cuts it into two nearly equal 
])arts; while an east and west line, following theT., W. & W. Railroad 
to Carthage, thence east through the center of Carthage and Han- 
cock townships, would divide it into nearly equal portions in the 
other direction. The east half of the county contains the most 
woodland, being intersected by the many streams tributary to 



192 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Crooked creek. Most of the woodlands bordering on Bear creek 
and branches are in t]ie west half. 

Of the four subdivisions above named, it would be very hard to 
tell which is the better portion. Each has some advantages, per- 
haps lacking in the others. The people of Augusta and St. Mary's 
have been in the habit of claiming superiority for their townships. 
The same may be said of La Harpe and Fountain Green. And, 
while it is true that no better soil and fairer country can be found 
than is contained in the townships named, we confess to have wit- 
nessed about Nauvoo, and in Sonora, Montebello, Walker and other 
western townships, country not a whit behind them in fertility and 
beauty. The eastern tier of townships is better adapted to wheat; 
but the prairie portions will out-do them in the production of corn 
and hay. 

GEOLOGY. 

Professor Worthen's " Geology of Illinois," pages 327-349, vol. 
i. contains an exhaustive report on the geology of Hancock county. 
Applying to him for leave to make extracts therefrom for use in 
this history, he very generously forwarded the following, written 
expressly for our use, for which he has our thanks, and which the 
reader will find very instructive and interesting: 

The geological formations to be found in this county consist ol 
the usual surface deposits called drifts some sixty feet or more of 
the lower coal measures, and the St. Louis and Keokuk divisions of 
the lower carboniferous limestones. 

The lowest or fundamental rock outcropping in the country is the 
Keokuck limestone, which forms the main portion of the river 
blutfs from the south line ot Henderson county to Warsaw, and ap- 
pears also in occasional outcrops along the base of the bluifs from 
Warsaw to the south line of the county. It is also found on the 
lower courses of most of the small streams in the northwestern por- 
tion of the county, as well as on Crooked creek north and north- 
west of Plymouth. 

The Keokuk limestone may usually be recognized as forming two 
well marked divisions. The upper portion, ranging in thickness 
from thirty to forty feet, consists of a bluish gray or ash-colored 
calcareo-argillaceous shale, passing locally into thin bedded lime- 
stone, and contains the globular silicious bodies known under the 
familiar name of geodes, and is hence called the geode bed. Many 
of these geodes are solid globes of quartz, with an outer crust of 
chalcedony, the interior being composed of crystalline quartz. 
Others are hollow spheres, the outer crust consisting of crystalline 
quartz and chalcedony, while the internal cavity is coated with 
various crystallized minerals, of which quartz is by far the most 
common, and more rarely with calcite, dolomite, zinc-blende, iron 
pyrites, and aragonite, forming very beautiful and interesting 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 193 

cabinet specimens of these minerals. In the vicinity of Niota, 
geodes are occasionally found with the internal cavity filled with 
liquid petroleum, or hardened asphaltum. 

As early as 1840 or '41, a collection of geodes was made in the 
vicinity of Montebello, by Mr. Catlin of Philadelphia, and ship- 
ped to that city to enrich the cabinets of the Eastern States; and 
since that time hundreds of tons have been collected and shipped 
from this count}', until choice specimens are now comparatively 
rare, and difficult to obtain. 

The lower division of the Keokuk formation consists of gray 
limestone, rather coarse grained and sub-crystalline, partly in heavy 
beds ranging from one to three feet in thickness, and partly in 
thinner shaly beds, with intercalated layers of chert, or impure flint. 
The latter is the prevailing character of the lower part of this 
division, and it forms the bed rock of the Mississippi river along 
the Des Moines rapids from Keokuk to Nauvoo. 

The thickness of the lower division of the Keokuk group is 
from sixty to seventy feet, and the entire thickness of the whole in 
this county is about one hundred feet. The lower division, to 
which the name Keokuk limestone moi'e properly belongs, affords 
a very good building-stone for dry walls, and also a fair quality of 
stone for the lime-kiln, though for the latter purpose the compact 
fine grained limestone of the overlying St. Louis group is to be 
preferred. The Mormon temple at Nauvoo was built entirely of 
this limestone quarried in the vicinity of that city, and the custom- 
houses at Dubncpie, Iowa, and Galena, 111,, and the postoffice build- 
ing in Springfield are all built of this limestone quarried in the 
vicinity of Nauvoo and Hamilton. All the work in dressed and 
cut stone for the Mormon temple, even to the carved oxen on whose 
backs the baptismal font rested, was furnished from the Nauvoo 
quarries. 

When this limestone is exposed to the continued action of frost 
and moistiire, it splits into irregular layers along the lines of bed- 
ding, and hence is unfit for bridge abutments, culverts, and all 
similar purposes, where it would be constantly exposed to these 
adverse infiuences. 

The Keokuk limestone is entirely of marine origin, as is fully 
proven by the great numbers of marine fossils that it contains, and 
the solid limestone strata were once beds of calcareous sediment in 
the bed of the ocean, at a period so remote that we can now form 
no correct estimate of its probable date. Some of the strata are 
composed entirely of the remains of organic beings, with barely 
enough of inorganic matter to cement the mass into a solid rock, 
and to the paleyntologist who desires to know something about the 
forms of life pertaining to the carboniferous age, it affords an ex- 
ceedingly varied and interesting field. 

The fossils that abound in this limestone consist for the most 
part of crinoids, or lily-like animals, corals, bryozoans, mollusks, 
and the teeth and spines of fishes. The carboniferous fishes were 



194 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

mostly cartilaojinous, like the shark and sturgeon of the present 
day, and as flesh never petrifies, and they possessed no bony skele- 
ton, only their teeth and honj spines have been preserved as me- 
morials of their existence. The lish remains, although occasionally 
to be found throughout the whole extent of the limestone, are far 
more abundant in certain layers, where the}- are sometimes found 
in large numbers within a very limited space. Two of these "fish 
beds " occur in the vicinity of Warsaw and Hamilton, one just 
below the geode bed, and the other in 'the clierty limestones below 
the quarry rock, and in what has been called the division beds, 
which separate the Keokuk from the Burlington limestone below. 
The color of these fish reniains is usually brown or sometimes 
nearly black, and the contrast they exhibit with the light gray color 
of the rock enables the collector to readily detect them M-ithout a 
close examination of their structure, which is also quite distinct 
from that of an}^ other fossils to be found in this formation. 

Inter-stratified with the limestone beds, there are layers of clay 
or clay shale, varying in thickness from half an inch to two feet or 
more. These have resulted from the introduction of a muddy sed- 
iment into the ocean, which in some cases suddenly entombed the 
living animals that inliabited its waters, and in these clay partings, 
the crinoids and delicate bryozoans are found in their most perfect 
state of preservation. They secreted a calcareous skeleton like the 
coral, and occasionally these may be found in the soft shale or im- 
printed on the surfaces of the limestone in such a perfect state 
of preservation that the original form and structure of the animal 
can be readily determined. 

One of the most common forms of bryozoans in the Keokuk lime- 
stone is the screw-shaped fossil known as the Archimedes, and the 
frequency of its occurrence in this limestone gave it the name of 
Archimedes limestone, by which it was designated by Dr. D. D. 
Owen and some others of the earlier geologists. Subsequently it 
was found that similar forms were found in the Warsaw division of 
the St. Louis group as well as in the Chester limestones, another 
division of the lower carboniferous series, and hence the name of 
Archimedes limestone had to be abandoned, as applicable to any 
single division of the series. 

The crinoids were so abundant in the ocean sediments out of 
which these limestones have been formed, that some of the thickest 
of the limestone strata are composed almost entirely of their re- 
mains, and hence the name crinoidal, or encrinital limestone has 
been applied to it. The crinoidal layers usually have a crystalline 
structure, and some of them receive a high polish, and when varie- 
gated in color form a handsome and valuable marble. 

Overlying the geode bed we find the St. Louis limestone, which, 
like the Keokuk group, may be separated into two well marked 
divisions, the lower consisting of magnesian limestone, overlaid by 
blue shales with thin and irregular beds of coarse gray limestone, 
the latter capped with a bed of calcareous sandstone, and an upper 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 195 

divisioji composed of fine-grained, compact brecciated limestone. 
The lower division ranges from 30 to 40 feet in thickness, and the 
upper from 10 to 30. Tliis group forms the upper portion of 
the river bluffs throughout the county, and is also found on nearly 
all the small streams in the central and western portions, and the 
tributaries, as well as the main course of Crooked creek, in the 
nortiieastern part of the county. 

The brecciated division forms the base, or fundamental rock, on 
which the coal measures rest, and hence it forms a well marked 
horizontal limit, below which coal is never found. Isolated out- 
crops of coal are found resting upon it, however, in almost all parts 
of the county, even as far west as the bluffs of the Mississippi 
river at Nauvoo, on Waggoner's creek near Montebello, and at 
several other points to the westward of the present boundary of 
the Illinois coal field, but such outliers are of little or no value for 
coal-mining purposes. 

The magnesian limestone that is found at the base of the lower 
division of the St. Louis group ranges in thickness hi this county 
from six to ten feet, and affords the best material for foundation 
walls, bridge abutments and culverts that can be obtained in this 
portion of the State. The Sonora quarries furnished the foundation 
stone for the new capitol building at Springfield, as well as the ma- 
terial for the abutments of the bridge, and the locks on the canal at 
Keokuk, and the rock has given universal satisfaction where strength 
and durability were the main qualities demanded. It is not a hand- 
some stone for outside walls, not coloring evenly on exposure, and 
liable to be stained by the oxidation of the iron pyrites with which 
the rock is more or less impregnated. But it hardens on exposure 
and does not split when subjected to the combined action of frost 
and water. Below Warsaw the magnesian limestone is from ten to 
twelve feet thick, and is rather lighter colored and freer from pyrites 
than at the Sonora quarries. 

The blue shales and thin-bedded limestones above the magnesian 
bed abound in fossils in the vicinity of Warsaw, and hence the name 
of "■ Warsaw beds " has been applied to the lower division of the 
St. Louis group. The largest species of Archimedes known, the A. 
Wortheni, described and figured by Prof. Hall in the first report on 
the geology of Iowa, belongs to this geological horizon, and is found 
more abundant in the vicinity of Warsaw than elsewhere. Specimens 
have been found as much as eighteen inches in length, and when 
living, with its delicate, lace-like expansion extending from six to 
eight inches on either side of the screw-shaped axis, they must have 
formed living organisms of rare interest. This, with a half dozen 
or more of other species of bryozoans to be fjund in these shales at 
Warsaw, has made the locality quite noted with the amateur col- 
lectors of fossils, and the locality is now well nigh exhausted. 
Above these fossiliferous beds, there is a bed of calcareous sandstone 
at Warsaw about six feet in thickness, some of which lies in thin 
layers suitable for flags, and partly in strata from one foot to eigh- 



196 HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

teen inches in thickness. This rock cuts freely and is an excellent 
stone for caps and sills. 

The upper division of the St. Louis group is a fine-grained brec- 
ciated limestone, concretionary in structure and a nearly pure car- 
bonate of lime in its composition, and hence furnishes the best ma- 
terial for the lime-kiln to be found in the county. It is from ten to 
thirty feet in thickness and forms the bed rock over a large portion 
of the county, though it was probably at one time covered by the 
shales and sandstones of the lower coal measures, which were sub- 
sequently removed by denuding agencies, leaving the solid lime- 
stone as a floor over which the drift clays were subsequently depos- 
ited. This limestone is characterized by three species of fossil 
corals, one of which, the Lithostrotion mamillare is usually sili- 
cious, and weathers out of the limestone in consideirable masses, 
and is called "petrified honeycomb," or "wasps' nests," by those 
who are unaware of its true character and origin. An excellent 
material for macadamizing roads as well as limestone for the lime- 
kiln is furnished by this division of the St. Louis group wherever 
its outcrop occurs. 

Coal Measures. — In the southeastern portion of the county, em- 
bracing an area of three or four townships, and extending north to 
the vicinity of Plymouth, the sandstone and shales of the coal- 
measures are found, embracing a thickness of fifty to sixty feet or 
more, and include the horizon of the two lower seams of coal. At 
the base of the coal measures there is usually a coarse sandstone 
which sometimes encloses pebbles and becomes a true conglomerate. 
It is variable in thickness, but usually ranges from five to twenty 
feet in this portion of the State. Above the conglomerate there is 
either a few feet of sandy shale, or if this is absent, the fire clay of 
the lower coal seam, or coal No. 1, reckoning from the bottom of 
the formation upward. This seam is usually too thin where it has 
been found in this county, to be of any great value for the produc- 
tion of coal, yielding furthermore an article of inferior quality. In 
thickness it ranges from six to eighteen inches, but the coal is some- 
times replaced entirely with bituminous shale. 

Between this lower coal and the one above it, or No. 2, there is 
nsually from ten to twenty feet of shale, the lower part of which is 
bituminous, and forms the roof to the lower seam, while at the top 
it passes into the dark-colored fire clay of No. 2. This upper seam 
is about two feet in thickness, but it is not regularly developed, and 
like the lower seam, is liable to run into bituminous shale. It was 
worked at an early day on Williams creek, in the vicinity of Pu- 
laski, to supply the local demand for coal, but since the completion 
of the C., B. & Q. railroad through this portion of the county, the 
mines have been generally abandoned. Above No. 2 there is a 
variable thickness of shale and sandstone, probably nowhere exceed- 
ing twenty-five or thirty feet, which forms tlie uppermost beds of 
the coal formation in this county. 



HISTORY OF UANCOCK COUNTY, 197 

The surface deposits, or "drift," as the loose material that over- 
lies the bed rock of the country is usually called, consists of a yel- 
lowish brown clay at the top, forming the subsoil, then drab and 
ash-colored clays with gravel and boulders, passing downward into 
a compact blue clay or " hard pan," the whole ranging from forty 
to sixty feet or more in thickness. Below the " hard pan," a black 
peaty soil is frequently met with containing leaves and branches, 
and sometimes the trunks of trees of considerable size. This has 
been named " the forest bed," and has been found to extend over a 
large area in this State, being frequently encountered in sinking 
wells, or in coal shafts, sometimes at a depth of more than a hun- 
dred feet below the surface. It probably represents the surface soil 
that existed anterior to what is called the "drift" or "glacial" 
period, and produced the trees whose trunks are so freqiiently en- 
countered in sinking wells through the drift clays. JBelow the 
"forest bed" there is usually a few feet in thickness of quick-sand 
or stratified clay, resting directly upon the bed rock of the country. 

The boulders of the drift are mostly of foreign origin, and have 
come from the metamorphic rocks of the Lake Superior region, 
the transporting agencies being floating ice, when the present sur- 
face of nearly the whole of the Northwestern States was submerged 
beneath the ocean. 

In the vicinity of the river bluffs, the drift deposits have been 
sifted and changed by the action of water currents, forming what 
is called " altered or modified " drift. In the cut on Main street 
in the city of Warsaw, the following section of modified drift may 
be seen, which will serve to show the general character of the drift 
deposits after they have been subjected to these modifying 
influences: 

Ft. In. Ft. In. 

1. Surface soil 1 5. Blue sandy clay 2 6 

2. Ash-colorcd and brown marly 6. Fine gravel and clay 2 6 

clay (loess) 9 7. Yellow sand 2 

3. Brown drift clay 8 8. Gravel and boulders 8 

4. Brown sand partly stratified 8 9. Blue clay (exposed) 4 

The loess caps the river blufts throughout the county, and gives 
character to the soil wherever it is found. The timbered lands 
skirting the river blufts are underlaid usually by the loess, and the 
soil is extremely well adapted to the cultivation of fruit, as well 
as wheat, oats and clover, and under a judicious system of rotation, 
will yield fair crops of corn. 

The soil upon the prairies is usually a black, or chocolate-brown 
loamy clay, rather retentive of moisture from the cohesive char- 
acter of the subsoil, but when sufiiciently rolling to give a free 
surface drainage, it is very productive. There is however a consid- 
erable area of flat prairie land in the county, that can only be made 
to produce the best results of cultivation by a systematic course 
of underdraining, which can be readily accomplished now, under 
the drainage law, recently enacted by the thirty-first General 
Assembly. 



198 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Below Warsaw, and extending thence to the Adams county line, 
there is a belt of bottom land, from one to three miles in width, 
now being redeemed from the annual overflow of the river, and 
destined to become, under a proper system of levee improvement, 
the most productive corn land in the county. 

We copy the following from the " Geology of Illinois," by Mr 
Worthen : 

" The soil upon the prairie land is usually a deep black loam, 
with a brown clay subsoil. On the ridges that skirt the stream's 
the soil is usually a chocolate- brown, loamy clay, becoming locally 
light brown or yellow, on the slopes of the'^hills", from the predom- 
inant character of the subsoil. The timber on these ridges consists 
for the most part of black and white oak and hickory, with an 
undergrowth of red-bud, sassafras and hazel. On the more level 
portions of the timbered uplands we lind, in addition to these, elm, 
linden, wild cherry and honey locust. The soil on the lands where 
the last named varieties of timber are found is fully equal, in its 
productiv^e capacity, to that of the prairies, while that on the oak 
ridges is comparatively thin. In the southwest portion of the 
county there is a wide belt of alluvial bottom skirting the Missis- 
sippi river, commencing at the city of Warsaw and extending to 
the south line of the county, with an average width of about three 
miles. A part of this bottom is prairie, and a part is covered with 
a heavy growth of timber, consisting of cottonwood, sycamore, red 
and slippery elm, black and white walnut, ash, hackberry, honey 
locust, pecan, persimmon, pawpaw^, coffee-nut, white maple, red 
birch, linden and mulberry, and the common varieties of oak, and 
shell-bark and pig-nut hickory. The greater portion of this bot- 
tom is susceptible of cultivation, and possesses a sandy soil that is 
not surpassed, in its productive capacities, by any other portion of 
the county. It is subject to overflow, however, during seasons of 
extraordinary high water, and those who cultivate these lands 
must calculate on a partial, if not a total, loss of their crops once 
in about seven years. 

" Springs are not abundant in this county, but are occasionally 
found at the base of the river bluft's and in the valleys of the small 
streams. Some of these are chalybeate, and contain, in addition 
to the iron, both sulphur and magnesia. Good wells are usually 
obtained on the uplands at depths varying from twenty to forty 
feet. The surface deposits of this county comprise the usual sub- 
divisions of the quaternary system, and attain an aggregate thick- 
ness of about seventy-five feet. All "the uplands are covered by 
accumulations of drift, varying in thickness from twenty to sixty 
feet or more. This usually consists of a bed of blue clay or hard 
pan at the bottom of variable thickness,which is overlaid by brown 
clays, with gravel and boulders of waterworn rock of various sizes. 
Sometimes there are thin beds of sand in the brown clays, that pre- 
sent a stratified appearance, and serve as channels to the under- 
ground streams of water." 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 199 

And in regard to these " boulders," such objects of curiosity and 
speculation all over the county, scattered not only along the bluffs 
and river shore, but standing isolated and alone, away in the prai- 
ries, the Report has the following wonderful statement: 

" A large portion of the material composing the drift deposits 
has been transported from a distance, and many of the bonlders are 
derived from the metamorphic strata of Lake Superior, several hun- 
dred miles from the spot where they are found. Many of these 
boulders are of great size and many tons weight, and must have re- 
quired a mighty force to transport tliem to their present position. 
One of these may be seen at the foot of the bluff's between Nauvoo 
and Apyjanoose, composed of the metamorphic rock of the North- 
west, which is nearly twenty feet in diameter. The power required 
to wrench such a mass of rock from its native bed and transport 
it, for hundreds of miles, with a force sufficient to obliterate all its 
angles, is inconceivably great; but hero is the boulder of granite, 
nearly five hundred miles, as the crow flies, from the nearest known 
ontcrop of this kind of rock, giving unmistakable evidence that such 
a result has. been accomplished. Several specimens of native cop- 
per have been found in the drift deposits of this county, which, 
from their appearance, leave no doubt that they have been trans- 
ported from the copper region of Lake Superior." 

Of its economical geology, from the Report we glean the following: 

^'Building Stone. — Hancock county is well supplied with good 
building stone, and there is, perhaps, no natural resource of this 
portion of the State that is so lightlj- appreciated at the present time 
in proportion to its intrinsic value as this. * * * The middle 
division of the Keokuk group will afford the greatest amount, as 
well as the finest quality, of building stone, and where this is easily 
accessible, no better material need be looked for. It is generally 
even textured, dresses well, and is well adapted for all the ordinary 
uses to which a building stone is applied. It is also tolerably even 
bedded, and affords strata thick enough for all the ordinar>^ require- 
ments of architecture. Some of the beds are susceptible of a fine 
polish, and may be used as an ornamental stone. It outcrops on all 
the small streams in the western part of the county, as well as in 
the river bluffs throughout the county, except in the vicinity of 
Warsaw, and for a distance of five miles below, where, by an undu- 
lation of the dip, it is carried below the surface with the exception 
of a few feet of the upper layers. It appears again, however, on 
Rocky run, six miles below Warsaw, forming bluffs on that creek 
twenty feet or more in height. In the eastern part of the county 
it outcrops on Brunce's creek, north of Plymouth, and Crooked 
creek, in the vicinity of St. Mary's. 

" The arenaceous and magnesian beds of the St. Louis group will 
also furnish a building stone but little inferior in quality, and quite 
equal in durability, to tliat afforded by the Keokuk limestone. 
* * * !North of Warsaw, its out crop is generally high up in the 
bluffs, or on the small streams that intersect them, and in the in- 



200 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

terior of the county it will be found on all the principal creeks that 
intersect the limestones immediately below the coal measures." 

" Potter's Clay. — The under-clays of the coal seams are almost 
the only clays in the State used for the manufacture of potter's 
ware, and are the only ones from which a good article of fire- 
brick has been made. The under-clay below the lower coal seam 
on William's creek, in the southeastern part of the county, is 
about three feet thick, and appears to be of good quality, suitable 
either for potter's ware or fire-brick. There are probably many 
localities in the eastern part of the county where this clay may be 
found equal in quantity and quality to that of the locality above 
named. Beds of soft material like this are seldom well exposed by 
natural causes, and are best seen by artificial cuts through the 
strata with which they are associated. The coal seams will always 
serve as a guide to those in search of these clays." 

Coal. — The supply of bituminous coal in this county is quite 
limited. And the Report concludes, that our people will mainly 
have to rely upon more favored districts. 

HANCOCK MOUNDS. 

There are numerous mounds throughout Hancock county, as in 
many other sections of the State and the whole Mississippi valley. 
They are found chiefly on the blufls bordering the river and the 
smaller streams. In some instances they are in the open prairie, 
but most of them are in the timbered lands, and often covered 
with large trees. They are mostly small, of .various sizes and 
elevations, from a few feet in height up to 15 or 20, and from 10 
to 40 or 50 feet in diameter. It is vary rarely that one is found in 
this county to exceed these measurements. 

We know of but two exceptions. One of these is the Gittings 
Mound in the north part of the county, and though possessing all 
the characteristics of the smaller ones, covers nearly a section of 
land, and is perhaps fifty or more feet high. Mr. Gittings' iarm 
lies on it, and it is without doubt a mere natural elevation of the 
prairie. The other is what is known as the " Big Mound " in 
Appanoose township. This mound is situated about seven miles 
east of Nauvoo, and in the open prairie. On the east, south and 
west of it, the prairie is quite level for several miles, but on the 
north it is approached by the broken timbered lands skirting the 
river bluffs. We are not aware that any accurate measurement of 
this mound has ever been made; but from the best observation we 
could make, by standing on its top, and also on the prairie at its 
base, we judge it to be not less than 40 to 50 feet high, while it is 
about one-fourth of a mile in diameter. It belongs to the estate 
of the late Amos Davis, and he chose it for the site of his fine 
residence, which occupies its summit. The barn, stables and other 
out-buildings, besides two or three fine orchards, are also located 
on the mound. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCE COUNTY. 201 

Excavations have been made into numbers of these mounds, and 
in most instances human skeletons have been found, together with 
various art utensils, such as knives, tomahawks, stone axes, beads, 
pottery articles, etc. This fact has led to the conclusion that these 
mound formations have been selected as places for the burial of 
their dead, by some people occupying the country before us. Who 
were those people? We think the answer is plain. We hear much 
talk and read much newspaper comment about the " Mound- 
Builders." This term we believe to be a misnomer. Because a 
people have chosen these places as receptacles for their dead, it does 
not follow that they built them for that purpose, or that they built 
them at all. The Indian tribes who have just preceded us are 
doubtless the people who have so used these mounds. Indeed we 
know that they have done so. The writer of this has himself seen 
them in several instances thus depositing their dead. But who 
ever saw or heard of these aborigines building mounds? They find 
them already built, by the same Almight}- hand that built the 
mountains and the hills and prairies. Besides, North America hae 
been known to civilization for nearly 400 years, and the people first 
discovered here were as incapable of erecting these mounds as those 
just now passing away. And who supposes that human bones will 
remain at a depth of a few feet from the surface, for so long a 
period, without undergoing decomposition? If the remains of 
Powhattan and King Philip can be found intact at this date, then 
it will do to guess that the bones found in these mounds have been 
deposited there by a race of men anterior to the people known as 
North American Indians. We are sustained in this view of the 
subject by many high authorities. Rev. John M. Peck, a writer 
of sound judgment and extensive observation, in his "Gazetteer of 
Illinois," after referring to some of the large mounds in the Missis- 
sippi valley, says: 

" These large mounds are of the same shape and proportions as 
the smaller ones. Who supposes these to be the works of human 
art? Who will place these among the antiquities of a country? If 
any one will account for the formation of these stupendous works 
of nature, in a country of unquestionably diluvial formation, there 
are men who make no pretensions to the rank of western anti- 
quarians, who will account for the smaller ones, of a few feet eleva- 
tion, without the aid of an extinguished race of men. Until further 
evidence of their being the work of men's hands, I shall class them 
among the natural cariosities of the country." 

This opinion of the origin of these mounds is also maintained by 
Prof. Worthen, in his report on Madison county. — [See Geol. Sur. 
of 111., vol. i. p. 314.] 

We should not omit to mention that, in digging the well for 
Mr. Davis on the summit of the Appanoose mound, a piece of 
timber, said to be a species of cedar, was found at a depth of 30 
feet from the surface. Many similar discoveries have, however, 
been made in other places where no mounds exist. 



202 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. * 

But there is indisputable evidence that this country has at one 
time, how remote it is impossible to tell, been inhabited by a 
race of people far superior to the Indians found here by the Euro- 
pean discoverers. There are remains, both within and without 
these mounds, that go to prove this fact; remains that could not 
have been left by these savage tribes, but must have belonged to a 
cultivated and enlightened people. That this is so, none of these 
■writers will gainsay; yet we do not see that its admission has any 
bearing on the question of the origin of these mounds. 

NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 

Under this head we group together the productions of the ani- 
mal and vegetable kingdoms. Of the animal, the buffalo, once so 
common all over the western prairies, has entirely disappeared. 
Indeed, it is doubtful if one of the species has been seen in the 
county by any of its pioneers. The same may be said of the elk. 
Bears, though not common, have occasionally been seen and taken; 
but have now forsaken us. AVild-cats were quite plenty in the 
early days, and almost all the old pioneers have wild-cat stories to 
tell. Wolves, the black and gray, formerly abounded, and the 
bounty on scalps still draws money from the county treasury. 
They find retreats among the fastnesses of Bear and Crooked creeks. 
The little prairie wolves, — so numerous 40 years ago, and whose 
laugh-like bark awoke the echoes of the night, around the farm 
houses, and even in the village streets, like the still smaller prairie 
dogs — have tied before the tramp of civilization. Panthers have 
been seen, and killed, and to-day one of these animals, or some- 
thing else, produces an occasional scare in the neighborhood. 
That " same old coon," the opossum, the mink, and the skunk still 
abound, as many settlers can testify; an occasional fox is seen; but 
the beaver, badger and otter have disappeared. Wood-chucks and 
musk-rats still find holes, and a variety of squirrels tempt the 
sportsman's shot. Deer, so numerous 40 years ago, are now very 
scarce, and many a pioneer longs for the "saddle of venison" he 
once procured so cheap!}'-, and so richly enjoyed. 

Hawks abound, and crows, and owls; but the turkey-buzzard has 
taken himself ofi:'. Wild turkeys are sometimes seen, but are wilder 
than " the law allows," and are seldom taken. Grouse, or prairie 
chickens, and quails are not near so numerous as formerly. Wild 
geese, brant and several species of ducks frequent the rivers and 
sloughs. Numerous varieties of fish frequent the streams. Rat- 
tle-snakes still are found now and then; also the black snake, and 
a few others; and turtles, toads and bullfrogs creep, hop and croak 
upon the land and in the ponds. 

The principal forest growths of the county, are the several species 
of oak, hickory, walnut, butternut, ash, maple, elm, mulberry, Cot- 
tonwood, black-jack, pawpaw, sassafras, willow, hazel, blackberry, 
raspberry, and numerous other plants and trees. ., ..^ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



203 



The prairie orrass, with its thousand and one gorgeous and beau- 
tiful flowers, which waved their tali stems to the breeze or nestled 
in little tufts upon the sod, — 

"Fitting floor 
For this magnificeut temple of the sky — 
With flowers whose glory and whose multitude 
Eival the constellations! " 

These, all these, have gone — given place to the fields of waving 
grain, the rustling corn and the timoth}'^ and clover meadow. In 
recurring to those early days of prairie green and bloom, one can 
almost wish them back again; they were such a glory and a joy; 
such a boundless, magnificent, waving, rolling sea of beauty. This 
in bright summer; but ah! let winter's storms and snows come — 
and right here we close the picture and the chapter. 




204 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



CHAPTER II. 



PIONEERS AND PIONEER LIFE. 



How did people live in the pioneer davs? — is a question which 
the youth of to-day may Nvell ask. In 1S17, it is said the first 
steamboat, the Gen. Pike, ascended the Mississippi above St. 
Louis. Previous to that period, all merchandise and provisions, 
except of home product, had to be brought to Illinois by way of 
Xew Orleans, in keel-boats." cordelled " up the current by strong 
muscular force, — a trip from the settlements to that city and back, 
occupying about six months' time; or they had to be conveyed 
across the mountains from the seaboard cities to Pittsburgh or 
Wheeling, and floated down the Ohio in "' broad-horns." Salt was 
procured in small quantities from Kanawha and about Shawnee- 
town; but tea, coffee, spices, sugar, and the thousand and one arti- 
cles which now constitute the food of the inhabitants, were seldom 
seen; or if seen, were procured for extreme occasions only, and at 
great expense, by the wealthy. 

Buckskin moccasins and breeches, and rabbit and coon-skin caps 
were the common wear of the men; while wife and children were 
generally but meagerly enveloped in fabrics made from flax at 
home, or coarse cottons obtained from abroad at high prices. 

The residences of the pioneers were chiefly log cabins; the most 
primitive ones always built without other tool than an ax, and 
perhaps an auger, and containing from top to bottom neither nail 
nor glass; hinges they had to the doors, made of stout timber, and 
locks in the form of a peg or wooden bar. 

The pioneers of Hancock, as of most other sections of the West in 
those early days, were generally poor men, who sought the country 
with a view of making homes for themselves and children. Some 
of them, it may be said, were merely hunters, and came for the 
purpose of getting away from civilization, and to find plenty of 
game. These, usually, as neighbors began to settle near, pulled 
up and went furtlier on. But he who came with a view of locating 
a permanent home, brought in most cases a family with him, and 
a meager supply of indispensable utensils and tools, with which to 
begin life in the wilderness. For very evident reasons, they gen- 
erally made their homes in or contiguous to timber. Their cabins 
were to be built, and in the quickest time possible; water without 
digging was to be found there; and shelter was affbrded for such 
stock as they possessed. 

Such few utensils as could well be brought in a two-horse wagon, 
with the family, or in many cases in a one-horse cart, were all they 



HISTORY OF JIANCOCK COUNTY. 205 

could aftord; a cow or two, and perhaps a yoke of oxen; an ax, a 
few other simple tools, and the inevitable gun (rifle generally) con- 
stituted the " plunder " with which many a now and long since 
independent citizen l)egan life as a pioneer in Hancock county. 

Once located, the first thing to do was to construct a shelter for 
himself and family, in tlie meantime living in the wagon as they 
had traveled, or under the shelter of a tent.^ It was the work of 
but a few daj's to erect a log cabin, with a clapboard roof and 
without a floor, into which the family and property could be stored, 
safe from storms and wild beasts. 

Some came in parties of three or four or more, built their rude 
dwellings, and perhaps planted a small patch of grain; then 
I'eturned for their families. 

The construction of one of these primitive houses ivould be a 
curiosity to the denizen of the city now, though to most people 
throughout the AVest not very remarkable. Many of them have 
been built and occupied for years — comfortable abodes, too, for 
intelligent and happy families, — without a nail or a bit of iron in 
their make-up. Some of the best men our State and county have 
known — Judges, Governors, Senators, Generals, — have been born and 
reared in these rude structures. A few of them, now old and 
dilapidated, and fast approaching their end, like their earliest 
occupants, are yet to be seen in our midst; some, reconstructed, 
doing duty as smoke-houses, pig-pens or corn-cribs; others standing 
silent and deserted, in their desolation. Their owners, those that 
are left of them, have long since transferred their goods and chat- 
tels to more costly and pretentious ediflces. 

The ax has been the principal tool in the path of American civil- 
ization. It has always- preceded the plow. In preparing the home, 
it has ever been the pioneer tool in the hands of the pioneer man ; 
and with it, and with no other, he can fashion a home not to be 
despised. With it the trees are felled and cut into proper lengths 
for the hut; with it alone the clapboard roofs can be made; with 
it the puncheons for a door and the floor. But the tools really 
needed, though not always attainable, were, first, the ax, then a 
saw, an auger, a frow, and a drawing-knife. With these, and with- 
out many of them, under the guidance of a strong will, and wielded 
by a strong arm, the wilderness of Illinois has been dotted with 
happy homes, that would defy the rains of summer and the snows 
and storms of winter. 

But there is another and often a mournful side to the picture of 
pioneer life. The rains and storms come sometimes before siielter 
can be provided. Sickness overtakes the pioneer or his family. 
Away in the wilderness — away from kindred or sympathizing 
friends — beyond reach of medicines or kindly help — no comforts — 
perhaps unsuitable food — the wife, the child — another and another 
droop and die, and in the gloom and desolation are consigned to 
their lonely graves. No neighborly hand near to place the sod or 
strew a flower; no kindly voice to offer comfort. It is on this pic- 



206 ' HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

tnre of pioneer life that we would ask the reader to drop a tear. 
Pioneer mother ! Sad and disconsolate in thj drearj^ cabin, thy 
loved one lying asleep in death before thee, soon to be hid from thy 
loving embrace and care, to thee we drop a tear to-day. Pioneer 
FATHER ! the partner of thy joys and sorrows stretched on a bed of 
pain and sickness, or, perhaps, enveloped in her death shroud; chil- 
dren helpless and needing a mother's kindly care; money gone, 
crops failing, neighbors far away; a gloomy future before thee, — 
TO thee we heave a sigh in this, our day of prosperity and richer 
enjoyments. 

As before stated, the first settlers in this prairie country always 
selected locations in or near to timber. Graduall}-, a new comer, 
disregarding the practice and the advice of his predecessors, would 
work his way into the prairie a mile or two and erect his cabin. 
The results emboldened others to follow his example; and now, 
after forty or fifty years of trial, all that broad tract known of old as 
the "Hancock Prairie," embracing two-thirds of the county, is en- 
closed into farms, and the only vacant land in the county is in the 
timber ! 

Comparing the settlements of the county as between the eastern 
and western sides, there is a wide difterence observable. In the 
west, most of the earliest settlers are gone, having " pulled stakes " 
and removed perhaps to greener pastures. They had settled mostly 
on the bluft' lands near the river, or on the river shore; and lived 
b}'- hunting and fishing, and by following river occupations. The 
broad prairie lying east and south of them was abroad waste, useful 
only as pastures for deer and other game. 

Those on the eastern side of the county came mostly a few years 
later; and finding the timber and prairie lands more evenly dis- 
tributed and more convenient for farms, took up lands and settled 
to stay, and they did; and numbers of them yet remain in the 
county. Divide it evenly by a north and south line, and the east- 
ern half will count probably two permanent settlers of the period 
previous to L840, to "the western side's one. 

There is another marked diflference between the two sections. 
While in the eastern part we will see many of the best farms still 
fenced with the old-fashioned Yirginia rail fence, the growth of the 
forests nearby; in the west side such fences are rarely seen, except- 
ing along or near the river bluffs. The great prairie between, set- 
tled and occupied more recently, and since the introduction of pine 
lumber, is generally enclosed with boards, or with the more recent 
Osage orange line fence. The latter is largely used; and in con- 
nection with the barbed wire, will constitute the fence of the future. 

To the lug cabins of the early days, many pioneers who now 
occupy fine mansions, with their many modern improvements, look 
back with a feeling of kindness akin to regret. They remember 
the happy hours they have passed in them; the many days and 
nights of enjoyment amid friends and neighbors, they have lived 
in these rude and rough, but comfortable homes. To be sure, their 



.h 




ih/^ ^'. ^t«Y^^J- 



CARTHAGE. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



209 



exteriors were rough and uninviting, and their interiors anj^thing 
but ornamental. But there the babes were born and nurtured, 
perhaps mourned in death. There the lioliest of human of affec- 
tions were centered, and there the ever-changing scenes of life's 
drama were enacted. Those only who have had the experience can 
tell of the comforts and enjoyments that may be realized in these 
rude homes of the West. Let the log cabins of the pioneers be 
remembered with reverence ! 




14 



CHAPTEE III. 

THE ADVANCE GUARD. 

Who the first man was to settle within the limits of the county 
of Hancock, after the most diligent inquiry we have been unable 
to ascertain. 

When Illinois became a member of the Union in 1818, the 
county of Madison with eight or ten others had been formed. Out 
of Madison, Pike was formed in 1821, and in 1825 several counties 
were formed from the latter, among which were Adams and Han- 
cock — the latter being attached to Adams until such time as its 
population would justify a separate organization. 

Whether there was at the date of the State's admission a single 
white inhabitant, other than the garrison at Fort Edwards and its 
attachees, within the limits of the county, may never be known. 
The Frenchman named hereafter, it seems resided among the Sacs 
and Foxes, on the site of Quincy, as long ago as the year 1811; and 
it is probable that others were settled in the vicinity of Forts John- 
son and Edwards. There were French here at date of organization, 
but we have no knowledge of them beyond that fact. 

There was a garrison at Fort Edwards from the date of its erec- 
tion in 1814 to 1824, when it was abandoned ; and it is reasonable 
to conclude that it would draw traders and settlers around it. But 
all those around it when it was vacated are now gone. We have 
the fact that when Adams was separated from Pike in 1825, there 
were in Hancock certain residents, some of whose names we have 
been able to obtain ; and also that before this event, certain Hancock 
people are mentioned in the records of Pike county. 

Fort Edwards was made a voting place by the Adams County 
Court in 1825, and included the whole of Hancock county. 

The following extract from a " History of Quincy," by Henry 
i^sbury, Esq., will come in place here. It is from the Quincy 
Tr%'ofDec. 31, 1874: 

" 1811 — Bauvet, a French trader, had a trading-post here. Was 
supposed to have been killed by Indians, 

"1813 — An Indian village of the Sauk tribe here. 

" 1813 — Two regiments of mounted rangers, from Missouri and 

Illinois, commanded by Gen. Howard, passed over the present site 

of Quincy and destroyed the village, the Indians having decamped." 

Of this expedition, Davidson & Stave's "History of Illinois" says: 

"The march was continued up the Mississippi. On the present 

site of Quincy they passed a recently deserted camp and village, 

(210) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 211 

supposed to have contained 1,000 Sac warriors. At a point called 
the 'Two Rivers,' they struck out eastward and across the high 
prairies to the Illinois, which was reached near the mouth of Spoon 
river." "Who can now tell the location of the point called the "Two 
Kivers?" The expedition was against the hostile Indians on and 
about Peoria lake, and had set out from Camp Russell, in Madison 
county. 

From said " History of Qnincy " we obtain tlie following further 
facts : 

"1819 — Willard Keyes, who afterward built the second house in 
Quincy, floated past on a raft, but did not land. 

" 1820 — The Western £^nterprise, the first steamboat on the 
Mississippi river as far up as this place, and which landed here, 

" 1824 — JohnWood filed a notice, in the Edwardsville Spectator^ 
of application for a new count}'. 

" 1825, Aug. 17 — The (Adams) County Commissioners borrowed 
$600 of Rnssell Farnham to purchase original town site. 

"1825— The first Circuit Court was held Oct. 31, 1825; John 
York Sawyer, Judge; Henr}'^ H. Snow, Clerk." 

On the jury lists for this first term ofcourtin Adams county,we find 
the names of the following Hancock county citizens, to-wit: Mor- 
rill Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney, Hezeki ah Spillma n, 
Curtis Caldwell, Peter Williams and Benjamin llcJN itt. 

The first county court held in Pike, after separation from Madi- 
son in 1821, was held at Cole's Grove, near Gilead (now in Calhoun 
county). We notice that James W. Whitney, the "Lord Coke" 
of the Quincy and Hancock bar afterward, was appointed its Clerk. 

At its session of June 5, 1821, Daniel Shinn, John Shaw and 
John W. Smith, were appointed to view and locate a road from 
Ferguson's Ferry, on the Illinois river, to Fort Edwards, on the 
.Mississippi river; and it was "Ordered, That all that part of the 
Fort Edwards road lying north of the north line of section 27, 
township 6 south, range 5 west, compose the fourth district of 
said road, and that John Wood, (ex-Lieut.-Gov.) be appointed 
superintendent of that district, and to have control of all the hands 
living within three miles each side of the road." 

June 6, 1821 — "Ordered, That the militia of the county be or- 
ganized into a regiment, etc., and that all north of tlie base line be 
and compose the Third Company District" (this included Hancock 
county). 

July 6, 1821 — "Ordered, That the report of the Commissioners 
to view and lay out a road * * * through Cole's Grove to 
Fort Edwards, be accepted as far as the north line of section 27, 
town 6 south, 5 west; that being as far as said Commissoners were 
able to proceed, owincj to the excessive vegetation; and it is further 
ordered (time extended) until after the vegetation, shall he destroy- 
ed hy frost ^^'' etc. 

Nothing further concerning this part of the county till December 
6,1824: "Ordered, That all the part of the Fort Edwards road 



212 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

between Bear creek and Fort Edwards, be and compose the 8th 
district of said road, and that Samuel Groshong be appointed 
Supervisor." 

And on March 7, 1825 — " Ordered, That a ferry license be grant- 
ed to Peter Williams to keep a ferry across the Mississippi river 
at Fort Edwards, on his paying a tax of five dollars besides the 
Clerk's fees; and that the following rates of ferriage be established, 
to-wit: 

"For a single person, $ .25 Every Dearborn wagon, $ .50 

For a single horse, 25 Other four-wheeled carriages,. . . 1.00 

Head of cattle over 1 year old, . . .25 Two-wheeled carriage, 75 

Hog, sheep, or goat, 0Q}4 Every cwt. of dead lumber, 0634'" 

This was the first legalized ferry ever established within the 
limits of Hancock county. The last entry is in relation to the 
Fort Edwards road again, April 27, 1825: 

" Ordered, That Levi Hadley, John Wood, and Willard Keyes 
be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to survey and 
locate that part of the Fort Edwards road, commencing at a point 
above Mill creek and continuing on to Fort Edwards on the bluffs, 
or where they think the best ground; provided, that said Com- 
missioners will perform said service gratuitously and without ex- 
pense to the county."''^ 

The first session of the Adams County Court was held at Quincy, 
at the house of Willard Keyes, on Monday, the 4th of July, 1825; 
Peter Journey, Willard Keyes, and Levi Wells, Commissioners; 
Henry H. Snow, Clerk. 

At regular September term grand jurors were ordered summon- 
ed, and we find the following residents of this county: Morrill 
Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney, and Benj. McNitt; and 
of the petit jurors: Hezek iah S pillman and Peter Williams. 

Nov. 9, 1825 — "Ordered, That the attached part of this county 
be set off into an election precinct, to be called Fort Edwards pre- 
cinct, and that all elections for civil ofiicers be held at the house of 
Lewis Kinney in said precinct ; Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney 
and Peter Williams, Judges of Election." 

Dec. 6, 1825 — Jeremiah Hose, John Wood and Henry H. Snow 
were appointed to view a road leading" east to intersect Fort Ed- 
wards road, laid out in June, 1825, by Pike county. 

Luther Whitney, Lewis Kinney and Truman Streeter, appointed 
to view a road from Bear creek (where the viewers appointed by 
Pike county left off) to Fort Edwards. 

Dec. 15, 1825 — " Ordered, That Luther Whitney be appointed 
Supervisor of all roads from Bear creek to Fort Edwards, and that 
he have charge of all hands between said points." 

* For the foregoing extracts from the records of Pike county we are indebted 
to W. B. Grimes, Esq., the gentlemanly Deputy County Clerk, at Pittsfield. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 213 

March 6, 182G — The following were established aa tavern rates in 
the count}'^ of Adams, including Hancock: 

For each meal | .35 Wine per bottle $100 

Lodgina: per night 12i^ Gin " ' " 18^ 

Halt'pint whisky 12}/^ Single horse feed 12)^ 

" French brandy 37J^ Horse feed per night, with fod- 

" rum 18^ der and grain 25 

" wine 37,1^ 

June 5, 1826 — Lewis C. R. Hamilton appeared in open court, 
and entered as a matter of record, the emancipation of a certain 
negro boy named Buck, born the 16th day of December, 181Y, — 
and entered into bond for his maintenance as the law requires. 

Peter Williams appointed Constable. 

Peter "Williams, Jerry Hill and Luther Whitney, appointed 
Judges of Election in Fort Edwards precinct. 

Dec.6, 1826 — Hezekiah Spillman, Peter Williams, James White, 
Russell Farnham, Morrill Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whit- 
ney, Benjamin McNitt, John Waggoner, and Curtis Caldwell (all 
of Hancock), on jury lists. 

Sept. 4, 1826— Luther Whitney a duly elected County Commis- 
sioner. 

Sept. 6 — Ordered, That the Sheriff be authorized and required to 
have the court-house (log cabin 22 x 18, costing $185) suitably pre- 
pared for the reception and accommodation of the next Circuit 
Court; that he provide a suitable place for the Judge's seat — to be 
nine feet long and platform one foot high — four 10-feet benches, 
and two 7-feet ditto, and a temporary table for the use of the bar. 

License granted to Russell Farnham as a non-resident peddler 
for one year, for $10 and Clerk's fees. 

March 5, 1827 — On the application of Wesley Williams, ordered, 
that a certificate of good moral character be granted him, for the 
purpose of obtaining a license to practice law in this State. 

James White, Peter Williams, and Luther Whitney, appointed 
to view and stake a road from Fort Edwards to the head of the 
rapids of the Des Moines — a road from thence to tiie settlement on 
Crooked creek in township 6 north, 5 west, and thence to Fort 
Edwards. 

Said viewers reported to dispense with the road from the head 
of rapids to Crooked creek and thence to Fort Edwards, and say: 
"■ We set out from Fort Edwards a southeast direction, and turned 
a north direction as soon as we could get around the brakes, thence 
througli prairies and timber a north direction, until we got oppo- 
site the rapids, thence we went a course a little north of west to 
the head of said rapids," 

March 31, 1827 — Wesley Williams was unanimously appointed 
Treasurer of Adams county. 

Sept. 5, 1827 — Wesley Williams appointed (afterward substi- 
tuted by Levi Wells) to draw the revenue of Adams county from 
the State Treasury, conditioned to "exchange it for specie, at not 
less than 70 cents to the dollar." 



214 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

1828 — James White elected a Co.untj Commissioner. John 
Harding, John Gregg, John Clark, Hugh White, Henrj Nichols, 
John E.. Wilcox, Robert Wallace, Edsou Whitney, Daniel Cren- 
shaw, William Flint, and Andrew Yance (of Hancock) appear as 
jurors. 

Sept. 14, 1829 — [Hancock organized] and " Charles Holmes 
appointed Treasurer, to fill vacancy occasioned by the removal of 
Wesley Williams from the county." 

FROM RECORDS OF ADAMS CIRCUIT COURT. 

" To the Cleric of Adams county — Greeting: 

" Please to take notice that I have appointed the fifth Monday 
in October next for holding the Circuit Court in and for the county 
of Adams and State of Illinois. Given under my hand at Atlas, 
this 28th day of May, 1825. J. Y. Sawyer, Judge of the First 
Judicial Circuit." 

Court held as per order: 

Present — John York Sawyer, Judge; Henry H. Snow, Clerk; 
Levi Hadley, Sherifi*; John Turney, Att. Gen . pro tern. 

Next term, Oct. 19, 1826 — Sawyer, Judge; Jonathan II. Pugh, 
on behalf of Attorney General. 

May 29, 1827 — Samuel D. Lockwood, Judge: Wm. Thomas, 
Prosecutor j^rc tem. 

Oct. 28, 1828 — Lockwood, Judge; Wm. Young appointed to 
prosecute.* 

" The first trip ever made by a steamboat from St. Louis as high 
up as Galena, by private enterprise, was made in the spring of 182T, 
by Capt. James May, with the steamer Shamrock. Steamboats 
had been employed by the Government some three years previously, 
to carry military stores and soldiers to Forts Armstrong, Crawford 
and Snelling." — [Charles Negus, hefore Van Buren {Iowa) 
Pioneers.] 

* For these extracts from Adams county records, aud for numerous other favors, 
we are indebted to Gen. E. B. Hamilton, of the Quincy Bar. 



• CHAPTER lY. 

THE FIRST OFFICIALS. 

Judge Young's order for organizing the county of Hancock was 
issued in the summer of 1829, and it recited that the county was 
represented to contain a population of 350 persons, the number 
fixed by law to enable it to maintain a separate existence. Count- 
ing one to five of population, would give it seventy adult male citi- 
zens. At the first session of the County Commissioners' Court, there 
were sixty men selected to serve as jurors in the Circuit Court, 
twenty-four for the grand and thirty-six for the petit jury. There 
had been five men elected to county oflices (three County Commis- 
sioners a Sherifi" and a Coroner,) and the Board of Commissioners 
had appointed its clerk. There were thus sixty-six men named as 
residents of the county in the month of August, 1829. 

These facts present some points of inquiry which we have been 
at some trouble to investigate. Did it require all the adult male 
citizens to put the county machinery in motion ? And if there 
were left any other eligible citizens, who were they ? The inquiry 
has shown the fact that there were residing in the county, at the 
date of its organization, not only enough male adults to meet the 
requirements, but a few more; that there were certainly not less 
than seventy, perhaps seventj'-five ; and that the county without 
doubt could honestly claim the requisite population. 

The matter is of little importance now, except as it presents the 
curious fact, that full thirteen-fourteenths of the eligible citizens of 
the county were pressed into active service the first year of its exist- 
ence. 

Again, what of all those sixty or seventy men whose names ap- 
pear upon our county's records of fifty years ago ? Whence came 
they? and when? and what has become of them? As pioneers, as 
the first emigrants to, and settlers in this county, then a wilderness, 
now past the semi-centennial year of its existence, and peopled with 
nearly 50,000 human beings, they are deserving of more than usual 
notice. 

But a remarkable and solemn fact is developed: Of those sixty- 
six pioneers, who were first called to serve the county in a civil ca- 
pacity, and who began to shape its destiny, not one now remains in 
the county ! and one only is known to be living at this date, Janu- 
ary 1, 1880 ! That one is Isaac 11. Camvbkll, of St. Francisville, 
Mo., one of the grand jurors, and first County Treasurer. 

We have called them " pioneers " and " settlers. " Pioneers 
they certainly were, but a large number of them can scarcely be 

(215) 



216 PIISTORT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

called settlers; for we find tliat many of them left the county at 
an early day, to pioneer, and perhaps to settle in still newer locali- 
ties. More than one (as will be seen) left the county for the 
county's good; some left it to make homes and grow up with the 
country elsewhere; while still others remained to be good citizens 
and do further service, and died regretted. 

After much labor and inquiry, we have been able to gather in- 
formation concerning many of these, which we present in the order 
in which they are named on the records, beginning with 

TRE OFFICIALS. 

Richard M. Young — "Who occupied the bench of the Fifth Judi- 
cial Circuit at the time Hancock was organized, and whose duty it 
was made by law to issue the order for organization, was a native 
of Kentucky, and was an early settler in the State. He was ap- 
pointed to the Judgeship in 1828, and resided at Galena, but after- 
ward settled in Quincy. His circuit embraced all the counties 
between the Illinois river and Galena, and east to Chicago. In 
1837 he was elected by the Legislature to the U. S. Senate, and 
after his term of service had expired, was appointed by President 
Polk to be Commissioner of the General Land Ofiice. Henry 
Asbury, Esq., of Quincy, in his " Sketches of the Bench and Bar," 
published in the Quincy Whig, says of Judge Young: 

"Judge Young resided here for many years. He was a gentle- 
man in all his aspects — not perhaps the most profound of our judges 
and lawyers, but for his day and time, and in the absence of 
modern facilities and great libraries, his attainments were of such 
a character as to command for his memory our high respect. He 
was an honest man, and died in poverty at Washington city some 
years ago, though he had been Judge of the Supreme and Circuit 
Courts' in Illinois, a Senator in Congress, and Commissioner of 
the General Land Office. His open-handed generosity left him 
poor in his old age." 

Judge Young's term on the circuit lasted eight or nine years. 
The first sessions of his courts were held at private houses on the 
rapids, afterward in the log cabin court-house in Carthage, in 
which the bench was a splint-bottomed chair, the lawyers, juries 
and clients occupying the slab benches. 

Dignified and courteous in his demeanor, on and oflf the Bench, 
we believe that it can be truly said, that no one of his many suc- 
cessors ever gave more general satisfaction to the people, or carried 
with him in his retirement more of their sincere respect, than did 
Judge Young. 

George Y. Cutler — Was one of the three to whom Judge Young 
addressed his order, and was consequently one of the judges of the 
first election. He was a popular man, as he received fifty votes of 
less than sixty cast for Commissioners, with six candidates running. 
Concerning Mr. C, we can obtain but little information. He 
resided at" the head of the rapids, where he sold goods; was a 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT!'. 217 

whole-souled, genial man — a native of one of the New England 
States. He died about 1834, and his estate stands sixth of entry on 
the Probate records, under date of Sept. 1, 183-t-. How long he had 
been in the county is not ascertained. "Cutler's Grave," sur- 
rounded b}' a wall of stone, is still an object of note, near the bank 
of the Mississippi at Nauvoo. 

Henry Nichols — One of the first County Commissioners — having 
received 37 votes — came to the count}" at an early day, date not 
known ; neither do we learn the State of his nativity. He settled 
in Rocky Run township, where he continued to reside until about 
25 years ago, when he removed to Wisconsin, where he was lately 
residing, in a green old age, and in excellent health. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Delia, the daughter of Luther Whitney, and sister to 
Sheriff Edson and Horace B. Whitney. His son, Luther, resides 
at the same place in Wisconsin. 

Judge Nichols was a man highly esteemed by his neighbors, was 
an active and prominent participator in public aftairs, and was fre- 
quenth' honored with offices of trust in the county. 

James White. — Captain White was a juror for Adams county in 
the first year of its existence (1825), and received thirty-one votes 
at the first election in Hancock, electing him by one majority over 
Major Morrill Marston. Capt. White was born in Ohio, whence 
he emigrated to Missouri Territory in 1818, three years before it 
became a State. In 1824 — or, perhaps, 1823 — he came to reside 
and trade with the Sac and Fox Indians, who at that time had a 
large village of some 400 or 500 lodges at the head of the rapids, 
where Nauvoo now stands. In 1824, the treaty was made with 
those Indians by the general Government, by which they relin- 
quished their lands on this side of the river. Capt. AVhite, wishing 
to obtain possession of the site of their village, for the payment of 
200 sacks of corn, induced them to vacate in his favor — when they 
loaded their loik-ke-ujjs and other " plunder " into their '' dug-outs" 
and paddled across to the Iowa shore. On the vacated spot, Mr. 
White opened out a farm ; but his chief occupation during the 
remainder of his life — or until the business was superseded by 
steamboats — was that of keel-boating on the Mississippi. In this 
business he was assisted by his two sons, Alexander and Hugh, and 
by his future son-in-law, Isaac Newton Waggoner. Ilis old resi- 
dence stood on the bank of the river, near where the Nauvoo House 
now stands. He died June, 1837. His son, Alexander, survived 
him only a few months — died October, 1837. The son Hugh for 
many years resided near the old place, and followed the business of 
steamboat piloting, and was widely known between St. Louis and 
Galena. AVilliam, the third son, died early. 

Alexander Wliite in his later years was engaged in merchandis- 
ing. He was a candidate for Sheriff at the first election, but was 
beaten by 

Elson Whitney. — This gentleman received 31 votes, to Mr. 
White's 22. He was the son of Luther Whitney, one of the per- 



218 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

sons to whom Judge Young's order was addressed. He afterward 
resided on a farm nine miles below Warsaw, in Rockv Run town- 
ship. He was re-elected to the office of Sherilf for several terms, 
Mr. White being his competitor on two or three occasions. Mr. 
Whitney was an active politician of the Whig school, and an 
efficient and capable officer. In the difficulties between the old citi- 
zens and Mormons he took an active part. He was married to a 
daughter of Charles Hill, and sister of the late Davis Hill, of 
Rocky Run. Mr. Whitney removed with his family to Leaven- 
worth, Kansas, some 20 or 25 years ago, and died ten or a dozen 
years since. 

Robert Wallace — Was elected Coroner without opposition. 
That he resided somewhere along the rapids, is all that we can 
learn of him. He left the county at an early period. 

John Johnson. — This gentleman was chosen the first County Sur- 
veyor, not by election, but by appointment from the Governor, 
having been recommended to that position by the County Commis- 
sioners at their first session. He was also on the first grand jury 
list. Mr. J. resided at Riverside, and was appointed Postmaster at 
Montebello by President Jackson, an office which he held till his 
death, Dec. 31, 1836. Of his nativity or early life little is known. 

Wesley Williams. — At the first session of the County Commission- 
ers'Court Mr. Williams was chosen Clerk to the Board ; and afterward, 
when Judge Young opened the first Circuit Court, in October 
of the same year, he was appointed Circuit Clerk. These two 
positions he held for several years, besides several others to which 
he was subsequently appointed; and with what fidelity and correct- 
ness, the early records of the county will abundantly show. No 
man among the pioneers of Hancock county was better known than 
he in its earlier days ; and no one, perhaps, among them all did 
more to shape its destinies. 

Mr. Williams M'as a resident of Quincy several years, and held 
offices of trust there — that of Treasurer of Adams county the year 
previous to the separation. On the organization of Hancock, he 
resigned and removed to this county, and was appointed to the 
clerkship here. He was a lawyer by profession, though he never 
engaged in general practice in this county, his official duties re- 
quiring his undivided attention. Previous to the removal of the 
county-seat to Carthage, he was Clerk ot both the Circuit and 
County Commissioners' Courts, and also Judge of Probate, and 
after removal to Carthage he was appointed Postmaster, a position 
he held for several years. His son, Samuel Otho Williams, a young 
man of excellent clerical ability, assisted him in his official duties, 
and was at one time for a short period Circuit Clerk by appoint- 
ment. He was married to a Miss Baldwin, of Carthage, and died 
two or three years later. 

Wesley Williams was one of three brothers, all lawyers by profes- 
sion, natives of Kentucky, who came to Quincy and settled about 
1825 or 1826. Archibald, elsewhere referred to in these pages, 



HISTORY OF HxVXCOOK COUWTY. 219 

remained in Adams coi.nty, but became eminent as a jurist, and had 
an extensive practice throughout the Circuit and the State. Robert 
R. and Wesley settled in this county about the same period. Of the 
former but little is known, as he died at an earl}' day. 

Wesley Williams was born in Lincoln county, Ky., ]\rarch 24, 
1792, and died at Fountain Green, May 12, 1870, aged 78 years, 
1 montli and IS days, lie was married in Bourbon county, Ky., 
on April 2, IS 16, to Miss Elizabeth Ayres, from whom he 
was divorced in this county (she never residing west with him). 
He was again married to lliith Scobey, June 9, 1S31. Three sons 
and two daughters were the fruits of these marriages — Eli. 11., now 
residing at Carthage, Samuel Otho, before mentioned, and Wesley 
C, residing in Prairie township, and Isabel (Spangler) of Fountain 
Green, and Kate (present name unknown). AVesley C. is said to 
have been the first child born in Carthage. 

Isaac R. Camphell. — This name closes the list of county officials 
in 1S29. Mr. C. was the first Treasurer of the county, not by elec- 
tion, but by appointment of the County Commissioners' Court. He 
remained in the county for only a few years, and finally settled at 
St. Francisville, Mo., where he is still living at the date of this 
present writing, at an advanced age, the only living representative 
of Hancock's first officials, and probably the only remaining one of 
her sixty jurymen of fifty years ago. 

We notice among the early marriage licenses granted in the 
county, one (the 9tb) to Isaac R. Campbell and Emily Davis, cere- 
mony performed by Luther AVhitney, Esq, 

FIRST GRAND JURORS. 

The following are the names of first panel of grand jurors selected 
by the County Commissioners' Court, with such account of them as 
we have been able to obtain, viz: 

Daniel Crenshaw — Resided in what is now Rocky Run town- 
ship. Died in 1831. His estate stands third on the probate records 
for settlement, under date of October, 1831. Some of his descend- 
ants (or relatives), we believe, are still residents of that township. 

L^ither Whitney. — This gentleman, with his sons, Edson and 
and Horace B., came to this county at an early period — exact date 
not ascertained, but he was here while the county was a part of 
Pike. He resided in Montebello township. His name appears on 
the jury list of botii Pike and Adams counties; and he held the 
office of County Commissioner in Adams in 1826. Mr. Whitney 
was a native of Vermont, but removed to Kentucky at an early 
da}', thence to Missouri, thence to Hancock county. He lived 
only a few years after organization. He served also in the capacity 
of Justice of the Peace, and was a prominent man in many re- 
spects, though we obtain but little of his career. 

Morrill Marston. — Major Marston was one of the officers at 
FortEdwards, and, at the time of the abandonment of the fort, was 



220 HISTORY OF HAKCOCK COUNTY. • 

court-martialed, we believe for intemperance. He settled in the 
county a short distance below the fort, near the Calamus spring, 
where he opened a farm. He was a native of Rockingham county, 
New Hampshire. His name also occurs on the Pike and Adams 
jury lists. 

Major Marston was a very intemperate man, and died in a fit of 
intemperance by drowning, as was supposed — having been found 
in a shallow slough between the fort and his residence. His estate 
stands first of entry on the records of the Probate Court, under date 
of March, 1831. He had no relatives or heirs in the county at time 
of his death, and his estate was put into the hands of administra- 
tors ad interim, and finally administered by his brother, David. 
Marston, who came west for the purpose. 

John Clark — Resided in the vicinity of Fort Edwards, and was 
one of a family of three brothers, all of whom resided in this 
vicinity, and still have relatives here. John Clark died many 
years ago. 

Leonard L. Ahney. — Resided near the Calamus spring below 
Fort Edwards. His name appears in the list of candidates for 
County Commissioner in 1832, and in 1833 ho was an acting Justice 
of the Peace. 

Philip Malette — One of the early Frenchmen, resided in the 
vicinit}' of the fort. The early Circuit Court records show a divorce 
case between him and his wife. He left the county soon afterward, 
and nothing further is known of him. 
, William Clarh — Brother to John Clark, left the county at a 
very early day. 

Thomas Payne — Resided near Calamus spring. Was said to be 
descended from Spanish or French parents, and was from Yin- 
cennes, Indiana. Left in early times. 

John Johnson. — See p. 218. 

JohJi Harding — Resided in the Bear creek region, not far from 
the present village of Chili. The three Hardings named in these 
lists must have been among the earliest, if not the very first, set- 
tlers in the south part of the county. The name of John Harding 
appears as one of the jurors while the county was attached to 
Adams, in 1827. He sold the farm on which he resided, adjoining 
the town of Chili, to Elisha "Worrell, Esq., in 1835, and removed to 
parts unknown. 

William F«nc'(3— Son-in-law to Luther Whitney, resided on 
the river near Montebello. 

Hazen Bedell — A New Englander, resided at Montebello, and 
was the first Postmaster at that place, appointed under President 
Jackson's administration in 1830; was also a Justice of the Peace 
in 1831. Mr. Bedell died about the beginning of 1835, leaving a 
widow and three children, all of whom afterward went to Warsaw 
to reside. The eldest son, Edward A., was for many years an active 
business man in that place. During the Mormon difiiculties he 
took an active part as a " peace man," and was one of the most 



UISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 221 

prominent of that class designated as " Jack-Mornion.'-\" lie re- 
ceived the apjiointment of Indian Agent to Utah, and died in 
1854, soon after his appointment. The second son, Lucien, studied 
medicine and went west. The daughter was the lately deceased 
widow of Samuel W. Brown, formerly of Warsaw. 

JoTin Waggonner — Was perhaps the first settler at Riverside. 
He settled there in 1824. He had previously been one of the 
pioneers in the settlement of the city of Cincinnati, there being 
a tradition in the family that he built the first cabin in that city. 
This is probably a mistake, as the Cincinnati Historical Society 
records the fact and gives a list of the names of some 30 or 40 first 
emigrants to that place (then called Losantiville) in a body from 
Maysville, Kentucky, and Mr. Waggonner's name does not appear 
in the list. At the time of his settlement in this county his fam- 
ily consisted of four sons, — Isaac Newton, Price, Henry Clinton, 
and Seth. A sketch of the eldest will be found elsewhere in these 
pages. Price and Henry C. both became steamboat engineers, 
and went to St. Louis to reside; now both deceased. Seth died at 
the age of 18. The father died at Riverside in 1839, and his re- 
mains lie buried in the old and neglected Montebello cemetery, 
on the high blufl' overlooking the rapids, and not far from the res- 
idence of the family. 

James Miller — Resided somewhere along the rapids; place of 
nativity or other antecedents unknown. Emigrated to Warren 
county about 1832, thence to Texas, and finally to Oregon. 

Davidson Hihbard. — This gentleman resided on the blufi" just 
below Commerce, where he had a farm, part of which was finally 
swallowed up by the encroachments of the city of Nauvoo. For 
the main portion of the account which follows, we are indebted to 
his grand-son, Wm. D. Hibbard, Esq., of Nauvoo. The exact 
date of Mr. Hibbard' s emigration to the county is not recollected. 
He was born in New Hampshire in ITSG, and married in Maine, 
in 1816, to Miss Sarali Tilton. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren, — one son and four daughters. He remained on the place 
where he settled until his death, which occurred in the fall of 
1852, in the 67th year of his age. His widow is yet living (1879) 
at the advanced age of 86, but has been an invalid for several years. 

There was but one other white family within several miles, when 
Mr. Hibbard first settled in the county, which was that of Captain 
James White, heretofore mentioned. For a number of years they 
were compelled to go to Crooked creek in Schuyler county, to 
mill. There were many Indians in the neighborhood (Sacs and 
Foxes), with whom he dealt and maintained uninterrupted friend- 
ship. He was well acquainted with Black Hawk and Keokuk, 
both of whom were present at a double wedding of his two daugh- 
ters, one of them marrying a son of Capt. White, and the other a 
Mr, Waggonner. 

At the time of the coming of the Mormons to Nauvoo, Mr. 
Hibbard was in a prosperous condition, and suffered much from 



222 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the depredations of the thieves associated witli that sect, as they 
stole almost all the movable property he had; at one time even 
driving off a drove of fat hogs he had fed for market; and so 
adroitly did they execute their work, that not a trace of them could 
be discovered. 

Mr. Hibbard was ingenious and enterprising, and was an efficient 
vrorkman in either wood or stone; could make almost anything 
from a violin to a wagon, and thus did he appear to be well fitted 
for a frontiersman, lie built the first stone house that was put up 
in Nauvoo, which is still standing, the masonry being apparently 
as good as when built. 

Mr. II. was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was highly 
respected by the members of his lodge, as he was by all who knew 
him; and the old settlers who knew him yet respect his memory 
and speak of his virtues and intelligence. At the time of his 
death he was possessed of considerable property. 

Dewey. — Nothing to be known of him, not even his full 

name. On the probate books, however, we find the name of Joseph 
Dewey, deceased, under date of December, 1834. 

Sarmiel Gooch — Kesidence somewhere along the rapids — re- 
jnoved in early times to some point north of Carthage, and after- 
wards to Fort' Madison, Iowa, where he made a claim. Died about 
1832. 

John Reed — Resided in what is now Appanoose township. Gone. 
His name appears twice on the jury lists for the next year — 1830. 

Edward White. — Mr. White resided on the Mississippi, above 
Commerce, in Appanoose township. In the earlier years he was 
engaged with Capt. James White in his keel-boating business, and 
afterward, in 1832, in connection with his son-in-law, Mr. Amzi 
Doolittle, established a ferry, crossing the river at or near Fort 
Madison, and in July, 1836, laid out the town of Appanoose. Of 
his antecedents little is known, excepting that he came from Ohio. 

Hugh Wilso7i. — From his son, Mr. James Wilson, a respected 
citizen of Sonora township, we gather the following particulars of 
the life of this, one of tlie early settlers of the county. A Ken- 
tuckian by birth, he had resided some time in Tennessee, where he 
married a Miss Susan Skiles, before he came to Illinois. He re- 
moved with his family to Schuyler county in 1825, and to Hancock 
in 1827, and settled near the head of the rapids. The log cabin 
he built for his residence was about the third or fourth one in that 
vicinity. Mr. W. only remained in the county for a few years; 
in 1833 removed across the Mississippi to the vicinity of Fort 
Madison, which was then a part of Michigan. There he resided 
till his death in 1847 or '48. Some of his children still reside in 
that vicinity. Mrs. Wilson died about ten years after her husband. 

The story of Mr. Wilson's experieace on the prairie during the 
great storm of 1830, in which his neighbor and companion met 
such a tragical fate, will be found on another page. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTT. 223 



FIRST PETIT JURORS. 



Horace B. Whitney — Wa^ the son of Luther Whitney, and brother 
to Sheriff Whitney. Died in 1835, as appears on records of Pro- 
bate Court of June in that 3'ear. 

John R. Wilcox. — This gentleman was a Major among the offi- 
cers at the fort, and settled at the place after the fort was evacuated 
in 1824. For further particulars concerning him, see biography of 
his son, Dr. Lewis Wilcox, of Warsaw. 

Edward Robertson. — No account of this juror can be obtained. 
His name also appears on the jury list for the spring term of 1830, 
and then disappears from the records, as he doubtless did from the 
county. 

Samuel Brierly. — AVas married to a daughter of Dr. Isaac Gal- 
land, and was for a time associated with the Doctor in selling goods 
at Commerce. About 1840 he removed to the other side of the 
river. 

James Brierly. — An elder brother to the above had emigrated 
to the Half-Breed tract, across the river, previous to 1837, and 
resided at that date about four miles below Fort Des Moines (now 
Montrose). He was a candidate and elected once, if not oftener, to 
the Territorial Legislature. The}'' botli left Lee county 25 or 30 
years ago, and settled in Buchanan county. Mo. There James 
became an active Union man, and was elected as such to the Missouri 
Legislature. The other died some years since in or near St. Joseph. 
Thomas, a younger brother, went into steamboating on the Mis- 
souri, became rich, ran a packet between St. Louis and St. Joseph; 
and finally, with a fine boat of which he was one-third owner, ran 
the blockade during the Rebellion to join the rebels; the boat was 
finally burnt in the Yazoo river, to prevent her falling into the 
hands of the Union troops; and he, reduced to poverty, died at the 
south. 

Rohert Harding. — A relative, as supposed of John Harding, one 
of the grand jurors. As was also 

Aaron Harding — And all resided in the same vicinity. Green 
Harding, a present resident there, is a relative of the family, to 
whom we made application for information, but without success. 

Richard Chaney — Resided near the mouth of the stream known 
as Chaney creek, and from whom it derived its name. Mr. Chaney 
was said to have been a native of Prince George's county, Mary- 
land, born in sight of the "Federal city." The date of his emi- 
gration to the county is not known. About 1833 he removed to, 
and settled in Fort Madison, and was among its earliest inhabitants. 
Has since kept a hotel at Iowa city. 

Benjamin T. Tangate — Resided in the vicinity of Chaney creek, 
and removed up the Des Moines river as early as 1836. He took 
out the second marriage license and was married to Deborah Flint, 
another early settler, October 17, 1829. 

George W. Harjper — Resided on the rapids at Montebello, near 
where the Conorresfational Church now stands. His name stands on 



•224: HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

both jury lists for 1S30. He is said to have emigrated "West about 
1S34, by some of the old settlers; while others think he was the 
Harper who met his fate iu compauv with Hugh "Wilson in the 
great snow storm. (See another chapter.) 

Chai'les Eobison — "Was born iu "Western Xew York about 1773. 
He came West in 1S23 to the "Wabash country; thence to Sangamon 
countv, where he remained till the spring or summer of 1S29. when 
he came to Hancock county and settled at the month of Larry's 
creek, near the line between Montebello and Sonora townships. At 
this place he continued to reside until the Mormon period, when he 
left the State, settling at West Point, Lee county, la. There he 
continued to reside till his death. 

Mr. Eobison was a minister, we believe, of the Baptist Church, 
and labored in that field with good acceptance among the people, to 
whom he became widely known. He had several children; one son, 
Chauncey, now resides in Appanoose. One or more of the sons 
joined the Mormons and went away with them to Salt Lake. His 
daughter, Eliza, was the legal wife of Gen. Daniel H. Wells, one of 
the chief magnates now of Salt Lake, but from whom she separated 
and refused to go with him, because he declined to renounce the 
Spiritual "Wife doctrine, at that time being inculcated at Xauvoo. 
He is stated to have supplied her place, however, with several others. 
She now resides in Burlington, Iowa. 

Patrick Jfojnt. — -In this name, the generally correct Clerk, 
"Williams, has made a mistake, as there was no PatncTc among the 
the pioneer Motfits of the county. James, John and Thomas were 
the three Moffits who originally settled in the vicinity of "\'enus, at 
the head of the rapids. James and John (distant relatives of the 
present James, junior, now residing in Sonora, from whom we 
obtain this information), were born in Ireland, county of Sligo, and 
came to America about ISIS, single men. They located at an early 
day in Madison county, near Alton, but soon afterwards went to 
the lead mines near Galena, then the great center of attraction and 
speculation at the AVest. From the lead mines they went back East, 
to Central Xew York, and after a stay of a year or two, returned to 
Illinois and settled on the rapids, in what is now Sonora township. 
The lands on which they settled were afterward purchased when 
they came into market, at the Quincy land-ofiice. This settlement 
was made about 1827 or '2S. James died Sept. IS, 1S6S; John 
had died many years before. 

That the above-named Patrick Moffit was intended f)r one of 
these, is the more evident trom the fact that the name occurs no 
where else in the early records; while James and John both appear 
on the jury lists for each term in 1S30. Thomas, the third of the 
trio, did not come to the county till 1S30. 

Williajn Wallace — Resided on the place on the i-apids bluff, 
below Venus, afterwards occupied by Roger Hibbard. He soon left 
for Warren county. 

Enoch Hankins — (not Saiokins, as printed in some of the 




^'dyrLCO QF^di-cA/ 



AUGUSTA 



HISTORY OF HA>-COCK COUNTY. 227 

sketches of the county) — Was one of those who ** left his conntrj for 
his country's good." being the individual who has the reputation 
ofbein? Hancock coantr's nrst murderer.' He stands charged 
with killing a Mr. Moore, during court, on the rapids, in 1832. 
Resided in what is now Sonora township, and was an emigrant 
trom Ohio. He was arrested, and there being no jail in thecountv, 
he was taken to Quincy for imprisonment. There he broke jail, 
and was never more heard of. 

Abm/i'-im Moore — The victim of Hankin's murder, resided on the 
rapids. Cause of the murder, an old grudge: said to have been 
neighbors in Ohio. 

Asa Beed — Resided near the head of the rapids, as some citizens 
remember, but nothing more can be learned of him. 

WiUiam Hint — Ditto, and ditto. Probably a relative of 
Deborah Flint. 

Peter WiUiams — Resided near Fort Edwards, and was without 
donbt one of Hancock's very earliest settlers. He was here when 
it was a part of Pike, and was licensed to keep a ferry at the fort 
by the Pike authorities in 1S25. A correspondent informs us that 
Mr. Williams stated to him that he resided at the fort when the 
first steamboat ascended the river [doubtful], and that ~ he thought 
the destroying angel had come " — not one of the " Destroying 
Angels " that were afterward so notorious at Xauvoo. What the 
year was we are not able to say. We have heard Mr. W, mentioned 
as a minister of the gospel, but whether attadied to any denomi- 
nation we cannot say. 

In 1S3^ he. with others, made claims in Fort Madison, Iowa; 
and in 1S33. says our correspondent, *'his cabin and that of Rich- 
ard Cbaney, with the two chimneys of the old fort, were the 
imp«t>Tem«its of Fort Madison.'' 

X^PiiW Yan JSurl'Ioe — Resided nearTenus: no further aeeonnt 
of him, excepting that there was a Tan Burkloe riding in the 
nei^borfaood after the Mormons came. 

Amai DooUttle. — At the time of his deadi, vhich oeeurred in 
1S7S. Mr. D. was the only remaining membo- of Uie first jnries, 
and the last man but one of the 66 men who set the wfaeds of 
government in motion in the eonnty. He was an aii^ve bnsineaB 
man during the whole period of more than half a century o^ cl*il- 
ixation. He was a native of Madison eonnty. X. Y.. and was :<.n: 
Jane 16, 1S0S. He came to this county in 1S27, ftom Sehuyier, 
where, and in SanganMHi, he had resided about six jeua, haTing 
emio;Tated to the State at the age of IS. 

1&. Doolittle^s first wife was a danghter of Mr. Edward White, 
her^ofore maitioned in this list of jarcMS. Sie died in ISIa, and 
in 1S46 he was married again to Mis. Sarah M. Walbfie, who is 
still living. In S^4nnber. IS^ Mr. D.. in eonjniielion with 
his fether-in-law, was liemsed to establish a ferrr at Appa- 
noose, and in JnlT,lS36,the samepartieB laid o«t die town erf" Appa- 
noose, named after an Indian diirf wdl known at that tnacL It 
is remembtfed that a steam fenr-boat belonnng to this eompaaj 
was disabled in a stonn, or in the iee, near i^anToo^ ^"^1 ^ *^ 

15 



228 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Mormon period, and left over night; the next day, on going to it, 
its owners found it stripped of everything that could be carried 
away — even to the lighter parts of its machinery stolen. 

Hezekiah Spillman. — This gentleman was also an Adams county 
juryman in 1825. At what time he came to the county, or where 
from, we cannot ascertain. He died many years ago. He resided 
at what was known as Spillman's Landing, on the Mississippi, in 
the north part of the county. 

Michard Dunn. — This gentleman was son-in-law to Mr. Hugh 
Wilson, and, it is supposed, left the county at the same time, and 
died at or near Fort Madison. 

Yaples — As entered on the jury list^ was John Yaple, a 

native of New York, who resided at or near where Pontoosuc now 
stands. From his native State he emigrated to Ohio, thence to 
Morgan county, 111., and thence to Hancock. He died about 1842, 
on his way to Texas. Messrs. White and Doolittle, Hezekiah 
Spillman and Mr. Yaple were probably four of the earliest settlers 
in the count}^, above the head of the rapids. Warren, born in 
Morgan, and James M. and Oscar, born in Hancock, ai'e his three 
sons. 

Mrs. Warren Yaple, residing near Adrian, in Rock Ci*eek town- 
ship, from whom we obtain these facts, relates the following inci- 
dent, as occurring soon after settling in this county: The Indians 
were plentiful in those days along the river; and one day a squaw 
brought her own pappoose to the Yaple cabin, and taking the white 
child from its cradle unobserved, deposited her own in its place, 
and was making off with it. The exchange was discovered in time; 
she was followed, and each babe restored to its rightful mother. 
On being (piestioned as to her reasons fordoing it, she said she 
wanted a white pappoose! 

Samuel Bell — Was a resident somewhere along the rapids, was 
with Capt. White in the keel-boating, and is believed to have died 
of cholera about 1832. 

Noali W. Payne — A brother to Thomas Payne, and a resident in 
the vicinity of the fort. 

Lewis — Given name even not ascertained, resided on the 

rapids, and is supposed to have also gone, with the many others, 
over to the "New Purchase." 

lieuben Brattan, John Sykes, Abijah Wilson, Abdiel Parsons, 
Charles Smith, Nathaniel Kennedy, John Campbell, Ralph 
Raburn, Thomas Safly, Arthur Parrin, Joseph P. Punyear, — eleven 
others belonging to the first juries, — we cannot trace. Some of them, 
are remembered by old settlers, but whence the}^ came or what be- 
came of them is left to conjecture. 

The foregoing includes all the names of citizens of the county 
that appear on the records as residents at date of organization, 
August 4, 1829. That there were a few others has been made evi- 
dent in the course of our inquiries; although for a time it seemed 
pretty certain that all the adult males had been pressed into active 
service at the very fii-st session of the County Commissioners' 
Court. Such of those not named in these lists, as can be ascer- 
tained, will be noticed hereafter. 



\ 



CHAPTER V. 

ORGANIZATION AND FIRST PROCEEDINGS. 

On June 15, 1829, Judge Young issued the following order, viz; 

STATE OF ILLINOIS, 
FrPTH Judicial Circuit. 

Whereas, It has been represented to me, the undersigned, Judge of the Fifth 
Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, north of the Illinois river, that the citi- 
zens of Hancock countj^ in said State, are desirous that the same should be 
organized with as little delay as possible, and it appearing to my satisfaction that 
the said county contains three hundred and fifty inhabitants and upward ; 

I do hereby, in pursuance of the powers vested in me, by virtue of the ninth 
and eleventh sections of the act entitled "An act forming new counties out of the 
counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attuched parts thereof," approved 13th 
January, 182.5, order, direct and appoint that an election be held in some conven- 
ient house in Fort Edwards, in the said county of Hancock, on the first Monday 
in August next, and to continue for one day only, for the following named officers, 
to-wit: Three CouLty Commissioners, one SheritT, and one Coroner, to serve, 
when elected and qualified, in and for the said county of Hancock; and I do 
hereby nominate and appoint Luther Whitnej'-, James White and George Y. Cutler 
Judges of said Election, whose duty it shall be to give twenty days' notice of said 
election, by jDOsting up copies of this order, with such other notice of the same 
as they may deem necessary, in eight of the most public places in said county, 
distributing them as near as practicable among the principal settlements of the 
county, to the end that all persons concerned may have due notice. The election 
to be viva voce, and conducted in all respects as near as maybe in conformity with 
the laws now in force respecting elections; and the result thereof, when ascer- 
tained, to be fairly and legibly made out, certified, and returned to the proper 
department, that commissions may issue without delay, to such persons as may be 
entitled thereto. And lastly, it is ordered, that Circuit Courts be held in and for 
the said county of Hancock, on the third Mondays in June, and fourth Mondays 
in October, at such place as may ]je selected by the County Commissioners of said 
county, until other regulations shall be made by law, or different times shall be 
appointed by the Judge of said Court. 

Given under my hand and seal at Quincy, in the county of Adams, 
[L S.] this fifteenth day of June, A. D. 1829, and of the Independence 

of the United States the fifty-third. 

RICHARD M. YOUNG, 
Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, north of the Illinois 
river. 

In pursuance of the foregoing order an election was held at Fort 
Edwards on the day named, being the third of August, with the 
following result: 

The Commissioners named in the order, acting as Judges, with 
Davidson Hibbard and John R. Wilcox as Clerks, 

(229) 



230 • HISTOET OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

For County Commissioner — 

George Y. Cutler received 50 votes- 
Henry Nichols 37 " 

James White 31 " 

Morrill Marston 30 " 

Peter Williams 10 " 

Hazen Bedell 9 " 

For Sheriff — 

Edson Whitney had 31 " 

Alexander White 23 " 

For Coroner — 
Robert Wallace had 35 " 

The next day the County Commissioners elect met at the same 
place and organized, when the following proceedings were had, as 
appears upon record: 

STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) 
Hancock County, f 

At a County Commissioners' Court held in and for said county, at a special 
term at Fort Edwards in said county, on the fourth day of August, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine. Present, James White, 
George Y. Cutler, and Henry Nichols, Commissioners. 

Ordered, That Wesley Williams be appointed Clerk of this Court, temporarily, 
until superseded by a permanent appointment to that office; who thereupon came 
into Court, was sworn according to law, and entered upon the duties of said 
appointment. 

Ordered, That Isaac R. Campbell be appointed Treasurer of the county, and 
that he give bond and security according to law, in the sum of one thousand dol- 
lars. 

The Court proceeded to lay off and divide the county into districts for the elec- 
tion of Justices of the Peace and Constables, whereupon it is— 

Ordered, That all that part of the county lying between the north line of Adams 
county, and the line dividing townships four and five north, be erected into a dis- 
trict, to be known and designated as district No. 1, and that elections for Justices 
of the Peace and Constables be held at the house of Henry Nichols, in said dis- 
trict and that Luther Whitney, Henry Nichols and John Clark, be appointed 
Judges of Election therein. 

All that portion of the county lying between the south line of townships five 

north, and the north line of said townships, be erected into a district known and 

' designated as district No. 2, and that elections therein be held at the house now 

occupied by William Vance, and that Hazen Bedell, Charles Robison, and John 

Waggonner, be appointed Judges of Election. 

All that portion of the county lying north of the township line between town- 
ships five and six north, and the north boundary of the county, be erected into a 
district to be known and designated as district No. 3, and that elections be held 
therein at the store of Alexander White, and that Davidson Hibbard, Peter Wil- 
liams and Edward White be appointed judges of Election therein. 

Ordered, That the following named persons be summoned to attend Circuit 
Court of this county at the October term, to serve as grand jurors, to wit: 

Daniel Crenshaw, Thomas Payne, James Miller, 

Luther Whitney, John Sikes, Davidson Hibbard, 

Morrill Marston, John Johnson, — — Dewey, 

John Clark, John Harding, Samuel Gooch, 

Leonard L. Abney, Wm. Vance, John Reed, 

Philip Malette, Hazen Bedell, Isaac R. Campbell, 

Wm. Clark, John Waggonner, Edward White, 

Reuben Brattan, Robert Wallace, Hugh Wilson— 24. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 231 

Ordered, That the following named persons he summoned to attend the Circuit 
Court of the county, at the October term ensuing, to serve as petit jurors, viz.: 

Horace B. Whitney, Charles Rohison, Asa Reed, 

John R. Wilcox, Charles Smith, William Flint, 

Edward Robertson, Patrick Moffit, Peter Williams, 

Samuel Brierly, William Wallace, Daniel Van Burkloe, 

James Brierly, Nathaniel Kennedy, Amzi Doolittle, 

Robert Harding, John Campbell, Hezekiah Spillman, 

Aaron Harding, Ralph Raborn, Richard Dunn, 

Abijah Wilson, Thomas Sofly, Yaples, 

Abdiel Parsons, Enoch Hankins, Samuel Bell, 

Richard Chancy, Arthur Parvin, Noah W. Payne, 

Benjamin T. Tungate, Abraham Moore, Joseph P. Puryear, 

George W. Harper, Alexander White, Lewis— 36. 

On reading and filing the petition of a number of the citizens of the county, 
recommending John Johnson as a suitable person to fill the oflice of Surveyor of 
this county, it is — 

Ordered, That he be recommended and nominated to the Executive of the State, 
to be commissioned Survej'or of this coi;nty. 

Ordered, That until otherwise directed, the courts of this county shall be held 
at the house of James White, at or near the head of the Lower rapids. 

Ordered, That John Tillson, Jr., be authorized and empowered to obtain from 
the Auditor of Public Accounts of this State, a warrant on the treasury for the sum 
of $350, the amount of the revenue due this county from said State treasury for 
the year 1829 ; and the Auditor of Public Accounts is hereby requested to issue his 
warrant accordingly. 

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Court make out a certified copy of the foregoing 
order, and enclose it to John Tillson, Jr., at Hillsboro, Montgomery county, in 
this State, advising him to obtain a warrant, and forward it to Tillson & Holmes 
in Quincy, subject to the further order of this Court, and to advise this Court of 
its being so forwarded. 

On motion of Wesley Williams, it is — 

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Court be permitted to hold his othce at or near 
the house of Hazen Bedell, near the foot of the lower rapids, for the present, if 
he chooses. 

Ordered, That the Clerk of this Court be required to copy the proceedings of the 
court, into the records of this Court, when provided, and also to copy the order 
issued by the Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court north of the Illinois river, 
in relation to the organization of this county. 

Ordered, That Court adjourn till Court in course. 

Henry Nicjiols, 
James White, 
Geo. Y. Cutler. 

"We copy the foregoing proceedings of the first County Commis- 
sioners' Court, in full, verbatim from the records. They are ex- 
ceedingly interesting for many reasons: First, they supply us with 
the names of nearly all the resident adult citizens in August of the 
year it was ushered into existence as an independent corporate com- 
munity. From the location of the several voting places fixed by 
the Court, we have evidence that the settlements were mainly on the 
west side, along the river from Rocky run to Spillman's Landing; 
none in the central portion. Three of the jury — the Ilardings — 
resided on the head waters of Bear creek, near the line of Adams. 
Fort Edwards, near the foot, and the little village of Venus at the 
head of the rapids, seem to have been fifty years ago the chief cen- 
ters of population and business. 

The Court held another, its regular, session in December, at the 
house of Commissioner AVhito. At this session only TTenry Nichols 



232 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and Mr. White were present. A subdivision of the county for 
general election purposes was made, as follows: The upper dis- 
trict to embrace all that portion of the county lying north of a line 
running through the center of townships five north; place of vot- 
ing, house of James AVhitc; Judges of Election, Peter "Williams, 
Andrew Yance and James Miller. Louder 2)recinct^ all south of 
said line, with place of voting at house of Henry Nichols; Judges, 
John E.. Wilcox, Luther Whitney and John Shewey. 

At this session was presented the first petition for a ferry license. 
It asked that Luther Whitney and William Yance be authorized 
to establish a ferry across the Mississippi river on or opposite the 
southwest quarter of section 18, five north, eight west. License was 
ordered on condition that they pay into the county treasury the 
sum of one dollar, and the following ferry rates were fixed by the 
Court: 

For crossing a mau and horse $1.00 

A footman 50 

Wagon and team 3.00 

Cart and team.' 3.50 

Single horse 25 

Each head of cattle 35 

Each hog, sheep or goat 13J^ 

This ferry was located about two miles above the present site of 
Hamilton, at the place now occupied by Mr. C. F. Darnell, then 
the residence of the petitioners Whitney and Yance. The property 
passed into other hands, and was for many years known as the 
Montebello House. 

At this term was also granted the first tavern license — to Alex- 
ander White, at his store in said county (head of the rapids), and 
that he enter into bond and paj' two dollars tax on said license. 

Again John Tillson was asked to aid the county in procuring the 
revenue of ^350 due from the State treasury for 1830. 

Road surveys were ordered as follows: 1. Commencing at the 
termination of a road lieretofoi'e viewed, thence to the north line of 
the county; 2. Commencing where the line dividing townships six 
and seven north strikes the Mississippi river, running in an east 
direction through the settlement on Crooked creek to the east boun- 
dary of the county; and 3. Commencing at some convenient point 
on the last named road, and running in a direction to strike the 
Mississippi river near the residence of Hezekiah Spillman. Edward 
White, Hugh Wilson and Jolm Bi-ewer, viewers. 

This " settlement on Crooked creek " must at that date have 
been quite limited, as we can learn of but two resident families in 
that region in 1830, that of Mr. Brewer, above mentioned, and Mr. 
TJte Perkins, near Fountain Green. 

At this term, also, the first county orders were issued, numbering 
one to sixteen, inclusive, for the aggregate sum of $62.50, chiefiyin 
payment of ofticial services. 

The foregoing closes the oflicial record of the County Court dur- 
ing the first five months of its existence. Within that period the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 233 

little craft has weighed anchor and set sail on her uncertain voyage. 
Her principal officer, Clerk Williams, was a man of some previous 
experience; the others had seen little service of the kind. Yet they 
conducted the affairs of the craft reasonably well; and through all 
the changes and vicissitudes, the tempests and calms of half a cen- 
tury, she still rides the waves. 

At the March term, 1830, Wesley Williams was regularly 
appointed Clerk, to continue "during good behavior," and required 
to^ive bond in one thousand dollars. 

In that day it was deemed expedient to fix the rates at which 
hotel-keepers should entertain the public; but whether for mere 
uniformity's sake, or because they were suspected of extortion, does 
not appear. Thus the County Board established the rates of fare 
for the guidance of the one " tavern " in the county, thus: 

Each meal of victuals 25 cents. 

Lodging, per night 12% " 

Keeping a horse 25 " 

Half pint of whisky 12i^ " 

Half pint of rum, gin, brandy or wine ... 25 " 

Single horse feed 12)^ " 

At the March term, 1830, the taxation of the people began; and, 
whatever else may have been remitted, as time progressed, that has 
gone on steadily for fifty years. We quote: 

Ordered, That an ad valoremtuxhe levied on the value of the following described 
property, to wit: On horses, geldings, mares, mules and asses, stock in trade, 
wagons, carts, pleasure-carriages, clocks, watches, with their appendages, and 
cattle; and the County Treasurer is ordered to assess the foregoing kinds of per- 
sonal property according to their value, at the rate of one half per centum. 

Another session was held in June, at which it was — 

Ordered, That the sum of $45 be approjiriated for the purchase of a suitable press' 
books and stationery, for the use of the Clerks' offices of this county. 

But the Board took care that the Clerk should not rnn away with 
so large a sum of public money; for before receiving it he was 
required to enter into bonds with the Treasurer. 

it seems there was now (June, 1830) sufficient population in the 
eastern ■|)ortions of this county to justify two new election districts; 
one was established embracing townships six and seven north, and 
ranges five and six west, called the Crooked Creek district; elec- 
tions to be held at the house of IJte Perkins, with John Brewer, 
Thomas Brewer, and Henry Donohoe, as Judges; and another em- 
bracing townships three, four and five north, ranges five, six and 
seven west, to be called Bear creek district; elections at the house 
of John Harding, with John Harding, Robert P, Thurman and 
Robert Harding, Judges. The first of these included the present 
townships of La Ilarpe, Fountain Green, Pilot Grove and Durham; 
the other included Augusta, St. Mary's, Chili, Harmony, Bear 
Creek and St. Albans. 

The following are the jury lists selected at the June term, 1830: 



234 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



GRAND JURY. 

John Johnson, Sr., William Wallace, Andrew Vance, 

Squire D. Ensley, Arthur Parvin, Daniel V. Burkloe, 

George W. Harper, Hugh Wilson, Edward White, 

James Moffitt, John M. Forrest, John Johnson, Jr., 

David Long, Enoch Ilankins, Ute Perkins, 

Rezin Bailey, John Waggonuer, John Brewer, 

Abraham Moore, William Flint, Curtis Caldwell, 

John Harding— 23. 

PETIT JURY. 

Charles Eobison, Peter Williams, John Clark, 

John Moffitt, Amzi Doolittle, Lawsou Hood, 

Edward Long, Hezekiah Spillman, Edward Robertson, 

William Southard, John Ritchie, William Clark, 

Thomas Solly, Thomas Brewer, Robert P. Thurman, 

George Wilson, Henry Donohoe, Joseph Dewey, 

John Reed, Thomas Palmer, Nathan Kennedy, 

Alexander White, Morrill Marston, Charles D. Hill— 24. 

At the September term, Mr. Campbell being abont to remove 
from the county resigned the office of Treasurer, and George Y 
Cutler was appointed his successor. Mr. Campbell rendered the 
following account in delivering up the office: 

Treasurer of Hancock county, Dr. 

State Revenue for 1829 $262.50 

Tax on Tavern License — Alex. White, 2 . 00 

I.R.Campbell 2.00 

Cr. 
By county orders redeemed to this time, including allowance for taking 
lis's of taxable property for 1830, of $12.00, and the sura of $4.82%, 
commission on redeeming county orders $257.93% 

Leaving a balance of $ 8 . 563:^ 

To State revenue for 1830, in Illinois State paper, $350.00. 

The revenue due from the State for 1829, we have seen, was 
$350; whether its reduction to $262.50 was due to depreciation in 
State Bank bills, or some other cause, does not appear. The Treas- 
urer's bill for assessing the county was $12 — cheap enough. But 
then he was allowed $4.82f commission, which gave him the 
large sum of sixteen — nearly seventeen — dollars, for his year's 
services. 

Continuing with the proceedings of the County Board: 
March Term, 1830 — Ordered, That Court hereafter be held at 
Clerk's office, head of the rapids, instead of house of James White. 

COURT-SEALS 

Were ordered as follows: Ordered, That the device of the official 
seal of this Court be as follows: On the circle the words " Hancock 
County Commrs'. Court," with the word " Illinois " through the 
middle, and on one side of said word engraved a plow, and on 
the other a steamboat; and that the following be the device of 
the official seal of the Circuit Court, to- wit: '"■ Hancock Circuit 
Court" engraved on the circle, and in the middle the rising sun 
with the figures " 1829." 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



235 



Isaac R. Campbell and Luther Whitney, each licensed to keep 
tavern— bonds $100 each, tax $2.00. 

Jury lists selected at September term, 1830: 



Geo. Y. Cutler, 
Robt. Wallace, 
Ralph Raborn, 
James Wood, 
Win. D. Hickerson, 
Wilsou Turner, 
James Miller, 
John Reynolds, 



GRAND JURY. 

James W. Brattle, 
Wm. Mattox, 
Sam'l Gooch, 
John Reed, 
Richard Dunn, 
Benjamin Mudd, 
John Day, 

PETIT .JURY. 

John Moffitt, 
James Moffitt, 
John Robison, 
Chaunccy Robison, 
Richard Chaney, 
Ralph Parsons, 
Geo. W. Harper, 
John Johnson, 



Beriah Doolittle, 
Edward Shipley, 
Leonard L. Abney, 
Wm. H. Peavy, 
Arthur Morgan, 
Reuben P. Thurman, 
Robert R. Williams— 33. 



Edward White. 
Isham Cochran, 
Lewis Peyton, 
Daniel Crenshaw, 
John Waggonner, 
Joseph Dewey, 
James Lincoln, 
Amzi Doolittle — 24. 



Pierce Atchison, 
Alexander White, 
PeterWilliams, 
David Coon, 
John Gregg, 
Wm. Wallace, 
Thomas Long, 
Hugh Wilson, 

New ferry license — to Richard Chaney, at mouth of Chaney 
creek; and another, to Andrew Vance (renewal), at section 18. 

Dec. term, 1830 — Tavern license to Russell Farnham at Fort 
Edwards, and one to James White at the head of the rapids. 

Ferry license, June, 1831, to John R. Wilcox, on northwest of 
nine, four, nine; bond $100, tax $1.00. Rates of ferriage some- 
what reduced, 

Under this date we find an order fixing merchants' license at 
$5.00 each. 

County Commissioners' Court this year held at Montebello, at 
home of Hazen Bedell. 

DELINQUENT TAX LIST. 

Newspaper publishers in the county, had there been any, 
would not likely, as now, have contended for the tax lists in the 
primitive days. The delinquent list returned by Edson Whitney, 
Sheriff, to the County Commissioners' court, for the tax of 1830, 
amounted to the sum of four dollars and forty cents, all told! 

COUNTY- SKAT QUESTION. 

The question as to where and how the county-seat shall be located, 
seems to have agitated the public mind soon after organization; 
and there seems, as in most cases of the kind, to have been two or 
more projects advocated — one to locate on the river at Fort Ed- 
wards, and the other at a point at or near the center. It has not 
transpired that any very considerable warmth was manifested in 
favor of either ])roposition; but the action of the County Board 
proves that both were considered. An effort was made, as will 
appear, to secure the fort fraction for that purpose, but failefl. Had 



236 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

it succeeded, and the county-seat located there, and maintained at 
that point, there can be little doubt but there would now be there, 
instead of a little city of 4,000 or 5,000 inhabitants, one of four 
times that population. At the December term, 1830, an order was 
passed by the Commissioners requesting Senators and Representa- 
tives in the Legislature to procure the appointment of Commis- 
sioners to locate the seat of justice for the county; and another 
inquiring of the General Land-office at Washington, whether Han- 
cock county can be permitted to locate her county-seat on the 
fractional quarter-section on which Fort Edwards is situated. We 
do not lind of record any reply from the land department, but pre- 
sume the right was denied; for under proceedings of March term, 
1831, the Board took action looking to a central location. George 
Y. Cutler, Luther Whitney and John Johnson, being appointed a 
committee to ascertain the geographical center of the county, and 
make report of situation, etc., at next meeting of the Board. 

We don't find any report from the committee, or an}'^ further 
action on the subject, until the following: 

" William Gillham and Scott Riggs, two of the Commissioners appointed to 
locate a permanent seat of justice, made the following report, to-wit: 
STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) ^r . <,i 1833 
Hancock County, i ^^^'^*' '-^' ^^'-''^• 

We, the undersigned, Commissioners appointed by the General Assembly for 
the i)urpose of locating the seat of justice in the county of Hancock, have taken 
a general view of said county, viewing the present population and the prospect of 
the future, — believe it to be just and equitable to locate said seat of justice on 
township live north, range six west, section nineteen, northwest quarter, and the 
most eligible site on that quarter, which we have shown to the County Commis- 
sioners. And we further say that the above described spot shall be the seat of 
justice for said county of Hancock, and the name shall be Carthage. Given 
under our hand this 21st day of March, 1833. 

WM. GILLHAM, [l. s.] 
SCOTT RIGGS. [l. s.] 

And so the matter was settled; and at the same session the report 
was ordered to be certiiied to the Register of the General Land- 
office at Quincy, and tliat the county of Hancock claims pre- 
emption on the northwest quarter of section nineteen, five north, 
range six west, — and then ordered that the County Commissioners' 
Court be thereafter held at Carthage, the county-seat. 

Accordingly, on the 2d of April, 1833, a special term of the 
Commissioners' Court was held at the new county-seat, at the house 
of Thomas Brewer. It had previously been held " all along shore" 
on the rapids, from Fort Edwards at the foot, to the house of James 
White at the head, with two or three intervening points about 
Montebello. Now it is to cease its wanderings, and remain perma- 
nently at Carthage. 

Here the Board ordered that John Johnson, County Surveyor, be 
employed to lay otf the town of Carthage into lots, to be done by 
May first, and that he be paid out of the sales for his services. 
And also that a sale of lots, to take place on the first Monday in 
June, on a credit of six, twelve, and eighteen months, be adver- 
tised for three weeks in the Sangaiiio Journal. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 237 

And at another special term, held at the house of Weslej 
Williams, on June 3. Thomas PI. Owen was appointed a Com- 
missioner to contract lor building a temporary court-house, to 
be completed before August 25. This cabin court-house was 
built by John M. Forrest, under direction of Mr. Owen; written 
notices posted first at Venus and Fort Edw^ards. Can find no record 
of cost or dimensions; was probably about 16 by 24 feet. 

The regular term of the Board was held in the court-house, 
Sept. 2, 1833. This court-house was a log-cabin situated south of 
the Square, about where the jail now stands. It was built of round, 
unhewed logs, with a clapboard roof, held on by poles; had a 
puncheon floor and slab benches for seats. Its door was in the 
north side, and it was adorned with at least two glass windows. 
On the south side was a platform raised about a foot from the floor, 
on which was placed a splint-bottomed chair, as a seat for his 
honor, while administering the law. This "court-house" was also 
used, by permission of the authorities, for a school and for Sunday 
preaching, and for public meetings of ditferent character. Most of 
the early sermons, by ministers of the various denominations, 
were preached in this building. Its clapboard roof was not the 
best protection against the weather; for in its "latter days," it is 
in the memorj^ of a lady who in it taught some ot the young 
Carthagenians "how to shoot," that in time of a hard shower, her 
pupils had to seek for dry places on the floor. 

In this building the County Commissioners' Court held sessions, 
and Judges Young, Lott and Ralston held their Circuit Courts 
from 1833 to 1839. 

As early as 1836 action began to be taken towards the erection 
of a more commodious court-house. At the term March 10 of 
that year, the Board appointed a commission, consisting of Michael 
Rickard, Sidney H. Little, and John F. Charles, to advertise and 
contract for the erection of a new court-house, and authorized a 
premium of $25 for the best plan. And at June term, 1839, the 
new building was finished and ffiven in charge of the Sheriff" for 
the use of the county. Moses Stevens was contractor and builder; 
cost about $10,000. This building was the west portion of the 
court-house as it now stands. 

First tavern license granted in Carthage, Sept., 1833, to Louis 
Masquerier; also license to sell goods. 

Dec. 5, 1834 — County purchased of M. Kickard, north of town, 
two acres of land for a burying-ground. 

Benjamin F. Marsh's bond as School Commissioner increased to 
$40,000, March, 1836; afterwards, Sept., 1838, increased to $75,000. 
Afterward, same term, removed from office, to which action lie 
took an appeal to the Circuit Court. 

Sept. 6. 1837 — New official seals adopted. For the County Court: 
on the circle the words, " Hancock County Commissioners' Court," 
in the middle a spread eagle, tlie word "Illinois" below. Seal of 
Circuit Court: in the circle, the words "Hancock Circuit Court," 
a sheaf of wheat in the center, " Illinois " underneath. 



238 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Under date of Sept., 1838 — We notice a tavern license issued to 
Jesse W. Bell, at Plymouth, a business in which he has since been 
continuouslj engaged for more than forty years. 

Special term, 1838— A re-survey of the town of Carthage ordered; 
survey made by James W. Brattle, and old one vacated by act of 
Legislature. 

Dec. 1839 — Walter Bagby appointed School Commissioner, and 
declined; Malcolm McGregor appointed in his place; bond, $12,000. 
And at the March term, 1841, Walter Bagby appointed again, to 
fill vacancy occasioned by death of Mr. McGregor; bond $50,000. 

Special term, March, 1839 — Proposals for a jail ordered; and in 
1841, built and received by the county. 

This building became historic, as the place where the Mormon 
prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother, Hyrum, were killed, and 
two of their associates wounded, on the 27th of June, 1844. It was 
situated northwest from the court-house about 400 yards, and at 
that time quite out of town. It was built of stone, two stories high, 
the lower portion being occupied as a residence by the jailor, 
and the upper for the prisoners, to which access was had by steps 
on the south end toward the town. Windows were on the east and 
west sides. The building still stands, reconstructed with additions, 
the property and residence of ex-Treasurer Browning. 

A RELIC OF SLAVERY. 

Among the many relics of the " peculiar institution " scattered 
all over the State of Illinois, is the following, which we copy ver- 
batim from the records of the County Commissioners' Court, under 
date of Dec. 18, 1832. There may possibly be other similar entries, 
but, if so, we failed to observe them. Similar entries exist in 
Adams county, and we presume in most of the counties in the 
State. 

' Jane Buckner, a free woman of color, produced in open Court 
a'transcript of the record of the County Court of Nicholas county, 
in the State of Kentucky, as evidence of her freedom, and also of 
her children, which was read and ordered to be recorded, and is in 
the words and figures following, to- wit: 

STATE OF KENTUCKY, [ 
Nicholas County. i 

April Court, 1814. 

An inslrument of writing from under the hand and seal of Samuel Buckner, 
emancipating and setting at libertj^ sundry negro slaves therein mentioned, was 
produced in open court, and acknowledged by said Samuel Buckner, and ordered 
to be recorded, to wit : 

" Know all men by these presents, That I, Samuel Buckner. of the county of 
Nicholas and commonwealth of Kentucky, for divers good causes moving me 
thereunto, do by these presents, and in pursuance of the Act of the General Assem- 
bly in such case made and provided, free and emancipate lorever the follow- 
ing negro slaves, my property: — Jane, a negro woman about thirty years of age; 
George, about eight years of age ; Will Ditto, about five years of age ; Thornton, 
about three years old, and Leiois, one year and six months old. All of which 
iietrrnfs, [, 1he snid Samuel B^ck•'e^ do by these presents as aforesaid, free and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



239 



emancipate from my service, and my heirs, and all other persons whatsoever, 
cSiS aid slaves, through, i3y or under me.-to take effect from the d«le of these 
presents^ As witness my hand and seal th.s 25th c^ay^of^ ApnUSU.^^ ^^ ^^ 

And thereupon the said Samuel Backner came into court and entered into bond 
in the penalty of one thousand dollars, conditioned according to law, which bond 
is ordered to be recorded, and is in the following words, to wit : 

"Know all men by the these presents, etc., etc. See Bonds filed, marked 
A Whereupon it is ordered that said negro slaves named Jane, peorge 
Will Thornton and Lewis, as aforesaid, be set free, and they are hereby declared 

^'^'flffe'w "HugTerSk of the County Court for the county aforesaid, do 
certify that the foregoing copies are true transcripts of tlie records of said court 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said 
county, at Ellisville, this 13th day of August, 1814. 

•" Andrew J. Hughes. 

Clerk of Nicholas County Court." 

And SO Jane Bnckner, a " free woman " of Kentucky, emigratin^^ 
with her four children to the free State of Illinois, as evidence that 
she is free, was compelled to procure and bring with her the tore- 
going long testimonial, and have it recorded among the archives 
of the county, lest the " heirs or other persons claiming them, or 
the authorities, under the "black laws," should sieze and remand 
them again to slavery. 

THE CIKCUIT COURT. 

"We turn now to the Circuit Court record : 
STATE OF ILLINOIS, >g^^ 

At a Cireuit'court commenced and held in and for tlie county of Hancock and 
state of Illinois, at the house of James White, Esq., at the head of the lower or 
Des I^^oines rapids, the place appointed by the f^^^^ty Commissioners' Court ^^^^ 
said county for holding of the Circuit Courts, this 27th day of October, A. D 183J, 
?he Court h'aving been adjourned from yesterday to the hour of nine o'clock, by 
the Sheriff of this county, in pursuance of law. Present: ., t r 

" •' -RicnAiiJiM.YoviiG, Ctrcint Judge. 

Wesley Williams, Clerk. 

Edson Whitney, Sheriff. 
Ordered That the order heretofore made on the loth daj; of June, A. D. 1829, 
for the organization of said county of Hancock, togeiher with the oi-^^f^^^eguhit 
ing the times of holding th-; Circuit Court in sai.l county, be spread upon the 
records ot this Court, which said orders are in the words and figures following, 
to-wit: [Here follow the orders heretofore given.] ^ 

Next follow the bonds of Edson Whitney, Sheriff, and Robert 
Wallace, Coroner elect, with oaths of othce, and bond ot Wesley 
Williams, Clerk; and a parcel of rules of practice to the number 
of thirtv-two,— all as in the County Court records and those ot the 
Probate"'Court,in the neat and i)lain hand-writing ot Mr. WiUiams, 
the competent Clerk. 

It does not appear of record that there was any Prosecuting 
Attorney present at this first term of Court; but at the June terra 
following (1830) George Logan was appointed Prosecutor ^r<? ^^m.; 
and at theOctober term ensuing, Thomas Ford, the regular Attorney 
for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, was present. 



240 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Below we give a list of Judges and officers of the Circuit Court 
from organization, to Jan. 1, 1880, with date of their services: 



JUDGES. 



Oct., 1829- 
Apr., 1837- 
Sept., 1839- 
May, 1841- 
Oct., 1843- 
May, 1845- 
Oct., 1845- 
Apr., 1849- 
June, 1851- 
Oct., 1851- 



Oct, 1829- 
June,1830- 
Oct., 1830- 
June, 1831- 
Jime,]832- 
Aiig., 1834- 
Apr., 1835- 
Sept., 1839- 
May, 1843- 
Oct., 1843- 
May, 1845- 
Jiiiie, 1845- 
Oct., 1845- 
May, 1846- 
Oct., 1846- 



-Richard M. Young. 
-James H. Ralston. 
-Peter Lott. 
-Stephen A. Douglas. 
■Jesse B. Thomas. 
-Richard M. Young. 
-Norman H. Purple. 
-William A. Minshall. 
-Onias C. Skinner. 
-David M. Woodson. 



Mar., 1852— Onias C Skinner. 
Oct., 1854-Pinckney H. Walker. 
Mar., 1855— Onias C. Skinner. 
Oct., 1855— Joseph Sibley. 
Mar., 1878— Chauncey L. Higbee. 
June, 1878— Joseph Sibley. 
Oct., 1878- John J. Glenn. 
Mar., 1879— L. P. Shope. 
June, 1879— Joseph Sibley. 
Oct., 1879— John H. Williams. 



PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. 



-No prosecutor. Apr., 1847 

-George Logan, pro tern. Sept., 1848 

-Thomas Ford. June, 1851- 

-Arch. Williams,|)?'o tern. Oct., 1851- 

-Thomas Ford. Mar., 1853- 

-O. H. Browning, pro tern. Oct., 1854— 

-Wm. A. Richardson. Mar.. 1855- 

- William Elliott. Mar., 1856- 

-Jaiues H. Ralston, pro tern. June, 1856- 

-William Elliott. May, 1857- 

-J nmesll. Rn]ston, p)'o tern. Oct., 1857 

-Calvin A. Warren, jj?'o tern. Mar., 1865 

-Mason Brayman, ^ro tern. Mar., 1809- 

-William Elliott. Mar., 1873- 

-Henry Stephens, p7'o fern. Mar., 1877 

CIRCUIT CLERKS. 



William Elliott. 

Robert S. Blackwell. 

William C. Wagley, pr<> tetn. 
-James H. Stewart. 

Calvin A. Warren. 

■George Edmunds, pro tern. 

Calvin A. Warren. 

George Edmunds, pro tern. 

■C. A. Warren. 

Wesley H. Manier, pro tern. 

V. A. Warren. 
-Bryant F. Peterson. 
-William G. Ewing. 
-Bryant F Peterson. 

William E. Mason. 



Oct., 1829— Wesley AVilliams. May, 1845— David E. Head. 

May, 1841 — Sam'lO. Williams.proiew. Mar., 1857— Squire R. Davis. 

May, 1842— Jacob C. Davis. Mar., 1865— Melancton S. Carey. 

May, 1843— Jacob B. Backenstos. Mar., 1873— Andrew J. Davis. 

It will be perceived that during the fifty years since organization, 
his honor, Judge Sibley, held the office of Judge for nearly half 
the period — almost as long a time as the remaining fourteen. Of 
prosecutors there have been eighteen, including several pro tern. 
appointments — none of whom held office for a long period. Of 
Circuit Clerks there have been eight only: Williams, the first, 
holding the office by appointment for a period of about twelve 
years. David E. Head held it, by appointment and election, for 
about the same length of time. S. R. Davis and M. S. Carey each 
held it for a period of eight years, and A. J. Davis' term will expire 
at the end of another eight j'^ears' service. 

The first civil cause docketed was " Jolm R. Wilcox, assignee of 
Peter Kinney, Complainant, vs. Nathan Kennedy, Defendant, on 
appeal from Justice's Court." 

The first criminal cause on docket is: " Th.e People of the State 
of Illinois m. Isaac Galland, Indictment for Perjur}'-, from Schuyler 
county," wliich was continued and subsequently dismissed. 

We shall not follow this Circuit Court record any further in this 
place. There have no doubt been many interesting and important 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



241 



civil causes tried in our courts, arscued by tlie eminent counsel 
practicing at our bar; but our limits will not allow reference to 
them. The important murder cases and other criminal causes will 
be found in future chapters of this book. 

THE PROBATE COURT. 

The first Court of Probate for the county of Hancock was held 
on the 4th of January, 1830, Wesley AVilliams, Judge. ^ At this 
and also at the subsequent term in February, no business was 
transacted. At the March terra, 1831, the estate of Major Morrill 
Marston was entered for probate, and John Clark and Robert R. 
Williams appointed administrators, with orders to sell personal 
property on April 18, and rent the farm till March 1, 1832; Jacob 
Lewis, John Dedman, and Dempsey Hood being named as 
appraisers. 

April 4, 1831— The olficial seal was ordered : " On the outer circle 
the words 'Hancock Court of Probate;' the word ' Illinois' through 
the middle; above it two orphans embracing each other, and under- 
neath a loaf of bread." 

At this terra the estate of Andrew Yance was entered for 
probate. 

June terra, 1831, John K Wilcox, being a creditor, was appointed 
administrator of Morrill Marston, deceased; but at the September 
term following, David Marston, of Rockingham county, N". H., 
brother of deceased, appearing, was appointed administrator, and 
Wilcox removed. 

The following entries of estates occur in their order: 



John Shook, Sr.— Sept., 1831. 
Daniel Crenshaw — Oct., 1831. 
Almon S. Foot— 1832. 
George Y. Cutler— Sept., 1834. 
Henry Wedding— Sept., 1834. 
Oliver Felt— Sept., 1834. 
Preston H. Houston — Sept., 1834. 
Josiah Smith— Nov., 1834. 
Joseph Dewey— Nov., 1834. 
Henry Butler- Dec, 1834. 
Thomas O'Neal— Dec, 1834. 



Hazen Bedell— Feb., 1835. 
Thomas Crabtree— March, 1835. 
William C. Hawley— April, 1835. 
Horace B. Whitney— June, 1835. 
James White— Jan , 1837. 
Alexander White— Jan., 1837. 
.John Johnson— Jan., 1837. 
Agrippa Wells— Sept., 1837. 
Lewis Chamberlain — Dec, 1837. 
John Gordon— July, 1839. 
James M. Wells— July, 1839. 



CHAPTER YI. 

THE MORMON PERIOD. 

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, 

When at Mecca, in Arabia, about the close of the sixth century, 
Mahomet, the founder of Islamism, began his career, he was doubt- 
less honest in his purposes, which were to modify and improve tlie 
idolatrous worship of his people. But he was an enthusiast and a 
fanatic. His efforts met first with neglect and contumely, then 
with opposition and violence. Enemies increased around him, and 
he was compelled to flee his native city to save his life; and hence- 
forward he was a changed man. Revenge and ambition became his 
ruling passions. 

The character and career of this great leader have sometimes 
been compared with those of the pretended Mormon prophet, 
Joseph Smith; but the contrast is so great as to afford but very 
slight resemblance. When Joseph Smith began his career at Pal- 
myra, New York, his motives were not honest, nor was he prompted 
by either revenge or ambition. His feeble imagination had not 
yet grasped at anything beyond a mere toying with mysterious 
things, by which he hoped, if anything, to earn a living without 
honest labor. It is evident that at firsl; he had no higher or more 
ambitious purpose in view. He was one of those indolent and 
illiterate young men to be found in all communities, who, dissatis- 
fied with their lot, have embraced the pernicious doctrine contained 
in the phrase " The world owes me a living." Fortune, luck, 
chance, deception, jugglery, any or all of these that would aid him 
to obtain that living he was ready to employ. Hence we find him 
at an early age trying his skill at little tricks to impose on the 
credulity of his associates. As he grew older, searching for lost 
treasure became one of his favorite employments; for was it not. 
better to obtain the golden millions from the nooks and crevices of 
the earth, in which Kidd and the pirates and robbers had hid them, 
and live in splendor, than it was to obtain a small competency by 
the slow and uncertain processes of honest labor? And as he pro- 
gressed from one wild scheme to another, new light began to dawn 
upon his mind, till accident threw Rigdon and "The Manuscript 
Pound " in his way. Then it was that the idea of a new sect, a 
new creed, a new play upon popular ignorance and credulity, and 
consequent place and power and fortune, was gradually developed 
and boldly and persistently carried forward. 





i^^^^-^i:^^^ 



EISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 245 

It is the purpose in these pages to give not only a true and faith- 
ful history of Mormonism as it existed in Hancock county for eicrlit 
or nine years, but to go back to its beginnings and investigate the 
claims of its founders. We say founders^ because all who knew 
Joseph Smith, the so-called prophet, can bear testimony that he was 
not, without help, capable of building up the structure to the shape 
and consequence it assumed. Ignorant and unlettered as he was 
he managed to draw to him a few men of greater mental capacity 
than his own, through wliose combined efforts his and their crude 
purposes were gradually brought into shape. 

Mormonism had its birth and incipient growth in Western J^Tew 
York; it gained strength and acquaintance with the world in 
Northern Ohio; it increased to a considerable magnitude in North- 
west Missouri. But it was broken and weakened there in its con- 
tests with its neighbors and the authorities. After a few years of 
arrogant pretension and active proselytism, it met with a similar 
fate in Illinois, and also lost its daring leader. When left to itself 
in the wilderness of Utah, it developed into what it now is, an uglv 
and troublesome excrescence upon the body politic. 

When the little band of " Latter- Day Saints," as they called 
themselves, landed in Illinois, in the winter of 1838-9, they were 
poor and disheartened, and many of them were objects of charity. 
Their troubles in Missouri had brought them into notice. They 
were thought to have been persecuted for opinion's sake; and when 
they crossed the Mississippi at Quincy, they received much sympa- 
thy and material aid from the people of that city and Adams county; 
and afterward as they passed up into Hancock, the same kindness 
and consideration were shown them. Their jDrophet and his chief 
adviser, Sidney Rigdon, were yet in durance at Liberty, Mo., and 
their principal men scattered, some as refugees from Missouri 
wrath, and some as missionaries to the Gentile world. 

Such were the Mormons and such Mormonism when thej^ first 
became a reality to the peoj)le of Hancock county and the State of 
Illinois. 

At that time there was a little village on the river shore, where 
Nauvoo now stands, called Commerce, with but a few houses. 
Below was the farm of Hugh White, and out northeast on the hill, 
where the temple since stood, was the farm of Daniel H. Wells, 
another old settler, who, after growing rich by the sale of his lands 
to the new-comers, joined the Church, and finally left with the rest 
for Salt Lake, where he has since become a leader high in authority 
among them. Alongside of this village of Commerce lay the lots 
and squares, and streets and parks of Commerce City — o. paper town 
which, a few months before, had been ushered into existence by a 
brace of Eastern speculators. 

Opposite, across the Mississippi, in the then Territory of Iowa, 
stood the barracks of the old fort Des Moines, but lately vacated by 
the U. S. Dragoons and occupied by a few settlers. Here was also 
the land-office of the New York half-breed land company. The 

16 



246 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

village of Keokuk, on the same side and twelve miles below, also on 
the half-breed lands, had but a few inhabitants, while Fort Madison, 
above, had a somewhat larger population. 

In Hancock county was Warsaw, eighteen miles below, with a 
population of, say, 300; Carthage, the county seat had not so many; 
Augusta, St, Mary's Plymouth, Fountain Green, La Harpe, Chili, 
and a few others, had been laid out (chiefly m 1836), and contained 
each a few families, and were in the midst of young and fast grow- 
ing settlements. There "was no newspaper in the county; The Car- 
thagenian, at Carthage, had, in 1836-7, a sickly existence, and had 
now "gone where the woodbine twineth." The population of the 
county was probably 6,000; by the census of 1840 it was 10,000, 
including the then Mormon emigrants. 

Such was the status of Hancock county and its neighborhood 
when the Mormon exodus from Missouri began. That people 
crossed directly eastward to Quinc}', in Illinois, through JN^orth 
Missouri, as the nearest and best route to a place of safety. Their 
leader was yet in jail, but he, somehow escaping, soon made his 
appearance among them, and at once began operations for planting 
a " new stake," and gathering his followers around him. The first 
intention was to settle on the half-breed lands in Iowa, to which 
Smith had been invited through correspondence with Dr. Isaac 
Galland before leaving Missouri. Dr. G. had interest in those lands, 
and also resided and held some interest at Commerce. For various 
reasons, chief of which was imperfect title, the negotiation as to the 
half-breed lands fell through, and the main body of the Mormons 
remained in Hancock county, though numbers had already settled 
on the other side of the river. 

In September, 1839, the city of !Nauvoo was laid out and named, 
its proprietors being Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith 
and George W. Robinson. Afterward, down to May, 1843, as 
many as fifteen additions had been made to it by different parties, 
including one in 1840 by Daniel H. Wells, embracing part of his 
farm. The whole of the two farms named, including a portion of 
Mr. Davidson Hibbard's, and much additional land, was finally in- 
cluded within the limits of the fast rising city. 

The name "Nauvoo" w'as said by its projectors to be Hebrew for 
" pleasant land." Whether this be true, we leave for linguists to 
determine, but the site of the city is certainly one of the most pleas- 
ant and beautiful in the West. It is presumed, however, that 
Smith and Eigdon knew about as much of Hebrew as they did of 
the ''Reformed Egyptian" (whatever that may be), in which the 
"Book of Mormon " is said to have been written on the golden 
plates. 

All the important movements of this people from the beginning, 
as well as some very unimportant ones, had been directed by pro- 
fessed revelation from heaven, through Joseph Smith, their " proph- 
et, seer and revelator." There had been revelations before, as will 
appear hereafter, that these " Latter-Day Saints" were to enter in 
and enjoy promised lands, first in Ohio at Kirtland, then at two 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 247 

or three different places in Missouri . And now the way was open 
for a new revelation; and it came, under the sanction of a "Thus 
saith the Lord," that this "pleasant land" was the "promised 
land," to be henceforth occupied by the scattered saints. And the 
command went out to all the world, and summoned them hither; 
and hither they came as fast as proselytes could be made and cir- 
cumstances would permit. A monthl}^ paper called the Times and 
Seasons was started, to be the organ. Revelations were multi- 
plied, as occasion demanded, and promulgated through the organ 
and from the stand. A city began to be built. The sounds of 
industry were heard on every hand. For whatever may be said of 
the Mormon people in other respects, it is true that the great body 
of them were hard-working, frugal and industrious citizens. 

Is it any wonder, then, that in view of all these circumstances, 
these people and their prophet and leader should attract attention? 
The war in Missouri; their sufferings there and during their flight, 
in an inclement season; their cry of oppression, so industriously 
repeated, and the sympathy created in their behalf, had drawn pub- 
lic attention to them over the whole country. 

ORIGIN OF MORMONISM. 

But what of this man, Joseph Smith, and tliese people, his pro- 
fessed disciples and followers? He claimed to be a holy man, a 
prophet of God, a seer and revelator; a chosen minister of the Most 
High, for the acconj])lishment of a grand and divine purpose. And 
yet he was killed — slain by the hand of violence! And these peo- 
ple who followed him and believed in his mission, claim that he 
died a martyr to the cause of righteousness! 

Concerning him and his history and claims, there are two theo- 
ries, neither of which may be true; and if neither be true, one must 
be infamously and blasphemously false. The story told by himself 
and accepted as true by his followers, is as given below, and pur- 
ports to be in his own words, contributed for publication in a 
"History of the Religious Denominations of the United States," 
published in Philadelphia, and is orthodox Mormon history: 

"I was born in the town of Sharon, AVindsor county, Yt., on the 
23d of December, 1805. AVhen ten years old my parents removed 
to Palmyra, N. Y., where we resided about four years, and from 
thence we removed to the town of Manchester, a distance of six 
miles. 

"My father was a farmer, and taught me tlie art of husbandr3\ 
When about 14 years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance 
of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring the place 
of salvation; I found there was a great clash in religious sentiment; 
if I went to one society they referred me to one place, and another 
'to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the 
summum honurn of perfection. Considering that all could not be 
right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, 



248 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUN'IT. 

I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that 
if God had a Church it would not be split up into factions, and that 
if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one 
set of ordinancese, he would not teach another principles which 
were diametrically opposed. Believing the word of God, I had con- 
fidence in the declaration of James: ' If any man lack wisdom let 
him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth 
not, and it shall be given him.' 

" I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the 
Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was 
taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I 
was enwrapt in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages 
who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, sur- 
rounded by a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. 
They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in 
incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of 
God as His Church and kingdom. And I was expressly commanded 
' to go not after them,' at the same time receiving a promise that 
the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known 
unto me. 

"On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I 
was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the 
precious promises of scripture, on a sudden a light, like that of day 
only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, 
burst into the room; indeed, the first sight was as though the 
house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a 
shock that affected the whole body. In a moment, a personage 
stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with 
which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed 
himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that 
the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to 
be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of 
the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand 
for the gospel, in all its fullness, to be preached in power unto all 
nations, that the people might be prepared lor the millennial reign. 

" I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the 
hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious 
dispensation. 

" I was informed also concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this 
country, and shown who they were and from whence they came; 
— a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, govern- 
ments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of 
God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made 
known unto me. I was also told where there were deposited some 
plates, on which was engraved an abridgment of the records of the 
ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel 
appeared to me three times the same night, and unfolded the same 
things. After having received many visits from the angel of God, 
unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 249 

in the last days, on the 22d of September, A. D. 1827, the angel of 
the Lord delivered the record into my hands, 

"These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance 
of gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and 
not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engrav- 
ings in Egyptian characters, and bonnd together in a volume as 
the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. 
The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of 
which was sealed. The characters in the unsealed part were small 
and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks 
of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of 
engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, 
which the ancients called ' Urim and Thummim,' which consisted 
of two transparent stones set in the rim on a bow fastened to a 
breastplate. 

" Through the medium of the ' Urim and Thummim' I translated 
the record, by the gift and power of God." 

The foregoing is the story of his life to the finding of the Golden 
Plates, in what is since called "Mormon Hill," in the town of 
Manchester, near Palmyra, N. Y. Corroborative of his statement 
is tlie testimony of elev^en witnesses, to be found prefixed to all edi- 
tions of the Book of Mormon, as follows: 

THE TESTIMONY OF THEEE WITNESSES. 

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this 
work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus 
Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the 
people of Nephi, and also of the Lamauites, his brethren, and also of the people of 
Jared, which came from the tower of which hath been spoken ; and we also know 
that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for His voice hath 
declared it unto us ; whereof we know of a surety that the work is true. And we 
also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they 
have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of men. And we declare 
witli words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he 
brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the 
engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bare record that these things are true; 
and it is marvelous in our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us 
that we should bear record of it ; wherefore, to be obedient unto the command- 
ments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are 
faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found 
spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and sliall dwell with him eternally in 
the heavens. And the 'honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy 
Ghost, which is one God. Amen. 

(Signed), Oliver Cowdery, 

David Whitmer, 
Martin Harris. 

And also the Teitimon>/ of Eight Witnesses. 

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, unto whom this 
work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the author and proprietor of this work, 
has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which hath the appear- 
ance of gold; anda8 many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did 
handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings tliereon, all of which has 
the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this, we bear 
record, with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we 



250 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

have seen and hefted, and know of a surety, that the said Smith has got the plates 
of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness 
unto the world that which we have seen ; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it. 
(Signed), Christian Whitmer, 

Jacob Whitmer, 
Peter Whitmer, Jr, 
Hiram Pac4e, 
Joseph Smith, Sr., 
Htrum Smith, 
Samuel H. Smith. 

Late editions of the book make these eight witnesses testify of 
Smith as the "translator" of the work, instead of the "author and 
proprietor," as in the foregoing certificate. A copy issued at 
Piano, 111., from the press of young Joseph Smith's reorganized 
Church,' now before us, perpetuates this change, and also corrects a 
number of errors in grammar. 

It is further claimed by Mormon adherents that the book con- 
tains internal evidence of its genuineness, proving how much 
men can difier; for all others than Mormons can see in it numer- 
ous internal evidences of a fraudulent character. 

The second, theory in regard to the origin of the Book of Mor- 
mon, is that it was written as a mere romance by Kev. Solomon 
Spaiilding, a Presbyterian minister of Northern Ohio; that it some- 
how fell into the hands of Rigdon and Smith, and was by them 
diverted to its present purpose. 

It is however believed by many that Smith and his co-workers 
in iniquity manufactured the whole thing themselves, and out of 
whole cloth. Yet the peoi)le about Palmyra, many of them still 
living, who were cognizant of the facts as they occurred, and who 
knew the Sujiths and the eleven witnesses well, assure us, in recent 
correspondence, that the Spaulding story is undoubtedly true. 

AN INQUIRY. 

The first questions likely to be asked b}' one unacquainted with 
any of the facts, would l)e. What matters it whether Spaulding 
wrote the story or not, either as a romance or as a veritable history; 
or whether Smith and Rigdon -wrote it? What is its character? 
What does it purport to be? 

The following is its title in full: 

" THE BOOK OF MORMON ; 

an account Arritten by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken 
from the plates of Nephi; wherefore it is an abridgment of the 
record of the people of !Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, written 
to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the house of Israel, and 
also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment, and 
also by the spirit of prophecy and revelation: written and sealed 
np and hid unto the Lord, "that they might not be destroyed; to 
come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation 
thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 251 

to come forth in due time by the way of the Gentiles; the interpre- 
tation thereof by the gift of God, and an abridgment taken from 
the book of Ether. 

" xVlso, which is a record of the people of Jared, which were 
scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the 
people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven; which 
is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel how great things 
the Lord had done for their fathers, and that they may know the 
covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever; and also 
to the convincing of Jews and Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ, 
the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations. 

" And now, if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore 
condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless 
before the judgment seat of Christ. 

" By Joseph Smith, Junior, Author and Proprietor." 

In late editions, instead of " By Joseph Smith, Jr., author and 
proprietor," the title is simply signed "Moroni." 

In regard to the claims set up by Smith and his eleven witnesses, 
there are several things to be considered before we take their state- 
yients as true. 1. The importance and value of the so-called 
revelation; 2. The means used; and 3. The character of the agents 
employed. 

How any person with a well-balanced mind can see anything in 
the book worthy of being styled a revelation from God to man, sur- 
passeth understanding. Its purport and aim no man can gather from 
the "confounding of language," in its title; but in turning over its 
pages we find it to be a pretended history of the early inhabitants 
of this continent; that they are represented to be the descendants 
of some of the tribes of Israel; or, as the book of Ether has it, of 
the people dispersed at the tower; that they somehow got to this 
country in "eight barges;'' and that after multitudinous and terrible 
wars, they were, like the Kilkenny cats, nearly used up; and that the 
Indian tribes are the tails that were left. What possible diflerence 
can it make to the human family, in a soul-saving point of view, 
whether the story is true or false? Had the general idea been 
eliminated into good English by one who had a well-balanced 
mind, and not by one who had 

eaten of the insane root 

That takes the reason prisoner, 

it might have made a volume of pleasant reading, if nothing more; 
and were there any facts of co-incident history to verify it, it might 
even approach the dignity of an historical treatise. But why men 
should be required to believ6 it, is a mystery. And why these 
" Records " should be thus preserved and handed down through 
various hands, "servants of the Lord " (Mormon, Moroni, Keplii, 
Ether, and a lot of others), and finally " sealed up " and deposited 
in a hill in New York, for fourteen centuries, is another mystery. 
And then the character of the agents employed by the Almighty 



252 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

to bring these things to light and usher them to the world! If 
that is the Lord's work, trnly " the ways of the Lord are past 
finding out." 

There are so many silly things throughout the work that it is 
hard to speak of it seriously. They abound, but we can only make 
room for a few. Turn to page 504, book of Ether [Piano edition], 
and learn how America was peopled, and also obtain some valuable 
ideas of ship-building and navigating the seas: 

And the Lord said, Go to work and build after the manner of barges which 
ye have hitherto built. And it came to pa^^s that the brother of .Tared did go to 
work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had 
built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they 
were light upon the water, even unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water: and 
they were' built after a manner that they .were exceedingly tight, even that they 
would hold water like unto a dish ; and the sides thereof were tight, like unto a 
dish; and the bottom thereof was tight, like unto a dish; and the ends thereof 
were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length 
thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was 
tight like unto a dish. 

And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying, O 
Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have 
made the barges according as thou hast directed me. And, behold, O Lord, in 
them is no light: whither shall we steer ? And also we shall perish, lor in them 
we cannot breathe, save it be the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish. 
And hie Lord said unto the brother of Jared, Behold, thou shalt make a hole in 
the top thereof, and also in the bottom thereof; and wlien thou shalt sutler for air, 
thou shalt unstop the hole thereof, and receive air. And if it so be, that the water 
come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole thereof, that ye may not perish 
in the flood. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as 
the Lord had commanded. And he cried again unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, 
behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me ; and I have prepared the 
vessels for my people, and, behold, there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, 
wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness V And the Lord 
said unto the brother of Jared, What will ye that I should do that ye may have 
light in your V€ssels '? For, behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be 
dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take tire with you, for ye shall not go by the 
light of fire; for, behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the 
mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again 
out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and 
also the rains and the floods have I sent forth. * * * A.nd it came to 
pass that the brother of Jared (now the number of vessels which had been 
prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount which they called mount Shelem, 
because of its exceeding height, and did niolten out of a rock sixteen small 
stones ; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass ; and he did carry 
them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, 
saying, O Lord, * * * touch these stones with thy fingers, and 
prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth 
unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we 
shall cross the sea. * * * ^.nd the Lord stretched forth his hand and 
touched the stones, one by one, with his finger. * * * For it came to 
pass after the Lord had prepared the stones, which the brother of Jared had 
carried up into the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and 
he did put forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each end 
thereof ; and behold, they did give light unto the vessels tliereof. And thus the 
Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women and 
children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness. 

And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of food, that 
thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and 
herds, and whatsoever beast, or animal, or fowl, that they should carry with 
them, — and it came to pass that when they had done all these things, 'hey got 
aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending them- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 253 

selves unto the Lord 'their God. And it came to pass that the Lord God caused 
that there should a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, toward the 
promised land ; and thus they were tossed upon the wave of the sea before the 
wind. And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of 
the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and al.so the 
great and terrible tempests, which were caused by the fierceness of the wind. 

And It came to pass that when they were buried in the deeji, there was no water 
that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were 
light like unto the ark of Noah. * * * And no monster of the sea could 
break them, neither whale that could mar them ; and they did have light con- 
tinuall}', whether it was above th*^ water or under the water. * * * And thus 
they were driven forth three hundred and forty and four days upon the 
water; and they did laud upon the shore of the promised land. 

Let us imagine these eight wonderfully planned vessels, on their 
adventurous voyage, — all built alike, light like a fowl, long as a 
tree, tight like a dish, all provided with holes in bottom and top, 
and all lighted with those transparent stones which the brother of 
Jared '• did molten " out of a rock, — they all start together before 
the wind — a furious wind, — and after a little voyage of only three 
hundred and forty-four days, land together, without so much as 
one being lost! No monster of the deep hurt them; no whale 
marred them! Sometimes engulfed beneath the mountain wave, 
the ever-watchful brother of Jared is ready, plug in hand, to stop 
the holes; and when rising to the surface, as the whales do to 
spout, he is ever on the alert to give his crew and passengers 
another snift' of air! 

And now Jiaving them safely landed on the shore of this prom- 
ised land, let us turn to page 530 of this same prophet Ether, and 
learn some of the deeds of their descendants here. War seems to 
have been the main business and pastime of these people through 
all the long centuries of their existence in their Western home. 
But here is an account of one of the greatest battles ever fought 
since the world began. Talk of the wars of Napoleon, of the 
Cfesars, of Alexander; they are nothing compared to the struggles 
between those two great heroes, Shiz and Ooriantumr. These were 
the chiefs of the two contending parties at one time. The}^ had 
already fought till Ooriantumr computed he had lost " two millions, 
of mighty men and also their wives and children." If Shiz 
had lost as many, the computation would reach from fifteen to 
twenty millions of souls. And now they are real mad^ and are 
going at it in earnest: 

And it came to pass that when they were all gathered together, every one to 
the army which he would, with their wives and their children, both men, women 
and children being armed with weapons of war, having shields and breast-plates 
and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war, they did march forth, 
one against another to battle. 

Men, women and children, all armed and panoplied, going forth 
to battle! And it proved a nine-days battle, at that; for "on the 
morrow " they went at it again, and the next, to the sixth day, 
when the historian makes a count, and finds " they had all fallen 
by the sword, save it were fifty and two of the people of Corian. 



254 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

tumr, and sixty and nine of the people of Shiz." Then again, at 
the end of this day Shiz had 32 left and Coriantumr 27. The next 
day it was fight and flight; but on the morrow, which was the 
ninth, after a fierce and day-long struggle, only the generals Shiz 
and Coriantumr w^ere left. And they were about as good as dead, 
for Shiz fainted with the loss of blood. 

And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword, that he 
rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz. And it came to pass that after he 
had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up his hands and fell ; and after 
that he had struggled for breath, he died. And it came to pass that Coriantumr 
fell to the earth, and became as if he had no life. 

And so ended the battle and tliat story. Messages from heaven, 
indeed!! 

Such are some of the records, which Mormon, and Moroni, and 
Nephi, and Ether, and a lot of others are said to have written and 
preserved in Cnmorah Hill, New York, and which Joseph Smith 
was commissioned by an angel to dig up and translate for the sal- 
vation of the world! And the plates, too, must be hid away again 
by the angel. O, why could not at least those translated ones have 
been retained, and exhibited to, and " hefted " by an unbelieving 
world? They might have been at least as convincing as the unsup- 
ported testimony of Oliver Cowdery and the Whitraers and 
Smiths. 

But, after all, the whole question turns upon human credulity, 
for rejection or acceptance. To speak phrenologically, those people 
whose heads have the organ of Marvelousness excessively devel- 
oped will perhaps believe the story, though the heavens should 
fall. 

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAY. 

We turn now to find what their neighbors say of Smith and his 
co-workers. In 1807 appeared from the press of D. Appleton & 
Co. a work entitled, "Origin, Kise and Progress of Mormonism," 
by Pomeroy Tucker, Palmyra, JST. Y. This book is written by one 
whose residence was at Palmyra when this Mormon imposture 
began; who was personally well acquainted with all the Smith 
family, and with Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and most of their 
earlier adherents; who, at the time the "Book of Mormon" first made 
its appearance, was editor of the paper on the press of which said 
book was printed; who did much of tiie proof-reading on the book, 
and had many interviews with these men. 

Of the truth and general correctness of the statements contained 
in this book of Mr. Tucker's, we have the attestations of numbers 
of honored living witnesses about Palmyra; and not only that, but 
• that it represents the beginnings of that folly, as known to all the 
old citizens of Palmyra and the region around it. 

The name of Thurlow Weed is of national fame. He resided at 
Rochester during the progress of these events, and was acquainted 
with some, if not all, the actors therein. He says: 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 255 

New York, June 1, 1867. 
Dear Sm.— 1 have been so constantly occupied that I really did not get time 
to say how much I was interested in your history of Mormonism. I have long 
hopecl that some person with person^d knowledge of the origin of this great delu- 
sion, who saw it as I did, when it was " no bigger than a man's hand," and who 
has the couraire and capacity to tell the whole truth, would undertake the task. 
1 read enough of your manuscript to be conlideut that you have discharged this 
duty faithfully. The character you have given "Joe Smith,'' his family and asso- 
ciates, corresponds with what I have often heard from the old citizens of Palmyra. 
Such a work is wanted, and no one but a writer personally and familiarly 
acquainted with the false prophet and his sun-oundings could have written it. 
Truly yours, Thurlow Weed. 

The testimony of the eleven witnesses to the book of Mormon,^ 
or of eleven hundred like them, impeached and branded as most of 
them have since been by Smith liimself, will not weii^h an atom in 
the scale with that bronajht in Tucker's book, substantiated as it is 
by so many living witnesses and facts. 

Smith says in his biograph.y, that his father was a farmer, and 
" taught him the art of husbandry." Tucker says that while in 
Palmyra the family subsisted on the profits of a " cake and beer 
shop,'' and that while out on the "farm" afterward, "the larger 
proportion of the time of the Smiths was spent in hunting and 
fishing, trapping muskrats [mush-rats was the word they used), 
digging out wood-chucks from their holes, and idly lounging around 
the' stores and shops in the village.'' Further, that " the family 
were popularly regarded as an illiterate, whisky-drinking, shiftless, 
irreligious race of jieople;" "Joe, as he was always called, being 
unanimously voted the laziest and most worthless of the genera- 
tion," "noted only for his indolent and vagabondish character, and 
his habits of exaggeration and untruthfulness." His father called 
him the ''■gemis of the family," and he was; for after a while he 
got to be a tolerable reader, and delighted in such high-toned works 
as "Kidd, the Pirate;" though he afterward took to reading the 
Bible and attending protracted meetings, once even joining a 
Methodist class, but was soon "let oft"." But the story how he 
passed on from reading Kidd to reading the Bible; from digging 
potatoes, for which he had no taste and had been poorly " in- 
structed," to digging for buried treasure, for which he had a pen- 
chant, inspired by Kidd; and from digging for treasure to proph- 
esying, is too long to tell in these pages. It is told in the book 
before'us with great particularity and much sincerity. Suflice it 
to say that he finally succeeded in making a few ignorant persons 
believe that there was "something" in his pretensions. Numerous 
diggings for treasure Avere engaged in. Smith in the meantime 
sitting by directing the work. But nothing ever was found, the 
"devil" generally interfering just in time to prevent it from fall- 
ing into their hands. In these searchings for treasure, and other 
divinations, he used a little white stone, held in his hat; probably 
one of the identical stones used by Jared and his brother in light- 
ing their barges across the sea. 



256 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

We quote one of these money-digging incidents from Tucker, 

p. 32: 

A single instance of Smith's style of conducting tliese money-diggings will suf- 
fice for the whole series, and also serve to illustrate his low cunning, and show 
the strange infatuation of the persons who yielded to his unprincipled designs. 
Assuming his accustomed air of mystery on one of these occasions, and pretend- 
incr to see by his miraculous stone exactly where the sought-for chest of money 
had lodged in its subterranean transits, Smith g-ave out the revi'latiou that a 
" black sheep '' would be required as a sacrificial offering upon the enchanted 
ground, before entering upon the work of exhumation. He l;uew that his kind- 
hearted neighbor, William Stafibrd, who was a listener to his plausible story, a 
respectable "farmer m comfortable worldly circumstances, possessed a fine black 
wether, intended for division between his family use and the village market; and 
Smith knew, moreover, that frt'Sh meat was a rarity in his father's home, where he 
lived. 'The scheme succeeded completely. It was arranged that Mr. Stafford 
should invest the wether as his stock in the speculation, the avails of which were 
to be ecjuitably shared among the company engaged in it. At the approach of the 
appointed hour at night, the" digging fraternity, with lanterns and the fattened 
sheep for the sacrifice were conducted by Smith to the place where the treasure 
was to be obtained. There Smith described a circle upon the ground around the 
buried chest, where the blood of the animal was to be shed as the necessary condi- 
tion of his power to secure the glittering gold. As usual, not a word was to be 
spoken during the ceremony, nor until after the prize was brought forth. All 
things being thus in readiness, the throat of the sheep was cut by one of the party, 
according to previous instructions, the poor animal made to pour out its own 
blood around the circle, and the excavation entered upon in a vigorous and 
solemn manner. In this case the digging was continued about three hours, when 
the "devil" again frustrated the plan exacily iu the same way as on the repeated 
trials before ! In the meantime, the elder Smith, aided by one of the junior sons, 
liad withdrawn the sacrificial carcass and reduced its flesh to mutton for his 
family use. , 

We cite a case of conversion, to show the extent that liuman cre- 
dulity can^o. Calvin Stoddard was a citizen whose mind was ever 
on the watch for the miraculous, and he also became impressed, and 
thought there '' might l)e " something in these pretended revela- 
tions; and yet he •'"didn't know." Among the many Governors 
sent out to govern Utah, our readers will probably recall the name 
of Hon, Stephen S, Harding, of Indiana. In iiis youth he was a 
fun-loving young man, with a keen sense of the ludicrous, and re- 
sided at Macedon, a vilhige in the vicinity of Palmyra. Knowing 
Stoddard's proclivities, and bent on fun, he concluded to liave some 
at his expense. So he repaired one dark night at midnight to Stod- 
dard's liouse, and knocking him awake, called out in as unearthly 
a tone as he could assume, — " Cal-vin Stod-dard! Cal-vin Stod- 
dard! the an-gel of the Lord com-mands that he-fore an-o-ther 
go-ing down of the su?i thou shalt go forth among the jpeo-jple and 
preacli the Gos-pel of We-phi, or thy wife shall he a widow, thy 
chil-dren orjphans, and thy ash-es scat-ter-ed to the four toinds of 
heaven?'' 

Young Harding remained long enough to hear Calvin out and 
on his knees proinising to obey the divine command, and then he 
" cut and run." And'Calvin did obey it; was around the next day 
telling of the miraculous visitation; joined the new Church; came 
with the band to the West; was at Nauvoo, and, we believe, died 
in this countv. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 257 

CLAIMS FURTHER CONSIDERED. 

As to the golden plates, and what became of them, no human 
being has ever professed to have seen them, except the eleven wit- 
nesses. The story is that they were hid away again by the angel, 
for what purpose we are left to guess; perhaps to be revealed again 
in another age, when another tit man makes his appearance on the 
earth to receive and translate them. Can any reasonable man fail 
to reach the conclusion that Oliver Cowdery, David AVhitmer, 
Martin Harris, and the other eight, were liars and perjurors? It 
is a hard thing to believe of a fellow-being, but easier, far easier, 
than to believe such a story, told for such a purpose. The world 
is full of bad men; and that these men were of that class, we have 
other than '' Gentile " testimony. Martin Harris was denounced 
by the prophet Smith himself, in the ''Elders' Journal'''' of 
August, 1838, as " a liar and swindler;" and in the " Times and 
Seasons^'' at Nauvoo, volume I, he denounces both Cowdery and 
Whitmer in unsparing terms. It may be mentioned here that all 
three of them, at different periods, have renounced Morjnonism; 
though it is claimed, with what truth we cannot say, that they all 
returned again to the fold.^ Cowdery and Harris are both dead; 
Whitmer was lately living at Richmond, Missouri, near the scene 
of their former troubles. He is said to have in his possession the 
original manuscript of the " Book of Mormon," in the handwriting 
of Oliver Cowdery. 

AVho, then, was the real author of the " Book of Mormon?" We 
have felt inclined to reject the Spaulding story, for it seemed 
incredible that a college-bred Christian minister could be the 
author of such an ill-conceived " confusion of language " and ideas. 
But the proof is clear that Rev. Spaulding did write a book of 
similar import, which was left in manuscript at his death in 1816, 
and was entitled "Manuscript Found." How it came into the 
hands of Smith and Rigdon may never be known; one story being 
that the latter obtained it, or a copy of it, from the office of a book 
publisher in Pittsburg, where it had been left for publication; and 
another, that at a late day it was stolen from the widow. That 
Spaulding, though educated, was weak and visionary, is evident. 
Had he succeeded in procuring the publication of the book, he 
certainly would have lost in literary reputation; but it might have 
cut off the chance for a senseless and base imposition, 

lS«d one will deny that it is entirely competent for an individual 
to take "Manuscript Found," "The Mysteries of Udolpho," the 
" Last of the Mohicans," or any other book he may choose, and 
make it the basis of a religious creed; and from it form articles of 
faith on which to originate and build up a sect. Some of the sects 

* Siuce writing Ibe above we have conversed witli a gentleman who knew 
Cowdery well in Tillin, Ohio, since leaving the Mormons. He says Cowdery 
confessed to him thai when he signed the "Testimony of the Three Witnesses," 
he " was not one of the best men in the world,"'— using" his own expression. 



258 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of the day, other than the Mormon, had their origin in a no more 
reputable manner. And there is no law to prevent people from 
attachino: themsel\"es to such sects and ransackino; the world for 
proselytes. So, had Smith and Rigdon written or stolen " Manu- 
script Found," and built upon it a creed, claiming no supernatural 
agency in the matter, and had been able to induce a sect to rally 
around it, no one could complain. It could only have excited rid- 
icule and contempt. But when they claim it as a God-given 
message; that Smith is God's chosen one to communicate it to the 
world; that the angels of heaven were its bearers to him; and that 
those who fail to receive it on his ipse dixit are to be eternally 
lost; and these eleven witnesses testify that they know these 
things to be true, it puts quite another aspect upon the matter. 

The article of the Mormon creed which requires them all to con- 
gregate together in the "NewZion," and claims all who are not be- 
lievers as enemies — Gentiles who were ultimately to be cut off — is 
the rock on which the}^ were wrecked in Ohio, in Missoviri and in 
Illinois, and which will wreck them as long as it remains. The 
theory that they are the chosen people of God, who are to come in 
and possess the land for an inheritance, so industriously preached 
from the beginning, is an aggressive one. No people outside of 
'• Zion " can be expected to relish it. It cannot fail to embroil any 
people with their neighbors. Though it may be put forth in a fig- 
urative sense (which we are compelled to say was seldom the case), 
the ignorant and simple followers were always prone to interpret it 
literally. It was that, and not persecution for opinion's sake, that 
worked their ruin in Northern Ohio; it was that, and not persecu- 
tion for opinion's sake, wdiich drove them from Missouri; it was 
that, and not persecution, that caused the death of the Smiths in 
Carthage jail and drove the deluded followers into the wilderness. 
This very essence of their creed is a challenge — a continual menace 
everywhere. We do not say there was no wrong done against them 
in all these places. Far from it. There was much wrong done 
against them everywhere ; and yet that policy of their leader 
which brought them all to one '* Zion," was the great source of 
Smith's power and influence. It was meat and bread, and fine 
clothes, and riotous living, and honor and emolument to him, and 
to Rigdon and the rest of the leaders. Without it, he and they 
could only have been priests — and poor ones at that — or humble 
members of an humble sect; and that was not the purpose. With 
it he was an autocrat, a king; and they were his dukes and lords 
and nobles. 

It is not at all probable that in the beginning of his career. Smith 
had any thought of founding a religious sect. His only aim was to 
see how far he could dupe a few idle and worthless associates. His 
success emboldened him to try still further arts, and make them 
inure to his own pecuniary benefit. The result, no doubt, astonished 
him ; and as his influence in that direction increased, his ambition 
became awakened, and he dimly saw the road to advancement open- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 259 

ing before him. What would have been his course, and what he 
might have achieved, had not Rigdon and the " Manuscript Found " 
fallen in his waj, it is hard to guess. But the presumption is that, 
had it not been for this circumstance, the world would never have 
heard of the Prophet Smith, or been cursed with the delusion of 
Mormonism. 

The following narration, from tlie pen of Mrs. Matilda Davison, 
the widow of Rev. Solomon Spaulding, was published in the Bos- 
ton liecorder in 1839. It gives so clear an account of the origin 
of the book, and is told with such apparent sincerity and truthful- 
ness, that we are forced to accept it as true. We are well aware 
that the Mormons deny the story — deny that Rigdon was ever a 
printer in the office of Mr. Patterson at Pittsburg — and claim 
that it is a fabrication of their enemies. But that such a work was 
written by Mr. Spaulding is incontestable; that it was read fre- 
quently to his neighbors and friends, and left in manuscript at his 
death, is equally clear. The only break in the chain is that miss- 
ing link which places it in the hands of Rigdon and Smith. 

MRS. (spaulding) DAVISON's STORY. 

Mrs. Davison's story is as follows: "Learning recently that 
Mormonism has found its way into a Church in Massachusetts, and 
has impregnated some of its members with its gross delusions, so 
that excommunication has become necessary, I am determined to 
delay no longer doing what I can to strip the mask from this mon- 
ster of sin, and to lay open this pit of abominations. Rev. Solo- 
mon Spaulding, to whom I was united in marriage in early life, 
was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a 
lively imagination and great fondness for history. At the time of 
our marriage he resided in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this place 
we removed to New Salem, Ashtabula county, O., sometimes 
called Conneaut, as it is situated upon Conneaut creek. Shortly 
after our removal to this place, his health sunk, and he was laid 
aside from active labors. In the town of New Salem there are 
numerous mounds and forts, supposed by many to be the dilapi- 
dated dwellings and fortifications of a race now extinct. These 
ancient relics arrest the attention of the new settlers, and become 
objects of research for the curious. Numerous implements were 
found, and other articles, evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. 
Spaulding being an educated man, passionately fond of history, 
took a lively interest in these developments of antiquity; and in 
order to beguile the hours of retirement, and furnish employment 
for his lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving an his- 
torical sketch of this long lost race. Their extreme antiquity, of 
course, would lead him to write in the most ancient style, and as 
the Old Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imi- 
tated its style as nearly as possible. 

" His sole object in writing this historical romance was to amuse 
himself and neighbors. This was about the year 1812. Hull's 



260 • HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

surrender at Detroit occurred near the same time, and I recollect 
the date well from that circumstance. As he proij,Tessed in his 
narrative, the neighbors would come in from time to time to hear 
portions read, and a great interest in the work was excited among 
them. It claimed to have been written by one of the lost nation, 
and to have been recovered from the earth, and assumed the title 
of ' Manuscript Found.' The neighbors would often iuipiire how 
]\[r. S. progressed in deci]>hering ' the manuscript.' and when he 
had a sufficient portion prepared he would inform them, aiul they 
would assemble to hear it read. He was enabled, from his actjuaint- 
ance with the classics and ancient history, to introduce many sin- 
gular names, which were particularly noticed by the people and 
could be easily recognized by tUem. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had 
a brother, ]\[r. John Spaulding, residing in the place at the time, 
who was perfectly tamiliar with this work, and repeatedly heard the 
whole of it read. From New Salem he removed to Pittsburg, 
Pa. Here Mr. S. found an acquaintance and friend in the person 
of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a newspaper. He exhibited his man- 
uscript to Mr. P., who was very much pleased with, and borrowed 
it for perusal. He retained it a long time, and informed Mr. S. 
that if he would make out a title-page and preface he would pub- 
lish it, and it might be a source of profit. This Mr. S. refused to 
do, for reasons I cannot now state. 

" Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so largely in the history of the 
Mormons, was at this time connected with the printing-office of 
Mr. Patterson, as is well known in that region, and as Rigdon h.ini- 
self has frequently stated. Here he had ample opportunity to be- 
come acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript, and to copy it 
if he chose. It was a matter of notoriety and interest to all who 
were connected with the printing establishment. At length the 
manuscript was returned to its author, and soon after we removed 
to Amity, Washington county, Pa., where Mr. Spalding deceased 
in 181(3. The manuscript then fell into my hands and was care- 
fully preserved. It has frequently been examined by my daughter, 
Mrs. McKenstry, of Monson, Mass., with whom I now reside, and 
b}^ other friends. After the " Book of Mormon ' came out, a copy of 
it was taken to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former res- 
idence, and the very place where the ' Manuscript Found ' was 
written. 

" A woman preacher appointed a meeting there (New Salem), 
and in the meeting read and repeated copious extracts from the 
' Book of Mormon.' The historical part was immediately recognized 
by all the older inhabitants as the identical work of Mr. Spaulding, 
in which they had been so deeply interested years before. Mr. 
John Spaulding was present, who is an eminently pious man, and 
recognized perfectly the work of his brother. He was amazed and 
affiicted, that it should have been perverted to so wicked a purpose. 
His grief found vent in a flood of tears, and he arose on the spot 
and expressed in the meeting his deep sorrow and regret that the 




THE NAUVO O, TEMPLE 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 263 

writings of his sainted brother should be used for a purpose so vile 
and shocking. The excitement in i^ew Salem became so great that 
the inhabitants had a meeting, and deputed Dr. Fhilastus Hurl- 
but, one of their number, to repair to tliis place, and to obtain 
from me the original manuscript of Mr. S. for the purpose of com- 
paring it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy their own minds, and 
to prevent their friends and others from embracing an error so 
delusive. This was in the year 1834. Dr. Hurlbut brought with 
him an introduction and request for the manuscript, signed by 
Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wriglit, and others, with all whom I 
was acquainted, as they were my neighbors when I resided in New 
Salem. I am sure that nothing could have given my husband 
more pain, were he living, than the use which has been made of 
his work. 

"The air of antiquity which was throw^n about the composition, 
doubtless suggested the idea of converting it to purposes of delu- 
sion. Thus an historical romance, with the addition of a few pious 
expressions, and extracts from the sacred scriptures, has been con- 
strued into a New Bible, and palmed ,ofF upon a company of poor 
deluded fanatics, as divine. I have given the previous brief nar- 
ration, that this work of deception and wickedness may be searched 
to the foundation, and its author exposed to the contempt and exe- 
cration he so justly deserves. 

Matilda Davison." 

A. Ely, D. D., Pastor Congregational Church, and D. R. Austin, 
Principal of Monson Academy, Mass., certify to the good character 
of Mrs. (Spaulding) Davison, under date of April 1, 1839. The 
" Book of Mormon" was printed at Palmyra in the summer of 1830 
— Martin Harris mortgaging his farm for the pajnnent. This act, 
with others in regard to the matter, caused such " unpleasantness " 
between him and his letter half, as to lead to final separation. Mr. 
Harris afterwards married the widow of the celebrated Morgan, of 
Anti-Masonic fame, and resided with her at Nauvoo. 

The book was printed at the office of the Wayne Sentinel^ at 
Palmyra, of which Mr. Tucker was editor, the type-setting being 
done by Mr. John H. Gilbert, now a worthy citizen of that place. 
A great error, we think, was committed by the printers in this 
matter. In submitting the manuscript, Smith and liis helpers 
insisted that no alteration from copy in any manner was to be 
made; but the printer having charge of the job found the manu- 
script to be in such an imperfect condition, that he objected to the 
arrangement, and was allowed to correct its " many errors of syn- 
tax, orthogi'aphy, punctuation, capitalizing, paragraphing, etc." 
This was wrong; it should have been printed verhatiin. A work 
" from heaven" should not have been changed in any particular. 

A Church organization was also attempted the same year. The 
most conspicuous names among these earliest members were 
Cowdery and Harris, the Whitmers and Smiths. We find also 

17 



l» 



264 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

that of Orrin Rockwell, the parent, we believe, of the celebrated 
" O. P." of Danite Band memory. Previous to this Rigdon was 
not known among them, though it is believed he had been an 
occasional visitor at Smith's for a year. He now appeared as the 
iirst Mormon preacher. His first sermon was preached at Palmyra, 
but it was so coolly received that no public attempt at proselytism 
was ever again made_^at that place. 

Kirtland, Ohio, was soon, chosen by "revelation" as the place for 
building up the newZion, and hither all the " Saints" were required 
to congregate. Active work was commenced ; Rigdon, Parley P. 
Pratt and others were sent out to preach, and many were converted, 
who made their way to Kirtland; and in a short time over one 
hundred had joined th-em. Here Smith had divers revelations, of 
which the following may be regarded as chief, as laying the founda- 
tion of his temporal power. It was a bold stroke, but it was meekly 
accepted by his followers: 

In answer to the question, O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou 
requirest of the properties for a tithing. Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all 
their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church of 
Zion, for the building of mine house, and for the lajnng of the foundations of 
Zion, and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the presidency of my Church; 
and this shall be the beginning of the yearly tithing of my people ; and after that, 
those who have been thus tithecl shall pa}^ one-tenth of their interest annually, and 
this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the 
Lord. Verily, I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto 
the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this 
law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you. 

How much of one's property was to be called " surplus property" 
the Lord did not inform them; so it was left for Smith to decide. 
This was to begin with, and one-tenth annually was to follow. 
Among the rest, it was to ])6 devoted to " paying the debts of the 
presidency of the Church." With the funds thus abundantly pro- 
vided by revelation, milling and merchandising were entered into, 
and after a time the " Kirtland Safety Society Bank" was estab- 
lished, on the " wild-cat" plan, and for a period everything went on 
swimmingly. 

But the '• We-are-the-Elect " style of preaching and practice, 
was distasteful to the unbelievers around Kirtland, and difficulties 
arose. So a new commandment was requisite, and one was forth- 
coming, that Independence, Missouri, was to be the place for the 
city of Zion. An embassy was sent, a spot for the temple indi- 
cated, and numbers flocked to the new " stake," though Smith 
and a portion remained behind. A temple had already been 
begun at Kirtland, to cost fifty thousand dollars. But matters at 
that place grew worse and worse; the mill and the store ceased 
operations; and the "safety" bank bills, having been freely circu- 
lated, became depreciated and came flowing in for redemption. To 
stop this tide. Smith resorted to this stratagem. We copy from 
the " Latter-Day Sainfs Messenger and Advooate^''^ at Kirtland, 
for August, 1837: 



^?^ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 265 

Caution. — To the brethren and friends of the Church of Latter-Day Saints: I 
am disposed to say a word relative to the bills of the Kirtland Safety Society 
Bank. I hereby warn them to beware of speculators, renegades, and gamblers, 
who are duping the unsuspectmg and unwary by palming upon them those bills, 
which are of no worth here. I discountenance and disapprove of all such 
practices. I know them to be detrimental to the best interests of society, as well 
as to the principles of religion. Joseph Smith, Jr. 

Cool, for a president of a bank! 

Kirtland was now declared to be only a branch of Zion, the 
main body bein^ at Independence. Here much the same policy was 
pursued, bringino^ disaster. The same thing occurred at two or 
three other points in that State afterward — each time planting a 
new Zion, and beginning the erection of a temple; till tinallj, in 
the fall and winter of 1838, they were expelled from the State. 

EXTRACTS AND OriNIONS. 

Among the numerous books on Mormonism, perhaps the most 
curious one is, " The Rocky Mountain Saints: a History of the 
Mormons,"- -by T. B. H. Stenhouse, and issued by the Appletons 
in 1873. Its author claims to have been for twentj^-five years a 
Mormon Elder and Missionary, and editor of the Salt Lake Daily 
Telegrajyh. He was an Englishman, and, from the encomiums 
passed upon Orson Pratt, we take it he was connected by that gen- 
tleman during his successful missionary efforts in England. His 
work contains some of the most terrible accusations and statements 
against the Salt Lake Mormon leaders; and yet, strange to say, he 
professes to believe that they are honest and good men! ! Of 
course, it would not do to acknowledge that he had been for 25 
years intimately associated with rogues and villains. How he 
manages to reconcile his opinions with his statements, will be seen 
in some of the extracts which we quote. Though not among them 
till after the death of the prophet, he had made himself familiar 
with his history and has much to say regarding him. He says: 

The Mormon organization is thorough and complete. It permeates every 
position and condition of life, and controls and governs everything from the 
cradle to the grave, [p. G. 

Again: 

Summed up, Mormonism demands perfect submission — total dethronement of 
individuality— blmd obedience. There is no middle path. [p. 11. 

Of the Spaulding story, he writes: 

Those who accept such statements as the true solution of this book (the " Book 
of Mormon ") must necessarilj^ conclude that Joseph! Smith was a deliberate 
falsifier and impostor. There is no avoiding this. * * * The most 
incisive writer on this subject — John Hyde, formerly an Elder in the church — 
unhesitatingly announces this as his own conclusion. His "Analysis of the Book 
of Mormon and its Internal Evidences," is a masterly work to which no Mormon 
Elder has ever attempted a reply, [p. 545. 

But while the author frankly admits the unanswerable jand powerful arguments 
of jNIr. Hyde, he dissents from his conclusions — that Joseph Smith was a willful 
impostor, [p. 546. 



266 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY . 

That is, Hyde makes "unanswerable" arguments, to which 
Stenhouse dissents! 
And here is another: 

To the author's mind, Joseph is still defensible against the charge of willful 
imposture. It does not seem possible that he could have borne up through his 
whole life of persecution, and have lived and died maintaining the truth of his 
story, if the book had been a fraud. 

Let us look a little into the force of this argument: Joseph Smith 
died at about the age of forty years — only fourteen years after the 
promulgation of the "Book of Mormon;" certainly less than twenty 
years after he could have had any thought of such an imposture. 
Not a very long period for a man to run a career of infamy. The 
criminal records of the world abound with cases where grey-haired 
old men have carried forward their schemes of imposture and other 
villainies, inchiding rapine and murder, and never relented. John 
Hyde had been in a position to know, and likely did know, of the 
truth whereof he wrote. 

To insist that there were deliberate imposture and deliberate falsehood at the 
origin of Mormouism, is to challenge the veracity and honesty of the himdreds 
and thousands of persons who accept the faith and who testify that they know of 
its truth. — [p. 553. 

Not so; it is only to " challenge the veracity and honesty" of 
Smith and his eleven witnesses, with a few others, who have been 
in a position to know whether the claim was true or false. And is 
it not more reasonable and rational to believe a dozen or score of 
men to be blasphemers and liars, than to believe that the Almighty 
would resort to such ridiculous and silly means to reveal great 
truths to men — truths on which their soul's salvation depends? 

That Joseph Smith was, in these experiences (clairvoyance) one of the most 
remarkable men that ever lived, those outside of Mormonism altogether, who knew 
him intimately, testify. — [p. 551. 

No people who knew him intimately ever testified to any such 
thing. Besides, this is an after apology. "While he was living and 
in the height of his glory and fame, no one ever thought of claim- 
ing any unusual mental quality for him — clairvoyant or otherwise. 

The charges made against him (the prophet Smith) of being an " indolent, 
worthless youug vagabond," are in all probability somewhat exaggerated, for it is 
hardly possible that the vast energy and benevolence of his after-life could have 
developed from any such roots. — [p. 14. 

Stenhouse, p. 520, quotes approvingly from a correspondent, in 
which the writer says: 

Joseph Smith was no more and no less than a " spirit medium," — more im- 
pressional than clairvoyant or clairaudient. Being the first of the age operated 
upon by spiritual power, he was very crude in his conceptions, both of the char- 
acter and modus operancH of spiritual communications, and gave them all the 
weight of divine revelations, while they were really no more than the opinions of 
the spirits of men who had once lived on the earth. 

Is not this the veriest bosh in the world? The opinions of 
departed spirits would not likely cause him to believe that he had 
found golden plates, worth $1.5,000 in the market, when he had 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 267 

not; that he was daily translating them, and submitting his trans- 
lations to his friends, when he was doing no such thing; — and these 
departed spirits would hardly make the eleven witnesses believe 
they were handling and "hefting" these valuable golden plates, 
when there were no such plates to heft and handle. No ; the whole 
story of the origin of Mormonism is either true or false; and how 
much more reasonable to account for it on that theory, than to ran- 
sack the unseen and the unknown world for a theory to make its 
founder an honest but deluded man. Delusion there certainly was, 
and still is; but it is the delusion of the followers and believers of 
the blasphemous story. No theory of delusion can apply to his 
case and the cases of his co-workers. Our author has cited cases 
of delusion in the world's history, in proof; but where there has 
been one case of delusion approaching this in character, there have 
been a thousand of brilliant and successful rascality, many of them 
transcending this in enormity. 

And so, of Brigham Young, one author says, page 460: 

That Brigham Youug is by his natural instincts, a bad man, or that his Apostles 
or his Bishops are men of blood, is not true. Here and there among them a mali- 
cious man is met with, but apart from religion, the ruling men in Utah would be 
considered good citizens in any community. 

Let the scenes of the Mountain Meadow massacre, the dastardly 
killing of the Parrishes at Springville, and the heart-rending assas- 
sination of the seceding prophet, Morris and his followers, answer 
this statement. True, it has not been shown that Brigham actually 
gave the orders for the commission of these demoniacal crimes, so 
strongly depicted by Stenhouse himself; yet that he was an acces- 
sory before and after the fact, is as clear as sunlight. The whole 
life of Brigham Young in Utah has been a standing attestation that 
he could have looked with complacency on and seen their little Jor- 
dan running with blood, if that blood was from the veins of Gentile 
unbelievers; or he could find some sanction for its shedding in one 
of Smith's or his own pretended revelations, or for the successful 
up-building of the priesthood, "Apart from religion," these 
"Apostles and Bishops " would be good citizens in any community! 
What is "religion?" Apart from a system which recj^uires a blind, 
unquestioning obedience to a priesthood, and an entire and absolute 
abnegation of conscience and of self, and surrounded and restrained 
by the conservative influences of society and law, they might have 
been passive and peaceful, but not " good " citizens. To place one's 
self of his own free will and choice, in a position to do evil, is an 
essential ingredient of a had citizen. 

So, in respect to the character of John D. Lee, the " scape-goat" 
who was executed for his share in the Mountain Meadow massacre, 
as one has depicted it: "Lee is a good, kind-hearted fellow, who 
would share his last biscuit with a fellow traveler on the plains, but 
at the next instant, if Brigham Yoimg said so, he would cut that 
fellow traveler's throat." Such is the system taught in Utah, was 
taught in less horrid perfection in Nauvoo, in Missouri, in Kirtland 



268 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and away back in Palmyra. Ah! but it is the system and not the 
men, urge these apologists, to which these monstrous evils are to be 
attributed. True; but who, if not the men who originated and up- 
hold it, are responsible for the system? 

The Mormons as a people are not justly chargeable with the wrong-doing which, 
has been ascribed to them. There are bad men among them, dangerously bad 
men, who have committed outrages and damning deeds which would disgrace any 
community. But these deeds were perpetrated hy the few ; the masses were sin- 
cere and devoted to their conceptions of right and truth, as the whole course ot 
their lives and eventful history abundantly proves. This has been the united test- 
imony of all the ■' Gentiles " who have lived among them. The errors of the past 
life of the people, whether in their treatment of apostates or in their hostility to 
the nation, are attributable to the system and to the men who direct the public 
mind. Men and women who, for a religious faith, voluntarily abandon the homes 
of childhood and rend asunder the hallowed ties of familj- and friends — as Mormon 
converts do in all parts of the world — traversing oceans and plains, and sufiering 
privations incident to creating new homes in a barren waste, are not persons devoid 
of the qualities of good citizens. — [Stenhouse, p. 7. 

The foregoing, while partly true, is yet in a sense extremeh" 
false. That a large portion of the rank and file of the ]\I«»rmon 
brotherhood are ''sincere and devoted to their conceptions of riglit 
and truth," M'ill not be denied; yet another large portion of them 
joined the ranks caring little for ''right and truth," so that they 
could improve their worldly condition in a land said to be " flow- 
ing with milk and honey," and where the Gentile was soon to be 
brought into subjection. These, it will not be claimed, possessed 
the qualities of good citizens. Audit may well be questioned if 
the sincerely honest ones were not really the more " dangerous" in 
the hands of the few^ bad men, whose behests were to them as the 
word of God. Take for example the Mountain Meadow massacre, 
or the slaughter of the seceding Morrisites. These *• damning " 
deeds were not perpetrated alone by the bad leaders; they were 
done in all their atrocity by men who were " devoted to their con- 
ceptions of right and truth," — inspired by the vindictive fanati- 
cism of the leaders; and that is the system to which our author 
attributes the " errors " ofMormonismI Errors, indeed I Which 
is to be most dreaded in a community, — the few bad men who 
07'det' and direct, or the many "sincere and devoted," who execute 
the damning deeds of midnight or open-day assassination and 
pillage? 

In referring to the character of Smith, Stenhouse in another 
place gives us the following, p. 158: 

The poor farm laborer merges in the preacher, the preacher becomes a trans- 
lator, a prophet, a seer, a revelator, a banker, an editor, a mayor, a lieutenant-gen- 
eral, a candidate for the Presidency of the world's greatest republic, and last of 
all, though not the least difficult of his achievements, he becomes the husband of 
many wives. This variety of work accomplished within the short space of four- 
teen 'years, exhibits a fertility of brain and a reckless activity, which stamps 
Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, as one of earth's most remarkable men. 

All this seems very remarkable and real until submitted to the 
touchstone uf truth — until we call things by their right names. 
Not one half of these was he ever in realitij. AVe have already 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 269 

shown that he was not a fanner. A preacher? instead, he was 
onlv a rude, foul-mouthed declaimer and blasphemer; a trans- 
lator? instead, he was notoriously incapable of even interpret- 
ing his own native tongue; a prophet? a seer? a revelator? in 
each and all an arrant pretender and failure; a banker? on 
the money bestowed upon him by his dupes, he and his asso- 
ciates did establish what they called a bank, but its disgraceful 
ending showed that it deserved any other name; an editor? 
only b}' having his name at the head of a paper, his subordinates 
doing "the work; a mayor? he did liold the title under the city 
charter, but it was really an office of king and high priest. The 
title of lieutenant-general was bestowed on him by the charter, but 
it was one unknown to the Constitution or laws of the State or 
nation. A candidate for the Presidency? any man can proclaim 
liimself such, but that does not invest it with the dignity of 
fact. x\nd as to the last, — that of being the husband of many 
wives, — the laws of the country decide. A "variety of work," 
truly; but all centered in one grand scheme of imposture — the suc- 
cess of which has been truly remarkable, both under him and his 
successors; but which does not stamp either him or them as of 
'' earth's most remarkable men." 

His character in youth, as described by Tucker, is no doubt 
correct — a character just suited to the foundation for snch a struct- 
ure as his life proved to be. 

Tucker sa3's, p. 16: 

From the age of twelve to twenty years he is distinctly remembered as a dull-eyed, 
flaxen-hairedr prevaricating boy, noted ooly for his indolent and vagabondisb char- 
acter, and his habits of exaggeration and untruthfulness. * * * He could utter 
the most palpable exaggeration or marvelous absurdity with the utmost apparent 
gravity. He nevertheless evidenced the rapid development of a thinking, plodding, 
evil-brewing mental composition, largely given to inventions of low cunning, 
schemes of mischief and deception, and false and mysterious pretensions. In his 
moral phrenology, the professor might have marked the organ of secretiveness 
as very large, and that of conscientiousness '" omitted." 

Stenhonse, in his charity for the prophet and his cashier, Eig- 
don, as bankers, concludes that they did not contemplate a deliber- 
ate swindle, in the matter of the Kirtland bank. lie says such a 
conclusion " would be very inharmonious with their life and 
programme at that period." And 3'et he gives this statement in 
regard to it, on tlie authority of a Pittsburg banker. Those 
bankers, having been induced to receive the Kirtland money, found 
themselves one day with considerable of it on hand, and a rumor 
on the air that the bank had become shaky. So they despatched 
an agent with a lot of its bills for redemption. Rigdon was aston- 
ished at their assurance; coolly told him that their notes had been 
put out as a circulating medium for public accommodation! that 
they redeemed nothing I that the Pittsburgers had not been 
asked to take their paper I and compared them to the money- 
changers who liad been scourged out of the temple at Jerusalem! 



^ 



270 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



THE GOLD PLATES 



were said to liave been seven by eight inches in size, about the 
thickness of common tin, and that they were fastened together at 
one side by rings, making a book about six inches thick. This 
would make a solid gold block of nearlj 300 cubic inches ; worth, say 
fifteen to eighteen thousand dollars. Who will believe that so 
much treasure in hand, no matter what may have been engraved 
thereon, would not have been too tempting a bait for those men to 
resist; and that they would not have found some way to circum- 
vent the angel, rather than have them again hid from sight? Such 
a mine of wealth, in those days, and to such men, would have been 
a bonanza worth fighting angels and "devils " for. 

MORMONISM IN HANCOCK COUNTY, RESUMED. 

"We resume now the thread of Mormon history in Hancock 
county. 

The first great error committed by the people of the county, was 
in accepting too readily the Mormon story of persecution. It was 
continually wrung in "their ears, and believed as often as asserted. 
The Mormon people were among us, many of them in distress and 
in need of our sympathy and aid; while the " Missouri ruffians " 
were at a distance; — and that was before the age of railroads and 
telegraphs and fast mails. 

Another great wrong grew out of party spirit. The two politi- 
cal parties, Democrat and Whig, were nearly equally divided in 
the county, and a great presidential election was approaching. It 
was soon seen that Mr. Smith's influence would control the Mor- 
mon vote ; and that that vote, if thrown one way, would decide all 
political contests in the county. Hence, it was only natural that 
both parties sought to attach the Mormons to their interests. In 
August, 1S39, the election did not turn on party politics, and not 
many of the new comers being voters, the result was much as 
before, — candidates of both parties were elected. 

During the summer and fall of 1839, many who had crossed the 
river at Quincy wended their way up to the new Zion; many 
others stopped with their families in Adams and the lower end of 
Hancock, wherever they could find an empty hut or place for tem- 
porary sojourn. In September the city of Nauvoo was laid out. It 
embraced a large portion of the two small fractional townships six 
and seven north, range nine west, lying in the bend of the river, at 
the head of the rapids, and extended over into the township on the 
south. 

In view of their distressed condition when theyreached Quincy, 
large contributions were made for them by the citizens, and also in 
Hancock county. The then small city of Quincy contributed some 
thousands of dollars. These contributions were made in money, 
clothing, provisions, or any thing to relieve distress. 

It soon began to be loudly urged that Missouri was in duty 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 271 

bound to make good the losses incurred by the refugees; and prep- 
arations were made by the chiefs at ISTauvoo to press their claims 
upon the national authorities at AVashington. During the fall, 
the prophet, with two of his chiefs, Rigdon and Colonel Higbee, 
repaired to Washington to lay the matter before Congress and 
President Van Buren. They carried with them a large number of 
certificates reciting losses sustained by the brethren in Missouri, made 
out in due form and sworn to, with the county seal attaclied. Hon. 
John T. Stuart, member of Congress from this District — a Whig — 
undertook to present the matter to the House, and Henry Clay 
was appealed to to lay it before the Senate. They also applied to 
the President and to Mr. Calhoun. The latter bluntly informed 
them that the General Government had no autliority in the prem- 
ises. No redress was obtained, either through Congress or the 
President; and they returned to Nauvoo, highly incensed against 
the President and his administration. One great object, however, 
had been attained — a national notoriety. 

At this date, Robert Lucas a former Governor of Ohio, was 
Governor of Iowa Territory. He was appealed to for a letter, and 
he kindly forwarded the following: 

Iowa TEERrroEY, Jan. 4, 1840. 

Sir : — You informed me that a committee of Mormons are about to applj- to Con- 
gress of the United States for an investigation on the cause of their expiilsion from 
the State of ^lissouri, and to ask of tlie General Government remimeration for the 
losses sustained by them in consequence of such expulsion, and ask me to state my 
opinion of ^'the character and general conduct of these people while they resided in 
the State of Ohio ; and also the conduct and general report of those who have settled 
in the Territory of Iowa since their expulsion from the State of ]\Iissoim. 

In compliance with }'om" request, I will state that I have had but little personal 
acquaintance with them. I know that there was a community of them in the northern 
part of the State of Ohio, and while I resided in the State they were generally con- 
sidered an industrious, inoffensive people ; and I have no recollection of ever having 
heard in that State of their being charged with violating the laws of the country. 

Since their expulsion from Missom-i, a portion of them, about one hundred fam- 
ilies, have settled in Lee county, Iowa Territory, and are generally considered indus- 
trious, inoffensive and worth}- citizens. 

Very respectfully yours, 

Robert Lucas, Gov. of Iowa Ter. 

A. Ripley. 

A great Conference of the Church was held at Nauvoo on the 
6-9th of April, 1840, at which it was said there were several thou- 
sand persons present. At this meeting Orson Hyde and John E. 
Page were commissioned to visit the Jews in Europe, and at Con- 
stantinople and Jerusalem. At this Conference, Smith gave an 
account of liis reception and doings at "Washington, in which he 
was very severe upon President Yan Buren. The Conference also 
passed a series of resolutions, thanking the people of Illinois for 
their kind and generous conduct; the Illinois delegation in Con- 
gress for tiieir course; and Governors Carlin of Illinois and Lucas 
of Iowa fur their sympathy, aid and protection. 

It is stated that while in Missouri Mr. Smith had been an adher- 
ent of the Democratic party; but his treatment there, with this 
rebuff at Washington, prepared the way for throwing his support 



27- HISTOKT OF nAX(X^CK COUNTY. 

to the AVhitjs. In the smunier ot' 1S40 it eanie to bo irenerally be- 
lieved that Siuoh was his intention; and as he had several hundred 
votes now at his control, it became a matter of concern with candi- 
dates to secure his favor. Hence, those of both parties frequently 
visited Xauvoo, hopiiii^ to receive some pledge or to obtain some 
siijn of support for the coming election in August. And these 
sio;ns were in turn vouchsafed to them all; all were allowed to go 
away with high hopes, to relate to their friends in other sections 
the certainty of success. 

It will be remembered that this campaign of 16i0 was distin- 
guished as the "log c^biu and hard cider" campaign, in which the 
AVhigs held many large and enthusiastic meetinofs in favor of Gen. 
Harrison for President. About the last of March one of these 
mass meetings was held at Carthage, at which nominations were 
made for the county. The ticket put in the tield was an unexcep- 
tionable one, viz.: for County Commissioner. Samuel Comer, of 
Carthaire: for Sheritf. "Wm. D. Abernethy, of Augusta; for Coro- 
ner, Harmon T. AVilson, of Carthage: and for Ixepresentative, 
Martin Hopkins, of Fountain Gi*een. The ticket was well i-eceived 
by the people, ard was placed at the head of the Wi^fem World, 
the AVhig paper at AVarsaw, where it remained until the 2!2d of 
July, the election to take place early in August. In the WorM of 
that date, the "Important Announcement" Mas made that Mr. 
Hopkins had withdrawn, and that Hr. John F. Ciiarles, of Car- 
thage, had been selected in his place. And what was the reason for 
this change — the purpose of a party in thus setting aside a capable 
and good man and substituting another in his place? Simply this: 
the autocrat at ]Sauvoo had declared he wouldn't support him I 
Such was party subserviency. And it is not strange that Smith 
used the power of which he fouiui himself so fully possessed. 

Tiie result was, that the whole Whig ticket was elected by an 
average majority of about 4^00 votes. 

No sooner had tiiese people settled amongst us than they com- 
menced those petty acts of stealing and other depreciations upon 
property whicli wore charged ag}\inst them everywheiv, and which 
were su annoying to their neighbors ami provocative of hostility. 
It M-ili not do to charge that\\ll these ottenses were committed 
by Mormons; some of them were doubtless by otliers on their 
credit; but it is clear that the prophet had among his followers a 
larg-e number who interpreted literally his teachings that the pro]v 
erty of ths Gentiles rightfully belongeii to the Saints, and pr.acti- 
cally carried out the precept. * It is also a notable fact that while 
openly professing a desire to punish all otienses, tlie leaders and 
members generally would screen and protect the guilty. 

These depredations had been going on more or less for a year, 
when an ev»Mit occurred on tiie river below Warsaw which ci-eated 
great excitement. A citizen found in his vicinity a depot of stolen 
goods, a considerable portion of which had been taken from a store 
in Tulh-. Miss-Miri, a few miles further down. Some citizens of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. *273 

that place came over and claimed part of the sjoods, and took them 
away; and tinding ;?ome Mormons in the river bottom hunting 
horses, canght them and took them to Missonri, where they were 
tied to trees and severely beaten. It is claimed that they confessed 
the theft, but this is not certain. This outrage created a great 
sensation at Xauvoo, and throughout the county. A large public 
meeting was held and strong resolutions passed. Shortly after- 
ward, some four or live citizens of Tully, found on this side of 
the river, were arrested and brought before Daniel II. "Wells. Esq., 
of Xauvoo, for examiuatioi), and upon a hearing discharged. Mr. 
Sidney H. Little. "Whig Senator, was employed in the prosecution. 
An envoy was sent by Gov. Carlin to Jetferson City, it was stated, 
to demand the delivery of the Tully culprits, and he returned to 
Quincy stating that they would be given up. But a day or two 
alterward a couple of officers arrived in Quincy i^Gov. Carlin 
resided in that city), armed with a requisition from Gov. Boggs, 
of Missonri, for Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, as fugitives 
from justice in tliat State. So far as now remembered neither of 
these demands was complied with. 

DR. .TOHN C. BENNETT. 

During the summer or fall of 1S4<3, a new star rose upon the 
horizon at ^>auvoo, and shed its light upon the city and people for 
a year or two, and then disappeared. This was no less a personage 
than Dr. John C. Bennett, a man, though small in stature, yet large, 
extremely large, in his own estimation. About the first of October 
he was baptized into the Mormon faith, and at once was taken into 
the confidence of the prophet, and assigned a high rank among 
the leaders. Gov. Ford's notice of this individual is so tersely 
written, and so well accords with the public opinion, that we give 
it in his own language. He says: 

This Bennett was pn>bably the greatest scanip in the Western countrr. I have 
made panicular inqviirios concerning him. and have traced him in several phices, in 
which he has hvevilH?fore he had joined the Mormons.— in Ohio. Indiana, and Illinois. 
— and he vrjv? even-where accoimted the same delv^uched. unprincipled and profligate 
character. He was a man of some httle talent, and had the confidence of the 5lor- 
mons. and particularly that of their leaders. [Hist. III., p. 263. 

To Dr. Bennett was entrusted the duty of procuring from the 
Legislature such charters as they required. Accordingly, at the 
session of 1S-1<)-41. he repaired to Springfield to lobby for that 
purpose. His task was an easy one; botli parties in that body vy- 
ing with ea3h other to obey his behests. He returned about the 
fiKt of January, having secured three charters — one for the "City 
of Xauvoo,'' one for the " University of the City of Xauvoo," and 
a third for the " Xauvo<"> Legion." To Senator Little of Hancock 
county, and to Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, then Secretary of State, it 
is said he was mainly indebted for the liberal and extraordinary 
provisions contained in these charters, though they passed both 
bouses without opposition, and were read only by their titles. 



274 HISTORY OF HANCOCK CCUXTY. 

This act (the three charters were all contained in one act) created 
a " City," a "University," and a '"Military Legion," represented 
respectively by a '" City Council," a " Board of Trustees," and a 
''Court Martial," each of which was invested with legislative, 
judicial and executive powers, the right to *' enact, establish, ordain 
and execute all laws and ordinances not repugnant to the Constitu- 
tion of the United States or of this State." Xo proviso appears in 
the act, guarding against infringement of the laws of either State 
or United States. That very usual proviso in charters seems to 
have been purposely omitted: for it will be found, on examination, 
that in all other charters granted at that session of the General 
Assembly, the laics as well as the Constit>itio7is,^re included in the 
provisos. And yet, as in all probability the charters were the work 
of Bennett himself, the omission may have been accidental on the 
part of our legislators. AVe hope, for the fair fame of the honored 
dead, who were instrumental in procuring these charters, that it 
was so. Yet it is a no less painful fact, that the Judiciary Com- 
mittee, the members generally, and the Governor who signed the 
bill, omitted the performance of a plain duty. 

But this omissi"on was not perhaps the worst feature of the act. 
All three of the charters seem to have been contrived to give the 
Mormons a system of government as far as possible independent 
of the rest of the State. Another provision, having the same pur- 
pose, was afterward added to the charter, by way of amendment, 
passed as a rider to a road law. It provided that '* any citizen of 
Hancock county, may. by voluntary enrollment, attach himself to 
the Xauvoo Legion, with all the privileges which appertain to that 
independent military body." The etfect of this, it will readily be 
seen, was to bring all those brethren who resided out of the city, in 
various parts of the county, into the legion, and under the same 
military control. 

On the 3d of February, ISil, the city of Xauvoo was organized 
under its charter, with Dr. Bennett as its first Mayor. The legion 
and the university were orgt^nized about the same time, with Smith 
as Lieutenant-General and Bennett as Major-General of the legion. 
James Kelley, A. M., '' an alumnus of t'rinity College, Dublin," 
was chosen Chancellor oi^ the university. This last named, we 
think, never occupied the position. One of the first acts ot' the City 
Council was to pass a vote s»f thanks to the State Government for 
favors conferred, and to the citizens of Quincy for the kindness 
shown them when driven from Missouri. The legion was furnished 
with State arms by Gen. Bennett, who, we omitted to state, had 
been appointed Quarter- Master General the year before by Gover- 
nor Carlin. 

Mr. Douglas, who had at the late legislative session been elected 
a Judge of the Supreme Court, and assigned to circuit duty, held 
a court in Hancock county early in May. One of his first acts was 
to appoint Major General Bennet to the ofiice of Master in Chan- 
cery. This act of indiscretion met with unqualified condemnation 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 275 

by people of all parties. It was rebuked by the "Warsaw Signal 
(then the only paper in the county outside of Nauvoo), chiefly for 
the reasons that the appointee was a comparative stranger in the 
county and State, and that the mass of the people had no confidence 
in him. In the same issue of that paper was an editorial stating 
that a rumor existed that the newly arrived emigrants from Eng- 
land were dissatisfied with aftairs at Xauvoo, but that Mr, Rigdon 
had given assurance that the rumor was false. The Signal contin- 
ued as follows: 

But this is no concern of ours. While on the subject, however, we will notice 
an accusation which has been made against us — that of having, for political etfect, 
flattered the Mormons. This is not true. We have occasionally noticed their 
doings, but not with any such design. We believe they have the same rights as 
other religious bodies possess, and ought to be protected in the just and proper 
exercise of those rights. We do not believe in persecution for opinion's sake. 
But whenever they," as a people, step beyond the proper sphere of a religious 
denomination, and become a political body, as many of our citizens are beginning 
to apprehend will be the case, then this press stands pledged to take a stand 
against them. On religious questions it is and shall remain neutral ; but it is 
boimd to oppose the concentration of political power in a religious body, or in the 
hands of a few individuals. 

We copy the foregoing for two reasons: first, because it expresses 
the feeling that pervaded the public mini throughout the county 
at that time, without regard to party distinctions; and, secondly, 
in order to show in what spirit it was received by the prophet. 
Soon afterward the following note was received by Mr. Sharp 
through the mail; 

Nao-oo, III., May 26, ISil. 
3Ir. Sharp, Editor of the Warsaw Signal: 

Sir— You will discontinue my paper: its contents are calculated to pollute me. 
And to patronize that filthy sheet, that tissue of lies, that sink of iniquity, is dis- 
graceful to any moral man. Yours, with utter contempt. 

Joseph Ssirrn. 
P. S. — Please publish the above in your contemptible paper. 

On June 5th. Mr. Smith, being in Quincy, was arrested on a war- 
rant from the Governor, under a requisition from tha Governor of 
Missouri. A writ of habeas coi'pus was at once sued out before 
Calvin A. "NVarren, Esq., Master in Chancery for Adams county. 
But Judge Douglas happened to be in the city, and he ordered 
that the prisoner should be taken before him at Monmouth, where 
his court was to sit on the following Monday. This was done, and 
after a hearing Smith was discharged on the ground that the writ 
had once been returned before it was served, and was functus ojfi- 
cio. There was a strong suspicion among the people, and the charge 
was pretty freely made that this arrest on a defective writ, and dis- 
charge, was all concocted for political effect. Of this we know of 
no existing proof. 

On the 6th of April, the imposing ceremony of laying the corner 
stone of the temple was performed at Xauvoo, in presence of a 
multitude of people, supposed to number seven to ten thousand. 
The legion was ont in full force, amounting to over 6<!i0 men, com- 



276 HISTOEY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

manded by Gen. Bennett, under the direction of the prophet, as 
Lieutenant-GeneraL Sidney Rigdon was the orator of the day. 

On a Sunday about the first of May, Judge Douglas and Cyrus 
Walker, Esq., of Macomb, — notables of the two great parties, 
paid a visit to jSTauvoo and were received with great consideration 
and ceremony. They were each introduced to the congregation 
on the meeting ground, and after being complimented by the 
prophet, made addresses in response. A flattering notice of the 
fact was published by Smith in the next issue of the Times and 
Seasons. 

It is not to be wondered at, after what had transpired among the 
politicians, and the course so evidently to be pursued by Smith and 
the leaders at Nauvoo, that the sober and reflecting citizens of the 
county should become alarmed. And to increase this alarm and 
apprehension, the following appeared in the organ of the Church, 
under date of May 24, 1841: 

TO THE SAINTS ABROAD. 

The First Presidency of tlie Churcli of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, anxious 
to promote the prosperity of said Chm-ch, feel it tlieir duty to call upon the Saints 
who reside out of this county to make preparations to come in, without delay. This 
is important, and should he attended to by all who feel an interest in the prosperity 
of this, the corner stone of Zion. Here the temple must be raised, the university be 
built, and other edifices erected which are necessary for the great work of the last 
days; and which can only be done by a concentration of energy and enterprise. 
Let it therefore be understood, that all the stakes, excepting those in this county, 
and in Lee county, Iowa, are discontinued, and the Saints instructed to settle in this 
county as soon as circumstances will permit. 

Joseph Smith. 

Nauvoo, Hancock Co., 111., May 24, 1841. 

We have heretofore used the word " autocrat," in reference to 
this leader of the Mormon people. Is it an improper term? Did 
ever emperor of Russia claim to exercise such power over his sub- 
jects? Here is an order that the members of his church, wherever 
located, — in the United States, in Great Britain, Germany, India, 
Australia, or the islands of the sea (and he had agents i n all 
these to make proselyte§), no matter what their occupation or con- 
dition in life, and owing allegiance no matter where, — all must 
gather around this new corner stone of Zion, and contribute of 
their energy and enterprise, money, strength, sweat and toil, for 
this great work of the latter days! The mandate was issued as if 
expected to be obeyed ; and it was obeyed. 

In consequence of the growing apprehension, public meetings 
began to be held over the county; and finally it was agreed to call 
a county convention to consider the subject. One was accordingly 
held at Carthage on the 28th of June, composed of citizens of both 
political parties. It was decided to nominate a ticket selected from 
both parties, to be run at the approaching August election. This 
was done, Robert Miller, a Whig, and Richard Wilton, a Democrat, 
being selected for County Commissioner and School Commissioner, 
and elected, the first by 114, and the last by 4 votes. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 277 

From this convention, and it was one of the most respectable 
and earnest ever held in the county, may be dated the rise of the 
Anti-Mormon party, and the urijjjin of the term "Anti-Mormon," 
as applied to those who were seeking to counteract Mormon influ- 
ence in the county and State. One or two of the resolutions 
passed at this convention will not be out of place liere. They 
resolved: 

That with the peculiar religious opinions of the people calling themselves Mormons, 
or Latter-Day Saints, we have nothing to do.— being at all times perfectly willing 
that they shall remain in the full possession of all the rights and privileges which our 
Constitution and laws guarantee and other citizens enjoy. 

That in standing up as we do to oppose the influence which these people have 
obtained and are hkely to obtain, in a political capacity, over our fellow citizens and 
their liberties, we are guided only by a desire to defend ourselves against a despotism, 
the extent and consequences of which we have no means of ascertaining. 

The convention also put forth an earnest address to the people, 
urging them to la}' aside all party differences and support the 
ticket. 

In justice to Mr. Walter Bagby, Mr. Wilton's opponent for 
School Commissioner, it is proper to state that he was an old 
citizen and in no way identified with the Mormons, and in after 
years became a zealous Anti-Mormon. 

The Mormons cast their votes nearly solid for the Harrison 
electors, and for John T. Stuart, the Whig candidate for Congress. 

About this time, Mr. William Harris, a seceding Mormon elder, 
appeared in the county and lectured against them at several points. 
He was not a man of much talent, but by his zeal and energy, he 
succeeded in stirring up considerable opposition. He also issued 
a pamphlet exposing them, which was printed at the office of the 
Warsaw Signal. 

Few of the people of Warsaw at tlie present day kno-w how near 
their pleasant little city came to being made a Mormon town. During 
the summer of 1841, the owners of the sixteenth (school) section' 
lying adjoining town on the south, opened negotiations with Smith 
for the sale of said section to the Mormons; and on the 19th of 
July, the prophet, with Gen. Bennett and several other leaders, 
appeared to take a look at the tract and conclude the bargain. It 
was reported that the bargain was consummated, and that it was the 
intention to have the ground survej'cd and a large colony located 
at once. The name was also said to have been selected — the '" City 
of Warren, " in honor of Calvin A. Warren, Esq., now of Quincy, 
one of the principal owners. But for some cause the negotiation 
was broken oflF, and Warsaw escaped the fate of being merged into 
a Mormon city. In discussing names for the new town, the Signal 
suggested that it be called " Money-Diggersville." 

On the 10th of August occurred one of those events which so 
often happen to change the current of aftairs. We allude to the 
death of Hon. Sidney II. Little, Senator of this District in the 
Legislature. Mr. Little was a man of tine talents, stood high in 
the estimation of the peojile, and had great magnetic power over 



278 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COTINTT. 

all with whom he came in contact. He was an ardent Whig and a 
popular leader among them; and had already acquired an enviable 
distinction in the Legislature. The Mormons felt grateful to him 
for what he had done; and had he lived, he would doubtless have 
possessed much influence over them for good. But as the dissatis- 
faction increased among the old citizens, Mr. Little saw the delicate 
position in which he was placed, and sought to devise means to 
avert the coming troubles. To a near friend, he even expressed a 
thought of leaving the county; but this we do not believe he 
would have done. What course he would have pursued, had he 
lived through the years of disorder which followed, is only for an 
inscrutable Providence to know; but we feel sure that had Sidney 
H. Little been permitted to remain among us, his fertile genius 
and commanding talent would have found for the county a better 
way out of her difliculties than that she found and adopted. 

THEFT DENOUNCED. 

We have charged that the rank and file of the Mormon brother- 
hood were prone to commit depredations on their neighbors' 
property, and especially to screen from arrest and punishment 
those charged with such offences. They had high authority for 
such practices — that of the leaders themselves. It is well known 
that in those days there was no legal title to be obtained to the 
half-breed lands lying in Lee county, Iowa, opposite Kauvoo — 
what title there was, being undivided among several hundred 
claimants whose interests had never been adjudicated. These 
leaders obtained a lot of the pretended claims, on which they issued 
scrip, which was placed in the hands of proselyting elders East. 
And, as all new converts were required to emigrate to Nauvoo, it 
was sometimes difficult to sell property at home in order to get 
away. So this scrip was passed to them in exchange, they deeding 
their good titles for a worthless title in Iowa. How many thou- 
sands thus went into the coffers of the First Presidency may never 
be known ; but that they were largely replenished in that way there 
is abundant proof. 

But if any believe that the Mormon leaders inculcated theft, let 
them be undeceived. Here is direct testimony to the contrary, 
submitted in all solemnity. We quote from Times and Seasons of 
Dec. 1, 1841 : 

HTEUM smith's AFFIDAVIT. 

Whereas, It hath been intimated to mo l)y persons of credibility that there are 
persons in the surromiding country who profess to be members of the Chm-ch of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, wlio have been using their influence and endeav- 
ors to instill into the minds of good and worthy citizens in the State of Illinois, 
and the adjoining States, that the First Presidency, and others in authority and high 
standing in said Church, do sanction and approbate the members of said Church in 
stealing property from those persons who do not belong to said Chm-ch, and thereby 
to induce persons to aid and abet them in the act of stealing, and other evil practices. 
I therefore hereby disavow any sanction or approbation by me, of the crime of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 281 

tlieft. or any other evil practice, in any person or persons whatever, whereby either 
the lives or property of our f cllow-mon may be unlawfully taken or molested ; neither 
are such things sjinctioned or approbatecl by the First Presidency, or any other 
person in authority or good standing in said Church, but sucli acts are altogether in 
violation of the rales, order, ami regulations of the Churcli, contrary to the teachings 
given in said Chiu-ch, and the laws of both God and man. I caution the unwary, 
who belong to the aforesaid Church, and all other persons, against being duped, or 
led into any act or scheme whicli may endanger their character, lives, or property, 
or bring reproach upon the Church: ;ind I certify that I hold ray person and property 
ready to support the laws of the land, in the tletection of any person or persons who 
may commit any breach of the same. To which I subscribe my name and testify, 
this 36th day of November, 1841. IIvHrM S.mith. 

Sworn to, and subscribed before me, this 36th day of November, 1841. 

E. Robinson, J. P. 

Then follows a long address from the Twelve, from which we 
copy only the concluding paragraph: 

We hope that what we have written may suffice, and take this opportunity of 
expressing our decided and miqualified disapprobation of anj-thing like theft, in all 
its bearings, as being calculated to destroy the peace of society, to injure the Church 
of Jesus Chi'ist, to woiuid the character of the people of God, and to stamp with 
eternal infamj^ all who follow such cUabolical practices, to blast their character on 
earth, and to consign them to eternal perdition. 



(Signed) 



Nauvoo, 111., Dec. 1, 1841. 



BRiC4nAM YoFNG, Orson Hyde, 

Hebek C. Kimball, William Smith, 

Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, 

John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, 

WiLLARD Richards, John Taylor, 

Lyman Wright, Geo. A. Smith. 



Then follows another affidavit from President J. Smith, without 
doubt in his own language and of his own composition: 

City of Nafvoo, III., ) 
Nov. 30, A. D., 1841. ]" 
To THE Public: — The transpiration of recent events makes it criminal in me to 
remain longer silent. The tongue of the vile yet speaks, and sends forth the poison 
of asps: the ears of the spoiler yet hear, and he puts forth his hand to iniquity. It 
has been proclaimed upon the house-top and in the secret chamber, in the iiublic 
walks and private circle, throughout the length and breadth of this vast continent, 
that stealing by the Latter-Day Saints has receiveil my approval ; nay, that I have 
taught the doctrine, encouraged them in plunder, and led on the van — than which 
nothing is more foreign from my heart. I disfellowship the perpetrators of all such 
abominations; they are devils and not saints, totall}' unfit for the society of Cliris- 
tians or men. It is true, that some professing to be Latter-Day Saints have taught 
such vile heresies, but all are not Israel that are of Israel : and I wish it to be dis- 
tinctly understood in all coming time, that the Church over which I have the honor 
of presiding will ever set its brows like brass, and its face like steel, against all such 
abominable acts of villainy and crime ; and to this end I append my aflidavit of dis- 
avowal, taken this day before General Bennett, that there may be no mistake here- 
after as to my real sentiments, or those of the leaders of the Churcli, in relation to 
this important matter : 

STATE OF ILLINOIS, \ 
Hancock County. >^ 

Before me, John C. Bennett, Mayor of the City of Nauvoo, personally came Joseph 
Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly 
called Mormons), who, being duly swoni according to law, deposeth mid saith, that 
he has never directly or indirectly encouraged the purloining of property, or taught 
the doctrine of stealing, or any other evil practice, and that all such vile and unlaw- 
18 



282 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

ful acts will ever receive his unqualified and unreserved disapproval, and the most 
vigorous opposition of the Church over which he presides, and further this deponent 
saith not. 

Joseph Smith, 
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 
Sworn to, and subscribed before me, at my office in the City of Nauvoo, this 
39th day of November, Anno Domini, 1841. 

John C. Benxett, 
]\Iaj'or of the City of Nauvoo." 

Now, it is to be hoped that none will hereafter be so reckless as to state that I. or 
the church to which I belong, approve of thieving, but that all the friends of law 
and order will join in ferreting out thieves wherever and whenever they may be 
fomid, and assist in bringing them to that condign punishment which such infamous 
crimes so richly merit. Joseph Smith, 

President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Daj' Saints. 

And now the Legion is after the thieves: 

CouKT Martial. 

City of Nal'VOo, III., Nov. 30, 1841. 
To Brevet-Ma j. -Gen. Wilson Law: — We, the undersigned, members of the Gen- 
eral Court Martial, detailed by you on the order of Lt.-Gen. Smith, through Maj.- 
Gen. Bennett, for the trial of David Smith and Joseph Holbrook, officers of the 
Nauvoo Legion, charged with theft, and being accessory thereto, are of the opinion 
that they are guilty of the charges preferred against them, and our imauimbus 
decision is that they be cashiered, and their names be stricken from the rank roll. 
Witness against David Smith — Hazen Kimball. 
Witnesses against Joseph Holbrook — B. Young and W. Richards. 

Hyrum Smith, Brev.-Maj.-Gen., 

President of the Court. 
Wm. Law, Brev.-Maj.-Gen. 
C. C. Rich, Brig. Gen. 2d Cohort. 
H. McFall, Adj. Gen. 
Daniel H. Wells, Com. Gen. 
S. Bext, Col. 3d Reg. 3d Cohort. 
T. Billings, Col. 1st Reg. 3d Cohort. 
J. T. Barnett, Capt. 3d Co. 1st Reg. 3d Ct. 
Members of the Comt. 
To Mqj. Gen. Bennett: — I approve of the above decision, and sulimit it to you for 
your action on the case. 

Wilson Law, Brev.-Maj.-Gen. 

To Lt.-Gen. Smith:— The General Court-Martial detailed for the trial of David 
Smith and Joseph Holbrook, officers of the Nauvoo Legion, have made the above 
report to me, and asked my concm-rence in the same, which, under the circum- 
stances, can not be withheld : it is, therefore, submitted to you for your final 
approval or disapproval. 

John C. Bennett, Maj.-Gen. 

Approved: Joseph Smith, Lt.-Gen. 

About the first of April, 1842, a weekly paper was establislied 
at Nauvoo, under the editorial management of the " Patriarch " 
William Smith, a brother to the prophet. This new sheet was 
entitled The Wasp, from which we are to infer that it M^as 
regarded as a stinger by its conductor ; but for illiterate and vul- 
gar abuse and sillj nonsense, it has never been excelled perhaps in 
the State. The prophet in his youth had been pronounced the 
" genus " of the family, so " Bill Smith," as he was always called, 
was generally regarded as the fool of the family. Nevertheless, 
he had sense enough to aspire to political honors, and he was placed 
on the fusion ticket for one of the members of the Legislature and 
elected. 



IIISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 283 

Late in 1S41, the Democratic part}^ in State Convention, had 
nominated Hon. Adam W. Sn^^der for Governor; ex-Governor 
Joseph Dnncan being the candidate of the Wliigs. But Mr. 
Snyder died, and Judge Ford was nominated to take his place. 
Early in 1842, the prophet issued a proclamation enjoining his fol- 
lowers to sup^wrt the Democratic nominees. Yet still, it was 
policy to divide and distract the anti-Mormon party in the county. 
This party held a convention, and placed a ticket in the field, as 
follows, selected from each of the political parties, viz: 

For Senator— Wm. H. Roosevelt. 
For Representatives — Wesley Williams, 

Edson Whitney. 
For Sheriff— Stephen H. Tyler. 
For County Gomrnissionev — John J. Brent. 
For School Commissioner — Wm. D. Abernetliy. 
For Coroner — Benjamin Avise. 

Notwithstanding the proclamation, many political aspirants of 
both parties, believing they could secure the Mormon vote, were 
induced to run as independent candidates; but the result was the 
election of all the regular Democratic nominees by majorities of 
800 to 1,000 votes. The official vote will be found elsewhere. The 
following is the county ticket elected: 

Sennior — Jacob Cimningham Davis. 
Representatives — Thomas H. Owen, 

William Smith. 
Sheriff'— Wm. H. Backenstos. 
County Commissioner — John T. Barnett. 
School Comm issioner — Franklin J. Bartlett. 
Coroner — George W. Stigall. 

QUARREL AMONG THE CHIEFS. 

During the summer of 1842, a quarrel sprung up between the 
two great leaders in Nauvoo, — Lieutenant-General Joseph Smith 
and Major-General John C. Bennett. The causes of this quarrel 
were never fully known to the public, but are believed to have 
originated in jealousy. The city, though large and rapidly grow- 
ing, was not large enough for them both. Bennett had fast risen 
to power and greatness, through the munificence of the State Gov- 
ernment and the favoritism of the Mormon people; and his ambi- 
tion demanded a greater share of the honoi'S and profits than the 
prophet was willing to yield him. Though, from the published 
articles on the subject from both sides, it looks as though there 
may have been a woman or two in it. As they had been close 
friends before, so now they became vindictive and bitter enemies. 
But, as was usual. Smith held the reins of power. The Lieutenant- 
General out-generaled the Major-General with the masses, and the 
latter was compelled to leave the city. He who had, within the 
year or two, held many of the most important offices in the city 
government, legion and university, was expelled — or he seceded — 
and began at once to expose the wrongs 'and wickedness perpe- 



284 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

trated amon^ them. Several other leaders, and prominent men at 
the same time, manifested a rebellions spirit — among the rest, Sid- 
ney Kigdon, Orson Pratt, George W. Robinson, the Higbees, Wil- 
liam Marks, etc. The power of the prophet restrained all these, 
however, and Bennett alone w'as tnrned over to the bnff'eting^ ot 
Satan. 

Bennett at once left the city, and from Carthage and other 
points began a series of letters in the Sangamo Journal, the Whig 
organ at Springfield. These letters w^ere widely read and com- 
mented on. They are interesting for many reasons. 1. They 
exhibit in strong light the character of Bennett himself. 2. 
Whether he is to be regarded as worthy of full credence or not, 
they portray the workings of that semi-theocratic system which pre- 
vailed at Nanvoo; and 3. They give ns an idea of the sort of 
people he had been associating with, and the motives which actuated 
them and him. As literary productions they are weak and in bad 
taste; but w^e tliink a portion is worthy of introduction here. We 
copy from his letter, dated — 

"Carthage, Hancock Co., July 3, 1843. 
To the Editor of the Journal: 

I am now in tliis place to attend to some of my official duties as IMaster in Chan- 
cery, and having some leisui-e time, I shall proceed with my history of Joe Smith 
and the Saints. It is my determination to state facts, and such facts as will 
arouse the public indignation, if there is yet virtue and corn-age left in man— for 
we are exhorted to be enterprising and courageous — but the hea^t and false prophet 
(Joe Smith) shall tremble in the days of his captivity like an aspen leaf in the wil- 
derness. The " Lord's annointed," as Joe is called, must be washed in the laver of 
the law, until his polluted carcass and corrupt soul be purified by fire. And to 
begin : 

1st. The Duresse.— On the 17th day of May, A. D. 1843, Joe Smith requested 
to see me alone in the preparation room of* the Nauvoo Lodge, U. D. , on some 
important business. We entered, and he locked the door, put the key in his pocket, 
and drew a pistol on me and said : ' ' The peace of my family requires that you should 
sign an affidavit, and make a statement before the next City Council, on the 19th, 
exonerating me from all participation whatever, either directly or indirectly, in word 
or deed, in the spiritual wife doctrine, or private intercourse with females in gen- 
eral; and if you do not do it, with apparent cheerfulness, I will make cat-fish bait 
of you, or deliver you to the Danites for execution to-night ; for my dignity and 
piu-ity must and shall be maintained before the public, even at the expense of life. 
Will you do it, or die?" I replied that he had better procure some other person, or 
persons, to do so, as there were a plenty who could cto it, in truth. "No," said he, 
"that will not do ; for it is known that you are well acquainted with all my private 
acts, better than any other man ; and it is in your power to save me or damn me ; 
and as you have now withdrawn from the Church in an honorable manner, over my 
own signatm-e, a privilege never gi-anted to any other person, you must and shall 
place it out of your power to injm-e me or the Chm-ch. Do it, or the Mississippi is 
yoiu- portion: will you do it ? " 

I remarked that it was a hard case, and that I would leave peaceably, and without 
any public exposition, if he would excuse me. He replied : "I tell you, as I was 
once told, ' Your die is cast, your fate is fixed, your doom is sealed,' if you refuse. 
Will you do it, or die ? " I remarked that I would, mader the circumstances, but 
that it was hard to take the advantage of an unarmed man. " If you tell that pub- 
licly," said he, "death is your portion— remember the Danites!'''' He then unlocked 
the door, we went into the room below, and I gave the affidavit as subscribed before 
Alderman Wells (who was then doiu'r business in the lower room), and made the 
statement required before the City Council on the 19th. I was not aware, until Smi- 
day last, that any other person was apprised of the fact of the threat of murder, but 
on that day Col.^Franci-5 M. Higbee told me, in the presence of Geo. W. Robinson, 



IIISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 285 

that if it came to tlie worst, he was in possession of a secret that would open the 
ej'es of the people, and that he would tile his affidavit if necessar}- ; but he would 
not tell nie what the secret was. Gen. Robinson, however, informed me afterwards 
that it was a knowledge of Joe's threats of murder. On the 30th of June, 1842, I 
called upon Col. Higbee for his affidavit, which was taken before Ctcu. Hiram Kimball, 
an Alderman of the city, and is in the following words, to-wit : 

"STATE OF ILLINOIS,), 
Hancock County, j" " 
Personall}' appeared before me, Hiram Kimball, an Alderman of the city of 
Nauvoo, Francis j\I. Higbee, who, being dulj' sworn according to law, deposeth and 
sayeth, that Joseph Smith told him that John C. Bennett could lie easily put aside 
or'ch'owued, and no person would be the wiser for it, and that it ought to be attended 
to ; and he further remarked, that the sooner this was done, the better for the Church, 
fearing, as he said, that Bennett would make some disclosures prejudicial to said 
Smith. This was about the time of Bennett's withdrawal from the Church, or a 
short time before ; and further this deponent saith not. 

Feancis M. Higbee. 

Sworn to and subscribed, this 30th day of June, A. D. 1843. 

Hiram Kimball, Alderman." 

My affidavit and statement, under Duresse, were published in the Nauvoo Wasp 
of the 25th of June, 1842. Is it not high time that this band of murderers should be 
made to feel the just penalty of the law? It is certainlj' a most alarming state of 
society when men are above the reach of law, and free to perpetrate the blackest 
crimes of cruelty and oppression. All this in a land of boasted freedom! Great 
God! where is the arm of power? Where is libert}^ and the rights of man? Arise, 
}'e officers of justice, and assert the majestj' of your insulted laws. Let the sound of 
the clarion give the alarm ! and horsemen and chariots will tell the storj^, until one 
stone shall not be left upon another, or a vestige of iniquity and crime to pollute the 
goodly land. 

2d. Tlie Fulfillment of Propheci/. — In 1841, Joe Smith predicted or prophe- 
sied, in a public congregation in Nauvoo, that Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-Governor of 
Missouri, should die by violent hands within one year. From one to two months 
prior to the attempted assassination of Gov. Boggs, Mr. O. P. Rockwell left Nauvoo 
for parts unknown to the citizens at large. I was then on terms of close intimacy 
with Joe Smith, and asked him where Rockwell had gone. ' ' Gone ?" said he — ' 'gone 
TO FULFILL PROPHECY !" Rockwcll returned to Nauvoo the day before the report of 
the assassination readied there, and the Nauvoo Waap remarkied : "It yet remains 
to be known who did the noble deed." Rockwell remarked to a person now in Nau- 
voo, and whose name I forbear to mention for the present, from motives of prudence 
and safety of the person, but which shall be forthcoming in due time, that he had 
" been all over upper Missouri, and all al)out where Boggs lives ;" and this was com- 
municated to me by that person before I withch'ew from the Church, and we had con- 
siderable conversation upon that daring act. Rockwell is a Danite. Joe's imblic mem- 
ory is very treacherous on this subject, I presume; but his pr/'vutemcmory is so good he 
keeps a guard around his house every night, with the State cannon and a full supply of 
small arms, for the protection of his person against any attempted arrest. He like- 
wise requested me to write to Gov. Carlin for his protection, which I agreed to do; 
arid accordingly did, asking the Governor whether he would be protected from any 
illegal act of violence ; to which the Governor replied that all citizens should receive 
equal protection, but that he knew of no privileged man, or order of men, and that 
the dignit}' of the State should be preserved according to the strict letter of the Con- 
stitution and the laws. This letter I refused to .show to Joe, as open hostilities had 
commenced between us ; and lie accordingly detailed a court-martial to try me for 
treason against the citizens of the State of Illinois ! I ! This C^ourt I regarded as ille- 
gal, and treated it with that utter contempt which such an assemblage of inferior 
officers will always receive iit my hands. Now, I call upon Col. Francis M. Higbee 
to come out and tell what he told Gen. RoVniison and mj'self, in relation to the mur- 
der of a certain pri.soner in Missouri. Col. Higbee, do not fear to tell the dreadful 
storj- ; tell exactly how Joe had the murder done up, and what part he ordered you 
to take in the aifair, but which you did not take. Tell it as Robinson knows it, and 
as you told me, and do not fear. Gov. Reynolds will make another demand, and Joe 
shall be delivered over. I will visit Missouri and tell the tlreatlful story. Let the 
call be made, and the laws shall be executed. 



286 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. " 

3d. My Late Visit to Spring-field.— On my arrival in Carthage, I found, as all the 
citizens well know, that I was followed by Mr. O. P. Rockwell, a Danite, who, on 
his arrival late iu the night, made strict inquiries as to where I was : liis ostensible 
business was to put a letter in the post office ! ! but judge ye the real design. I was 
prepared for the gentleman, and he approached me not ; but another swift rider, 
Capt. John D. Parker, another Danite, followed me to Springfield, to carry a letter 
to Dr. Helm ; but he had another object, and you may well suppose what it was. I 
told Capt. Parker that I was aware of his object, but I feared him not. At Virginia, 
in Cass county, on my retm-n, Parker met me again, and I called the attention of the 
stage ch-iver to him, who thereupon put two additional balls into his pistol, and then 
informed me he was ready for him or any other person having the same object in 
view. 3Iany of the Dauites have been around me in Nauvoo, for the purpose of 
secret murder, in order to save the arch-impostor Joe from public infamy. , 

4th. Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, wife of Professor Orson Pratt, of the University of 
Nauvoo. — Joe Smith stated to me at an early day in the history of that city, that he 
intended to make that amiable and accomplished lady one of his spiritual wives, for 
the Lord had given her to him; and he requested me to assist him in consummating 
his hellish pm-poscs; but I told him that I would not do it; that she had been much 
abused and neglected by the Church during the absence of her husbaiul in Europe, 
and that if the Lord had given her to him he must attend to it himself. ' ' I will do it," 
said he, "for there is no harm in it if her husband should never find it out." I called 
upon Mrs. Pratt and told her that Joe contemplated an attack upon her virtue, ' ' in 
the name of the Lord," and that she must prepare to repulse him in so infamous an 
assault. She replied : "Joseph can ,not be such a man; I can not believe it until I 
know it for myself, or have it from his own lips; he can not be so corrupt." "Well," 
I replied, "you will see, unless he changes his mind." Accordingly in a few days 
Joe proposed to me to go to Ramus witli him. I consented to go, and we started 
from the house about four o'clock, p. m., rode into the prairie a few miles, and 
returned to the house of Capt. John T. Barnett, in Nauvoo, about dark, where we 
put up the horse with Barnett's permsssion. He, Joe, pretended we were looking 
for thieves. We then proceeded to the house where Mrs. Pratt resided, and Joe 
commenced discom-se as follows: "Sister Pratt, the Lord has given you to me as 
one of my spiritual wives. I have the blessings of Jacob granted me, as he granted 
holy men of old, and I have long looked upon you with favor, and hope you will not 
deny me." She replied: "I care not for the blessings of Jacob, audi believe no 
such revelations; neither will I consent under any circumstances. I have one good 
husband, and that is enough for me." Joe could not come it! He then went ofE to 

see Miss , at the house of Mrs. Sherman. He remained with her an hour or 

two, and then returned to Barnett's, harnessed our horse, started for Ramus, and 
arrived at Carthage at early breakfast. We then went to Ramus, and returned to 
Carthage that night, and put up at the house of Esq. Comer. Next day we returned 
to Nauvoo. I called on ]Mrs. Pratt and asked her what she thought of Joseph. 
She replied: "He is a bad man, beyond a doubt." Mrs. Pratt, in a conversation 
with Mrs. Goddard, wife of Stephen H. Goddard, said: "Sister Goddard, Joseph 
is a corrupt man; I know it, for he made an attempt upon me." Three times 
afterward he tried to convince ]Mrs. Pratt of the propriety of his doctrine, and she 
at last told him : "Joseph, if you ever attempt anything of this kind with me again, 
I will tell Mr. Pratt on his return home; I will certainly do it." Joe replied, 
"Sister Pratt, I hope you will not expose me; if I am to suffer, all suffer; so do 
not expose me. Will you agree not to do so?" "If," said she, "you will never 
insult me again, I will not expose you, unless strong circumstances require it." 

"Well, Sister Pratt," says Joe, "as you have refused me, it becomes sin, unless 
sacrifice is offered;" and turning to me, he said, "General, if you are my friend, I 
wish you to procure a lamb, and have it slain, and sprinkle the door-posts and the 
gate with its blood, and take the kidneys and the entrails and offer them upon an 
altar of twelve stones that have not been touched with a hammer, as a burnt offering, 
and it will save me and my priesthood. Will you do it?" "I will," I replied. So I 
prociu-ed the lamb from Capt. John T. Barnett,* and it was slain by Lieut. Stephen 
H. Goddard, and I offered the kidneys and entrails a sacrifice for Joe, as he desired; 
and Joe said, "All is now safe: the destroying angel will pass over without harming 

* We have the authority of Capt. Barnett for the statement that Benrett's story is true, so 
far ai to the procuring of a lamb from him. The lamb was obtainRd by Bennett. The Captaiu 
wondering what he desisrced doing with if. ('a* t. R. now re-^ide- :ir (Ja'' s'MUtj, 111. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 287 

any of us." Time passed on in apparent friendsliip, until Joe grossly insulted Mrs. 
Pratt again, after her husband had returned home, l)y approacliiug and kissing her. 
This highly offended her, and she told Mr. Pratt, who was much enraged, and went 
and told Joe never to offer an insult of the like again. Joe replied: "I clid not 
desire to kiss her; Bennett made me do it." Joe, you can't come it! Mrs. Pratt is 
far above yom- foul and polluted breath, your calumny and detraction. I now appeal 
to Mrs. Pratt, if tliis is not true to the very letter. Just speak out boldly. 

5th. Miss Xdjicy liiridoa, daughter of Sidney Rigdon, Esq. — [A story of a simi- 
lar attempt on^Miss Rigdon, in which General Bennett and Col. F. M. Higbee inter- 
fere, and she is saved.] 

*************** 

7th. I will now append my own affidavit : 
STATE OF ILLINOIS, >_ 
Hancock County. j" **' 

Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of the Peace in and 
for said county, John C. Bennett, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposeth 
and saith, that the affidavit taken before Esquire Wells, on the 17th of May, and 
the statement before the City Comicil of Nauvoo, on the 19th, as published in the 
Wdiij) of [the 2.5th of June, 1842, are false, and were taken under durcasp, as stated 
in this letter * * * John C. Bennett. 

Sworn to and subscribed, this 3d day of July, 1842. 

Samuel Marshall, J. P. [l. s.] 

Bennett's third letter to the Sangamo Journal is devoted largely 
to an expose of Smith's action as trustee for the Church, and in 
taking the benefit of the bankrupt law. He concludes as follows: 

Come out, gentlemen, and renounce and denounce Joseph Smith, that soul-damn- 
ing impostor. Come out now, or bow down and lick the dust, worship at his shrine, 
and chain your fate to the wheels of damnation and the car of iniquity. The issue is 
made up; it can not be averted ; and I pray God that the "bitter cup may not pass." 
You all, with Francis M. Higbee, Geo. W. Robinson, Chauncey L. Higbee, Henry 
Marks, and hundreds of others, know that I have told the unvarnished truth, and the 
people at large will believe me, though I have not yet told half the dreadful story ! 
Come out from among the imgodly, and be ye separate. Gen. Robinson writes mider 
date of July 3d : Joe says to the people : " Look out ! look out ! These men, I will 
venture to say, will come out ou me with all their power, and say and do all they can 
to put me down ; but do not believe one word of their cm-sed lies ; for I know I am a 
prophet." Yes, and Pratt, and Rigdon, and Roljinson, and the Higbees, and the 
Marks, and hundreds of others, know you to be a liar, Joe; and Pratt and others 
have told you so in the face of open day. You lied in the name of the Lord ! Re- 
member that, you base blasphemer ! remember that and weep ! Look at your black 
catalogue of crimes, yom- seductions in the name of your ]Maker, your robberies, and 
your mm-ders! Why, Satan blushes to behold so corrupt and loathsome a mortal, — 
one whose daring deeds of crime so far smpass hell's darkest councils, as to hide the 
sable Prince in impenetrable darkness forever. * * * 

I am going over to Missouri to have Joe taken to justice; and then I am going to 
New York to publish a l)ook to be called " The History of the Saints," in which I 
shall tell most of the actings and doings at Nauvoo for the last two years — of most of 
their great men, and some of their great women, too. So, look out for ])reakers. 
We shall have full disclosures, if the Danites don't catch me ; they are after me like 
prowling wolves, by Joe's special orders. In haste, Yours respectfully, 

John C. Bennett. 

An apology may seem necessary for occupying so much of our 
space with this man's braggadocio letters; but it should be remem- 
bered that he was for more than a year the second man in position 
in the city and in the Church ; that he had during that time the full 
confidence of the prophet and liis people; and more, that he v/as an 
officer by appointment of the Governor of the State and a Judge of 



28S IIISTOKY OF HANCOCK COU^'TY. 

the Circuit Court. That he M'as a weak man and a knave, his own 
conduct and expose abundantly prove; and it is left for the public 
to decide how far his statements are to be relied on. Notwith- 
standing his urgent appeals, he failed to carry with him the men 
to whom thev were made; though it is to be noted that, within the 
next two years, they all, or nearly all, seceded from the Church, and 
by their course brought about the events which ended in the 
prophet's death. 

We have been utterly unable to obtain possession of the Wasp, 
the Nauvoo paper of that period. The Mormon side in the con- 
troversy, it is remembered, was not left behind in the use of "names" 
and invective. Su that about the proper conclusion for the outside 
public to adopt, was to believe both sides — a conclusion which time 
has onl}^ strengthened. 

FURTHER REQUISITIONS. 

In August of this year a new demand was made for both Smith 
and Kockwell, and sent to Gov. Carlin, at Quincy, who issued a 
warrant for their arrest, which was placed in the hands of an 
ofticer during the week after the election. He repaired to Nauvoo, 
and on Monday, the 8th, made the arrests without difiiculty. The 
prisoners were immediately taken on a writ of haheas corpus issued 
by the Municipal Court, brought before that body and at once dis- 
charged. The officer insisting that the Court had no jurisdiction, 
and that the discharge was illegal, it was agreed by Smith, that if 
the writ should be returned to the Governor, with the indorsement 
that the prisoners had been discharged b}' the Municipal Council, 
he would hold himself in readiness to obey, if the Governor should 
again send for him. The officer hereupon returned to Quincy, but 
was dispatched back hy the Executive with orders to re-arrest at all 
hazards. In tlie meantime Smith had taken legal counsel,. and 
when the officer returned had disappeared. It is believed that he 
was hid in the city. The name of Rockwell seems somehoM' to 
have been dropped. AVhy no eflbrt was ever made to procure 
Rockwell, who was clearly amenable to the laws of Missouri, is not 
well understood. 

"We find an ordinance of the City Council, dated the Sth of August, 
the day of the arrest, but whether passed in anticipation of that 
event, or subsequent to it, and to guard against the future, does 
not appear. It is evident, however, that whether discharged by 
virtue of it, or before its passage, the discharge was in any case 
flagrantly illegal. — [For this ordinance see sub-head, " Charter and 
Ordinances, further on."] 

Gov. Ford says: 

As I before said. Gov. Carlin, in 1842, had issued his warrant for 
the ari-est of Joe Smith, the prophet, as a fugitive from justice in 
Missouri. This warrant had never been executed, and was still 
outstanding when I came into office. The Mormons were desirous 
of having the cause of arrest legally tested in the Federal Court. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 289 

Upon their application a duplicate warrant was issued in the winter 
of 1842-3, and ])laeed in the hands of tlie Sheriff of Sangamon 
county. Upon tliis Joe Smith came to Springfield and surren- 
dered himself a prisoner. A writ of habeas corpus was obtained 
from Judge Pope of the Federal Court, and Smith was discharged." 
—[Ford's Hist. Ill, p. 314. 

As much controversy has been had in regard to the discharge 
from this arrest l)y Judge Pope, it is proper that we should give 
the basis of the arrest, and the Judge's reasons for the discharge of 
the prisoner. The following are the official papers in the case: 

STATE OF :\riSSOURI, >_ 

County of Jackson, j" 

This day personally appeared before me, Samuel Weston, a Justice of the Peace 
within and forthe county of Jackson, the subscriber, Lilburn W. Bogies, whobeingduly 
swoni, doth depose and say, that on thenight of theOthdayof May, 18fe, while sitting iu 
his dwelling in the town of Independence, in the county of Jackson, he was shot with 
intent to kill, and that his life was despaired of for several daj's : and that he believes, 
and has good reason to believe, from evidence and information now in his possession, 
that Joseph Smith, commonly called the 3Iormon prophet, was accessory before the 
fact of the intended murder ; and that the said Joseph Smith is a citizen or resident 
of the State of Illinois; and that the said deponent hereby applies to the Governor 
of the State of iVIissouri to make a demand on the Governor of the State of Illinois, 
to deliver the said Joseph Smith, commonly called the Mormon prophet, to some 
person authorized to receive and convey him to the State and county aforesaid, there 
to be dealt with according to law. 

Lilburn W. Boggs. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 20th day of July, 1842. 

Samuel Weston, J. P. 

Tlie- Governor of the State of Missouri to the Governor of the State of Illinois — 

Greeting : 

Whereas, It appears by the annexed document, which is hereby certified to be 

authentic, that one Joseph Smith is a fugitive from justice, charged with being 

accessory before the fact, to an assault with intent to kill, made by one O. P. Rock- 

• well, on Lilburn W. Boggs, in this State; and it is represented to the Executive 

Department of this State, lias fled to the State of Illinois; 

Now, therefore, I, Thomas Reynolds, Governor of the said State of Missouri, by 
virtue of the authority in me vested by the Constitution and laws of the United 
States, do by these presents, demand the surrender and delivery of the said Joseph 
Smith to Edward R. Ford, who is hereby appointed as the agent to receive -the said 
Joseph Smith on the part of the State. In testimony, etc. 

The People of the State of Illinois to the Sheriff of Sanf/amon county — Greeting: 
Whereas, It has been made known to meby the Executive authority of the State of 
Missouri, that one Joseph Smith stands charged by the affidavit of one Lilburn W. 
Boggs, made on the 20th day of July, 1842, at the 'county of Jackson in the State of 
Missouri, before Samuel AVcston, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of 
Jackson aforesaid, with being accessory before the fact to an a.ssault with intent to 
kill, made by one O. P. Rockwell on Lilburn W. Boggs, on the night of the 6th 
day of ]\Iay. 1842, at the county of Jackson, in said State of Mis.souri, and that the 
said Joseph Smith had fled from the justice of said State and taken refuge in the 
State of Illinois : 

Now, therefore, I, Thomas Ford, Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, and of this State, do hereby command 
you to arrest and apprehend the said Joseph Smith, if he be found within tlie limits 
of the State aforesaid, and cause him to be safely kept and delivered to the custody 
of Edward \\. Ford, who has been duly constituted the agent of the said State of 
Missouri to receive said fugitive from the justice of said State, he paying all fees and 
charges for the arrest and apjirehension of said Joseph Smith, and make due return 
to the Executive Department of this State, the manner in which this writ may be 
executed. In testimony whereof, etc. 



290 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

And now, at the distance of over a third of a century from these 
events, and regarding these writs and the facts in the light of 
reason and common sense, it seems liiie mere boys' play that these 
chief magistrates and officials were engaged in, or, worse still, that 
they were purposely and wickedly issuing writs they knew to be 
defective, in order to avoid the responsibility resting upon them as 
conservators of the peace and supporters of the law's majesty. 
The writs were illegal and wrong : first, because if Joseph Smith did 
send Orrin P. Rockwell to Missouri to kill Gov. Boggs (and that 
he did, we believe, is almost the universal verdict), — if he did, his 
crime was not against the State of Missouri, but the State of 
Illinois, where he resided and was a citizen, and by Illinois laws 
and courts must he be tried and punished. Secondly, ex-Gov. 
Boggs' affidavit plainly charges that Smith is a " resident or citizen 
of the State of Illinois;" and hence, for Gov. Reynolds in his 
requisition, and Gov. Ford in his writ of arrest, to say that he had 
"fled from the justice of the State of Missouri," were palpable and 
unwarranted perversions of fact, not only as stated by Boggs, but 
as they all knew it to exist. So, it is fair to presume that these 
officials knew, and that the prophet knew before he submitted 
himself as a prisoner at Springfield — as well as we know now — 
that Judge Pope was bound to discharge him. And he did dis- 
charge him, chiefly on the grounds above stated, in these words: 

The Court can alone regard the facts as set forth in the affidavit of Boggs, as having 
any legal existence. The mis-recitals and over-statements in the requisition and 
warrant are not supported by oath, and can not be received as evident;e to deprive a 
citizen of his liberty, and transport him to a foreign State for trial. For these 
reasons, Smith must be discharged. 

FURTHER ^^TTEMPTS AT PROSECUTION. 

In the year 1843 it was not deemed expedient, nor was it possible 
to keep up the Anti-Mormon organization. The Whig politicians 
had hopes of securing the Mormon vote, or at least of dividing it 
in favor of their candidates. Smith had been released from arrest 
by Judge Pope, a Whig judge, and his case had been ably argued 
by Whig lawyers. The Democrats equally desired a party organ- 
ization, and expected to retain the vote because they had heretofore 
secured it, and saw no reason for a change. The AVarsaw Mesmge 
had succeeded the Signal, under charge of Gregg and Patch — the 
latter its political editor, who strongly favored distinct Whig 
organization and a full Whig local ticket. 

On the lOtli of Maj', at a Whig convention at Rock Island, in 
which the Mormons were represented, Cyrus Walker, of Macomb, 
was unanimously nominated as the Whig candidate for Congress. 
Joseph P. Hoge, of Galena, was about the same time nominated 
by the Democrats for the same office. This, the Fifth Congres- 
sional District, embraced the fifteen counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll, 
Stephenson, Winnebago, Ogle, Whiteside, Rock Island, Mercer, 
Warren, IIen(ler~(;n, Alr-Do!!on:i;h, Stark, Fee, Knox and Hancock. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 291 

The two candidates were representative men of their respective 
parties, and personally popular. Mr. Walker was an old lawj^er of 
distinction in the State, and regarded as the -peer of the leading 
lawyers at the capital. Hoge was a yonnger and newer man, but 
was talented, energetic, and a good stump speaker. He had never 
been in any way identified with the Mormons, residing in a county 
remote from them in the district. Walker was supposed to be in 
good favor with them, and had once or twice acted as counsel for 
the Prophet. 

Soon after the nominations, the campaign of the district began 
with great vigor. To make a thorough canvass in so large a district, 
it required a great deal of time and a great amount of physical 
energy, it being necessary to address the people in at least three or 
four, and often eight to ten, places in a county. Irrespective of 
the Mormon vote, there was a decided Whig majority in the 
district, and the probabilities were strongly in favor of the success 
of the Whig candidate. 

But the "irrepressible conflict" between Missouri and the 
Mormon prophet, was not j-et at an end. True to his threat, Gen. 
Bennett had gone to that State and succeeded in procuring another 
indictment against his enemy, and another requisition. Ford's 
History states that this indictment and requisition were against both 
Smith and Hockwell for the attempt upon the life of ex-Gov. Boggs. 
But Mr. Southwick, one of Smith's Dixon attorneys, in a statement 
made to the Message of July 15, says it was against Smith alone, 
for " treason against the government of Missouri." As no after 
attempt was made to arrest Kockwell, the latter statement is prob- 
ably the correct one. On the requisition Gov. Ford issued his 
warrant for Smith's arrest, and placed it in the hands of Harmon 
T. Wilson, of Carthage, a deput}' Sheriff, with instructions to serve 
it and place the prisoner in the hands of Joseph H. Reynolds, the 
agent of Missouri. 

Learning that Smith and his wife were on a visit to her relatives 
at Palestine Grove, in Lee county, Illinois, toward the northern 
part of the district, and about 1.50 miles from Nauvoo, they quietly 
repaired thither, found him at the house of his friend, arrested him, 
and placing him in a carriage, started by way of Dixon, the county- 
seat. Here the prisoner was allowed to consult with lawyers, who 
procured for him a writ of haheas corpus from the Master in 
Chancery in said county. This writ was made returnable before 
Judge Caton, at Ottawa, in whose circuit they were. This placed 
the officers as prisoners in tlie hands of the Sheriff of Lee county. 
The morning following tliey started for Ottawa, distant about forty 
miles, and after traveling tln-ee-fourths of the distance, were 
informed that Judge Catun was temporarily out of the State, 
when they returned to Dixon. 

Before starting for Ottawa, Smith had commenced suit in the 
Lee Court for false imprisonment against Reynolds and Wilson; 
and being unable to procure bail, thov were held in the custody of 



292 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the Sheriff. Against this arrest tliey also procured a writ oi habeas 
corpus^ returnable before Judge Young, at Quincy, — and this writ 
was also placed in the hands of the Slieriff. After the return to 
Dixon, Smith procured another writ of liaheas corpus (as a substi- 
tute for the first one), returnable before the " nearest tribunal in 
the Fifth Judicial Circuity authorized to hea,r and determine lorits 
of habeas corpus.^^ The Fifth Judicial Circuit embraced Quincj 
(the residence of Judge Young), and also Nauvoo, with a Munici- 
pal Court, claiming the right to hear and determine writs of habeas 
corpiLS. 

These proceedings completely turned the tables upon the officers. 
Instead of Smith as their prisoner, they found themselves under 
arrest and unable to give bail, with Smith really a free man; the 
fiat had already gone forth that he would be discharged; for was 
not the Nauvoo Municipal Court y^s^/^^jr than the court of Judge 
Young, at Quincy? and was not Smith himself Mayor of the city 
and presiding officer of that Court? 

Smith's arrest was made on Thursday, the 23d of June, and on 
Monday, the 26th, the cavalcade, " consisting of Reynolds, Wilson 
and Smith; Messrs. Walker, Southwick and Patrick, the counsel 
of Smith; McKa}', a guard employed by Reynolds to guard Smith; 
Sanger, the owner of the stage coach that took them; McComsey, 
the driver of one of the teams employed; Ross, the driver of the 
stage coach; Mason, attorney for Reynolds and Wilson; Wasson, 
a relative of the wife of Smith; Montgomery, son-in-law of 
Walker; and Mr. Campbell, Sheriff of Lee county — all started 
from Dixon southward in the direction of JNfauvoo and Quincy. 
Where were they going, and what were they going for? The 
officer had in his pocket two writs of habeas corpits, directing him 
to carry the persons therein named, one to Judge Young, at Quincy, 
the other to any authorized court in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, to 
hear and determine on habeas corpus. It is not too severe a judg- 
ment to say, that all five of those legal gentlemen well knew that 
the place where those writs were properly returnable, was Judge 
Young's court. Instead, they traveled directly to Nauvoo. The 
conclusion is irresistible, that when that second writ was obtained, 
the purpose was to carry them before that nondescript tribunal. 
We have, indeed, the testimony of one of the attorneys to that 
effect. Mr. Southwick says: "No threat or intimidation was used 
by an}' person whatever, to induce Mr. Campbell, the Sheriff" of 
Lee county, to go to Nauvoo with Reynolds; and Mr. Campbell 
well knew before starting from Dixon, that it was the determina- 
tion of the whole company to go to JSTauvoo, he particularly con- 
senting to the same. The stage was also chartered to go to 
Nauvoo. Smith stated before leaving Dixon, that he shoidd sub- 
mit to the law, and appeared desirous to do so^ {/ /) 

'• Smith pledged his word," continues Mr. Southwick's state- 
ment, " previous to his arrival in Nauvoo, that Reynolds should 
not be harmed;" and he was not. He and Wilson were even 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 293 

invited to dine with the prophet at his house, which they did, 
and were introduced to his family! " In the afternoon of the day 
of said arrival, a writ of haheas corpus (still another!) was issued 
by the Municipal Court of the city of Nauvoo, directed to 
Keynolds, rec[uiring him to bring before said Court the body of 
said Smith; which he accordingly did, objecting, however, to the 
same, that said Court had no jurisdiction of the case. " 

Of course he did; and the next sentence shows that there was 
still a lingering qualm of conscience on the part of counsel. J\lr. 
Southwick continues: "The counsel of Smith, however, appeared 
to entertain a different opinion as to the jurisdiction of said Court, 
and the examination was had before them and Smith discharged 
upon the merits of the case, and upon the substantial defects in 
the warrant." 

Let us here recall the clause in the city charter in relation to 
writs of habeas corpus. The following is the whole of it: 

"The Municipal Court shall have power to grant writs of haheas 
corpus in all cases arising under the ordinances of the City 
Council.''^ 

When Smith was arrrested it so happened that both Walker and 
Hoge were in the vicinity of Dixon canvassing the district. In 
addition to the two Dixon attorneys. Smith sent for and engaged 
Walker. This gentleman left his appointments, and, as we have 
seen, rode with the cavalcade to Nauvoo, and, it is said, there made 
a three-hours speech in favor of Smith's discharge by the Munici- 
pal Court, and contending for its jurisdiction. Gov. Ford, in his 
history, states that both he and Hoge, from the public stand in 
Nauvoo, afterwards declared their belief in the existence of the 
power claimed by the Court. 

Being thus signally baftied, the Missouri agent applied to Gov. 
Ford for a military force to enable him to retake Smith; and Mr. 
Walker, as Smith's attorney, repaired to Springfield to resist the 
application. The Governor declined to grant Reynolds' recjuest, 
and the matter was dropped. 

Thus ended another move, and the last one, in the interesting 
game of " Demand and Discharge" which the chief executives of 
two great States had been for two or three years playing. 

It is funny to note how differently the two interested parties tell 
the incidents of this arrest. If either be true, it was dramatic in 
the extreme. 

The Times and Seasons of July 1, 1843, thus tells it: 

While he (Smith) was there (at his wife's sister's residence, 12 miles from Dixon), 
a Mr. J. H. Reynolds, Sheriff of Jackson county, Mo. (so he says), and ISIr. Harmon 
Wilson, of Carthage, arrived at Dixon, professing to be JNIormon preachers ; from 
thence they proceeded to ]\Ir. Wasson's, at whose house Sir. Smith was staying. 
They found Mr. Smitli outside the door, and accosted him in a very uncouth, ungen- 
tlemanly manner, quite in keeping, however, with the common practice of Missou- 
rians. The following is as near the conversation as we can gather ; Reynolds and 
his coadjutor, Wilson, both stepi^cd up at a time to Mr. Sniiiii. with their pistols 
cocked, and witliout showing any writ or serving any process, 3Ir. Reynolds, with 



294: HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

his pistol cocked at Mr. Smith's breast, cried out "G — dd — n you, if you stir I'll 
shoot— G—d d— n you ! be still, or I'll shoot, by G— d." 

" What is the meaning of this ?" interrogated Mr. Smith. 

" I'll show you the meaning, by G — d; and if you stir one inch I'll shoot you, 
G — d d — n you." 

" I am not afraid of your shooting," answered Mr. Smith. "I am not afraid to 
die." He then bared his breast and said, "Shoot away; I have endured so much 
of oppression I am weary of life, and kill me if you please. I am a strong man, 
however, and with my own natural weapons could soon level ' both of you ; but if 
you have any legal process to serve, I am at all times subject to law, and shall not 
offer resistance." 

"G—d d — n you, if you say another word, we'U shoot you, by G — d." 

" Shoot away," answered Mr. S. ; " I am not afraid of your pistols." 

They then hm-ried him off to a carriage they had, and without serving any process 
were for hurrying him off without letting him see or bid farewell to his family or 
friends. Mr. Smith then said : 

"Gentlemen, if you have any legal process, I wish to obtain a writ of habeas 
corpus,'''' and was answered : 

" G — d d — n you, you shan't have one." 

]\Ir. Smith saw a friend of liis passing, and said : 

' ' These men are kidnapping me, and I want a writ of habeas corpus to deliver 
mj'self out of their hands." 

This friend immediately proceededjo Dixon, whence the Sheriff also proceeded 
full speed. 

The account goes on to say, that, arriving at Dixon, they put up 
at a hotel where Reynolds continued very abusive of Smith, and 
refused to let him see or converse with a lawyer, so mucJi so that 
the bystanders interfered, when he relented, and did allow him to 
consult with two attorneys. 

This story differs greatly from the one told by Wilson. We have 
heard it from his own lips; and knowing him as we did for many 
years'previous to his death, can not but believe his statement to 
have been substantially true. 

He stated that he and Reynolds drove in their carriage to the 
residence of Mr. Wasson, alighted and hitched their team, and 
stepping to the front door, inquired for Mr, Smith. The answer 
was very unsatisfactory, but that he was not there. They took 
seats, however, — Reynolds in the doorway, and Wilson on the step 
outside, — and entered into conversation. While thus engaged, 
Wilson, who had a view of the stairway, saw Emma, the prophet's 
wife, hastily cross the hall at the head of the stairs. This con- 
vinced him that they were on the right track. The conversation 
continued a little longer, but Wilson was becoming excited and 
uneasy. Rising from his seat, he made a step or two to the corner 
of the house, and casting his eye along the side of the building, 
was astonished to see, off in an open field one or two hundred yards, 
the object of their search, running towards a piece of woods some 
distance away. 

On the impulse of the moment, and without bidding good-bye 
to the household, or explaining to Reynolds, he gave a whoop, and 
started in pursuit, leaving his companion to bring up the rear. 
The pursuers, being lighter in weight and nimbler of foot, gained 
upon the pursued. So he resorted to strategy. He was nearing 
an old building, uninhabited, but at the side of which was a well, 



IIISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 295 

and near by a lot of clothes spread over some grass and weeds to 
dr}'. It was evident that Smith had been making tor the forest 
beyond; Init on arriving at tlie building, Wilson conld nowhere 
see the fugitive. He certainly had not had time to reach the 
woods, nor could he be seen about the building. Giving a hurried 
glance at the surroundings, — taking in the cabin, the weeds, the 
drying bed-clothes, — an idea struck him, and the next moment he 
saw a pair of boots partly protruding from beneath some bedding 
on the weeds, 

By this time Reynolds was close at hand; but, in his excite- 
ment, and without waiting to see if there was a man in the boots, 
or who that man miglit be, Wilson sprang upon the blanket and 
called on Reynolds to come on. The man in the boots soon 
emerged from beneath, and stood before them as their prisoner, and 
in great trepidation assured them of his surrender. In due time 
he was placed in the carriage, and they started on their journey — a 
journey ludicrous in its beginning, but disastrous to them in the 
end. 

These are the two stories of the arrest — rather conflicting; we 
leave them with the reader. 

EXCITEMENT AT NAUVOO. 

While these things were transpiring up north, tremendous excite- 
ment existed at Nauvoo and over Hancock county. As soon as 
possible after the arrest, the news thereof had been sent to the city 
by swift messenger, and quick preparations were made for their 
prophet's rescue. But it was not known what route to Missouri 
would be taken by the ofiicers with their prisoner. It was conject- 
ured that they might drive eastward, and take steamer at the 
nearest point on the Illinois river; or that they might aim to put 
him on board a St. Louis steamer at Rock Island ; or that he might be 
taken in by-ways across the country. All these contingencies were 
provided for. The little steamer Ariel, owned and employed at 
Nauvoo, was armed, it was said, with a cannon or two, and manned, 
and despatched down the Mississippi to intercept them in or at the 
mouth of the Illinois river. At the same time squads of horsemen 
were sent out on the various roads toward Dixon. The delay, as 
we have seen, at that place, gave time for numbers of these horse- 
men to be a considerable distance on their way north before the 
party of prisoners and lawyers had left for Nauvoo; and during 
the journey it was met by many of them, who turned and escorted 
their chief back to the city. 

These events occurred during the latter part of June and the 
first days of July; and it was some time before Mr. Walker was 
ready to resume his canvass. His conduct, as well as that of Mr. 
Hoge, was the occasion of much comment throughout the district, 
and many Whigs were liighly indignant. It is believed th'at Smith 
had intended in good faith to throw the Mormon vote to Mr. 



296 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Walker; but the dissatisfaction of the "Whigs in part, and for the 
reason that Reynold's application to the Governor for a force to aid 
him in retaking Smith was still held in terrorem over him, he 
changed his policy. Ford himself states that a friend of his, in his 
absence and in his name, had pledged to a Mormon emissary, Back- 
enstos, that if they wonld vote the Democratic ticket, the force 
should not be sent. — [p. 31T. 

The Governor's statement of what occurred at Nauvoo in regard 
to the matter so nearly accords with what we learned from other 
sources, that we give it in his own words: 

A great meeting was called of several thousand Mormons, on Saturday before the 
election. Hyrum Smith, patriarch in the Mormon Church and brother to the prophet, 
appeared in this great assemby, and there solemnly announced to the people that 
God had revealed to him that the Mormons must support Mr. Hoge, the Democratic 
candidate. William Law, another great leader of tlie Mormons, next appeared, and 
denied that the Lord had made any such revelation. He stated that to his certain 
knowledge the prophet Joseph was in favor of Mr. Walker, and that the prophet was 
more likely to know the mind of the Lord on the subject than the patriarch. Hyrum 
Smith again repeated his revelation, with a greater tone of authority. But the 
people remained in doubt until the next day, being Sunday, when Joe liimself 
appeared before the assembly. He there stated that "he himself" was in favor of 
Mr. Walker, and intended to vote for him ; that he would not influence any voter in 
giving his vote ; that he considered it a mean business for him or any other man to 
attempt to dictate to the people who they should support in elections; that he had 
heard his brother Hyrum had received a revelation from the Lord on the subject; 
that for his part he did not much believe in revelations on the subject of elections; 
but brother HjTum was a man of truth; he had known brother Hyrum intimately 
ever since he was a boy, and he had never known him to tell a lie. If brother 
Hyrum said he had received such a revelation, he had no doubt it was a fact. When 
the Lord speaks, let all tihe earth be silent. 

That settled it. The election occurred on the next day. It is 
believed the prophet did, with a few others, vote for Walker, in 
the face of the revelation; but the body of his followers voted for 
Hoge, giving him 2,088 votes to Walker's 733 in the county, and 
beating him in the district by 455 votes. This change of position 
at Nauvoo was not known in Adams county till after the election; 
so Mr. O. H. Browning, the Whig candidate in that district, 
received the Mormon vote there. 

To Mr, Walker and his friends, and the Whig party generally, 
this result was the more aggravating from the fact that it was made 
quite evident that by a straightforward, honest and independent 
course, thus securing a full and enthusiastic Whig support, he 
could have been elected with the Mormon vote solid against him. 

THE " EXPOSITOR " EXPOSED. 

The conduct of politicians and political parties, during the cam- 
paign of 1843, gave a new impulse to the Anti-Mormon sentiment, 
aud measures to prevent their recurrence began at once to be 
taken. The election full}' developed the fact that, although two or 
three good men had been chosen to county offices — men not objec- 
tionable to the great body of the old citizens — yet practically the 




i * 



fj 



..■^^ 




ST Marys Tp. 



^yt 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 299 

wliole county was at the feet of the prophet. Four of the officials 
elected were Mormons, and one of them, James Adams, was not 
even a citizen of the county. At tlie time of his election as Pro- 
bate Judge, he held the same office in Sangamon county; having 
joined the Church and being about to settle in Nauvoo, he was 
placed upon the ticket liere and elected. 

Mr. Adams died within a month after his election, when at a 
special election to fill the vacancy, David Greenleaf, an old settler 
Demociat was chosen in his place. 

An effijrt to reorganize the Anti-Mormon party was decided on. 
Accordingly a public meeting was called at the county seat on the 
7th of September, at which a central and other committees were 
appointed, and other steps taken toward a permanent organization. 
Among the resolutions passed was one — which we now think 
objectionable, and should have been omitted — requesting the Gov- 
ernor of Missouri to make another demand for Smith, and pledg- 
ing aid in the execution of the writ. 

In the meantime difficulties were frequently occurring between 
the parties at various points in the county and at Nauvoo, which 
tended to keep alive the excitement. Numerous acts of tj'ramiy 
were perpetrated by the prophet on citizens of the county, and 
even on his own followers; and heavy fines were inflicted at his 
instance, for no punishable offense, by tlie Municipal Court, or by 
himself as Mayor and presiding officer of the Court. If he commit- 
ted an offense against an individual, which rendered him liable, he 
had an easy way of escaping, which was to procure an arrest by 
some of his tools, have an ex paHe hearing, and get discharged; 
then, if an officer called upon him, he was coolly informed that he 
was too late! 

One of the most conspicuous of these outrages was perpetrated 
on Mr. Alexander Sympson, of Carthage, a well-known and prom- 
inent Anti-Mormon, about the beginning of IS-i-i. This case so 
fully sets forth the man and his methods, that we give it in Mr. 
Sympson's own words: 

To the Editor of the TFar.svao Message : 

Dear Sir : — Through the cohiinns of your journal I wish to make a full and fair 
statement of an occurrence with myself and the JNIormon prophet at Nauvoo. I beg 
your indulgence while I give the particulars, as I wish it to go to the world in its 
true colors. 

On the 17th day of last month, I was waited on by Mr. Roundy, of Nauvoo, at 
Mr. Davis' store, of that place, with a request to go immediately to see the prophet 
at his o\\ni house, as he had some important business with me. I asked him if he 
knew what was wanting. He said he did not. I went with him to see what the 
prophet wanted. On arriving there we were told that he had gone to his farm in 
the country. lie then requested me to go [and see a Mr. Phelps, who was his clerk ; 
he in all probability could tell what was wanting. On seeing Phelps, he could tell 
nothing about tiie biisiness I was sent for. I went with him to the Steamboat Hotel, 
where I board ; got my dinner, and was returning to my business in Dr. II. D. Fos- 
ter's ollice, near tlie temple. On my way I was again met by tiiisMr. Uoundy, who 
informed me that the prf)phet had left the business with a Col. Dunham to attend to, 
and that he was at the ollice waiting for me, and wished me to call and see him 
innnediately. I again asked if he knew what was wanted. He assured me did not 
know. We went to the office ; Dimham was not there ; after waiting and looking 
19 



300 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

for Dunham about one hour, I told him I could stay no longer. Said he, ' ' Wait a 
few minutes longer ; I have sent for Dmiham, and I see the man I sent running 
across the street T he no doubt sees him, and will be here with him in a few min- 
utes." Accordingly I waited some 20 or 30 minutes ; they did not appear, and I 
told him I must leave ; that he might tell Dunham he could tind me in Dr. Foster's 
office any time that evening. I was in the act of leaving, when he said, "If you 
can not stay any longer, I must inform you that I must detain j'ou on behalf of the 
people of the State oi Illinois." I asked him why he did not tell me so at first, and 
not trifle with me in that way ; and ' ' Where is j^om* authoritj', and what am I 
detained for ?" He replied, that he had no precept — that he was a police officer — 
and by the ordinances of the city he could take me as well without as with a pre- 
cept ; and that I was accused of an attempt to murder and rob a ]\Ir. Badham, who 
resides some five or six miles from the citj% on the Carthage road, and that the 
prophet (Ma^'or) had told him that morning to arrest me. I asked who made the 
complaint. He said if he was at Esq. Johnson's office he could tell. We went to 
Esq. Johnson's office (it was now 3 o'clock p. m.) and asked for the papers. He, 
Johnson, showed me a blank affidavit and warrant, and said he got word to make 
out those papers this morning, and a jNIr. Dunham had just left the office to find a 
man that would swear to it ; and if he could not find him, he would return and 
swear to it himself. I remarked that "If Dunham could hire a man to swear to a 
d — d lie, he would do so ; if not he would do it liimself." 

By this time there had several called to see the ivisoner. I spoke freely about 
their proceedings, and the power usurped by the prophet, which did not relish so 
well. The prophet was brought to set matters right. He told me why he had me 
apprehended ; that he had been told I was the man, and he thought it his duty as 
Mayor to have me tried ; and that they had a right to take a man without a writ in 
that city ; and said he : " Mr. Sympson, you know I am a man that keeps nothing 
back. Mr. Badham has seen you, and says that you are the identical man that 
stabbed and robbed him, and sent me word to have you apprehended ; which I have 
done." 

I was held in duress till seven o'clock, or a little after that time. Neither Dunham 
nor the man he went after had yet retm-ned. The prophet. Smith, then made affi- 
davit that he really believed I was the man who stabbed and robbed IVIi-. Badliam, 
on or about the 10th of December last. The warrant was issued and served at half- 
past seven, p. m. We then went to trial. R. D. Foster, Esq., was called to assist 
Esq. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Badham were sworn in behalf of the State. Mr. 
Badham was examined first : 

Question. Would you Iviiow the man, if you were to see him, that stabbed and 
robbed you? Answer. I would. 

C. L. Higbee, Esq., pointed me out to him, and asked: Is that the man? Ans. 
No, nor nothing like him. 

I then asked him if he had ever seen me before. He said he had no recollection 
of ever having seen me. I asked him if he had sent the prophet word that he had 
seen me, and that I was the man who had committed the act, and he wanted me 
apprehended, ^fyw. I never did. 

Mrs. Badham testified that I was not the man, and did not resemble him in the 
least. 

His Holiness, the prophet, came next, and requested to tell his story without any 
questions being asked. After he got tlu-ough, I remarked to the Court that I 
wanted to propound a few questions to the witness. Leave was granted. 

Q. Have you the smallest particle of belief whatever, at this time, that I am the 
man who committed the act with which I am charged ? Ans. No, sir; I have not 
now, and I never had. 

Q. Why did you swear it in your affidavit ? A. I did not. 

I replied: "You did, sir." The affidavit was then read, and he too plainly saw 
that it did not agree with his evidence in the case. Said he, extending his hand 
towards Esq. Jolmson, who had just read the affidavit, "Give me that paper." The 
Court hesitated. He asked for it again ; he said it was couched in stronger language 
than he had intended to swear to. 

Mr. Higbee, my attorney, said he hoped the Com-t would not give it up ; that it 
was part of the record, and that Smith had no right to it. Smith then said he had 
not sworn to it; that he had signed it, but the oath was not administered to him. 
(This is with him and his justice. Esquire Johnson.) Smith went on to say that what 



HISTORY OF UANCOCK COUNTY. 301 

he had done was to befriend me— that he knew I would be honorably acquitted, and 
that I would stand fairer than ever I did. (The Lord deliver me from such friends !) 
I was now discharged by the magistrates. 

Alexander Stmpson. 

Gen. Bennett's expose mentioned several parties by name, as 
being disaffected toward the prophet. These, it is believed, never 
became heartily reconciled, though they refused to " come out," 
when so strongly urged by the General. Some of these were Sid- 
ney Rigdon, Bishop Marks, Geo. W. Robinson, William and Wil- 
son Law, Dr. Ptobert D. and Charles A, Foster, and Francis M. 
and Chauncey L. lligbee; also a Sylvester Emmons, an attorney at 
law, who was'^a member of the City Council, but was said to have 
never been a member of the Church. None of these had ever been 
fully in the prophet's confidence since the secession of Bennett; 
and the breach was daily widening between them. The conduct of 
young Higbee, as we have seen in the case of Sympson, in daring 
to defend a man charged by the prophet with crime, was of itself 
enough to doom him to that person's displeasure. Dr. Foster had 
been elected School Commissioner by Mormon votes, probably as 
an inducement to keep him quiet. 

During the winter and spring of 1844, the breach had widened 
to the extent of organizing a new Church, and [ one' was instituted 
in April or May, with William Law as its President, but who dis- 
claimed any prophetic attainments. It was also decided to estab- 
lish a newspaper in the city, as their organ, and with which to 
fight the prophet. Accordingly, in May a printing press and mate- 
rials arrived by steamer from St. Louis, and were landed and 
hauled iato the city and set up without molestation. 

Of course, these events caused great excitement, not only in the 
city among the faithful, but over the whole county. Evidently a 
crisis was approaching. The lion was being bearded. In the 
meantime the habeas co7yus was not inactive. In May, Mr. Francis 
M. Higbee, one of the seceders, commenced against the prophet a 
civil action for slander, in the Hancock Circuit Court, on which a 
capias was issued. On this being served by the Sheriff, instead of 
entering bail for his appearance, as usual, Smith obtained a writ of 
habeas corpics from the City Court, and was set at liberty. About 
the same time, one Jeremiah Smith, an Iowa defaulter to the U. S. 
Government, fled to the city for refuge, was arrested by the U. S. 
Marshal, and twice released in the same way, the Court rendering 
a judgment for costs against the Lnited States ! 

The May term of the Hancock Circuit Court commenced its 
session at Carthage on the 20th. At this Court several cases 
against Smith were disposed of, as follows: 

Alexander Sympson vs. Joseph Smith, for false imprisonment; 
change of venue to Adams county. F. M. Higbee, complainant, for 
slander; C. A. Foster, complainant, for false imprisonment; and A. 
Davis, complainant, for trespass, to the county of McDonough. In 
addition to the four above named civil actions, two indictments were 
found against him by the grand jury — one for adultery, and one 



302 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

for perjury. To the ejreat surprise of all, on the Monday following^ 
the prophet appeared in Court and demanded trial on the last 
named indictment. The prosecutor not being ready, a continu- 
ance was entered to the next term. 

In the meantime the seceders were not idle. Law boldly 
denounced the prophet from the stand in the city; while the others 
were busy among the people in and out of the city. The proF - 
pectus for the newspaper was circulated extensively, and received 
with much comment. Its title was to be the Kauvoo Expos- 
itor^ and its purposes, as set forth in the prospectus, were the 
Unconditional Repeal of the City Charter — To Correct the Abuses 
of the Unit Power — To Advocate Disobedience to Political Reve- 
lations, — in short, to oppose the prophet Smith, and correct the 
abuses of which he was claimed to be the cause. 

The paper was issued under date of June 7th. It had for its 
editor Sylvester Emmons, and the names of William Law, "Wilson 
Law, Charles Ivins, Francis M. Iligbee, Chauncey L. Higbee, 
Robert D. Foster and Charles A, Foster, as its publishers. In a 
literary point of view, it exhibited no decided talent. It had evi- 
dently been prepared in hurry and excitement, and with no attempt 
at artistic arrangement. About half of its reading matter was 
selected. Of its original contents, five or six columns were occu- 
pied with a "Preamble, Resolutions and Affidavits of the Seceders 
from the Church at Nauvoo," giving reasons for their action, and 
making charges against Smith and his adherents. A number of 
editorial articles followed, couched in strong language, but not 
remarkable for ability or point. 

The confessed aim and purpose of this sheet were to expose the 
enormities practiced by the prophet and his followers at Nauvoo. 
And from the statements and proofs adduced, and from corrobo- 
rative facts, making all due allowance for exaggeration, we are com- 
pelled to accept most of them as true. Yet we can not but remem- 
ber that while they were showing Joseph Smith to have been a 
desperately bad man, they were, to put it in as mild a way as pos- 
sible, adding little to their own characters, inasmuch as for years 
they had been his supporters and defenders, and (having been in 
his confidence) must have known long before that he was a cheat 
and a fraud, and that all his pretensions to religion and sanctity 
were false. And now that he and they had quarreled; that their 
personal right had been trampled upon, that the sanctity of their 
homes had been invaded, they rebelled and sought to put him 
down. Better late than never, and better from questionable motives 
than not at all, however. 

Sidney Rigdon, who, taking their statements to be true, had 
more reason than any to come out and denounce the prophet, still 
refused, till after the prophet's death, and Brigham and the Twelve 
had thrown him overboard. Did Rigdon know of Smith's vil- 
lainies, after fifteen years' association with him? These seceders 
gave countenance to Joseph II. Jackson, in his exposures, — a new- 



niSTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 303 

comer, who, as he says, had only l)een in Smith's confidence a little 
while; and Jackson published that Smith had acknowledged to 
him tliat he Avas a counterfeiter, that he had instigated murder, and 
that the Mormon bible and golden plates were frauds. Is it more 
likely that Jackson would have gained the prophet's confidence 
than they? 

But the life of the Exjyosiior was a short one. This number was 
its initial and final one. It was issued on Friday, the Ttli of June, 
1S44, and on Saturday, the Sth, the City Council was in session, 
considering what should be done about it. They deliberated all 
da}^ and all day Monday, and at 6 o'clock in the evening passed a 
resolution declaring it a nuisance, and instructing the Mayor to 
cause it to he abated, which he did about eight the same evening. 

The Kauvoo N^eighhor had succeeded the Wasj). We have before 
us an extra of that paper, containing a certified copy of the pro- 
ceedings of Council on this occasion. It is due to them that their 
side of the controversy should be given, and this extra fully sets 
forth the reasons for their action. Besides, it should be preserved 
for all time to come, as a curiosity in legal proceedings, and as 
illustrating to future law-makers the nature of a nuisance, and its 
proper mode of treatment. Though long, it is worthy of a place 
here, and we copy it entire, only correcting its typography: 

NAUVOO NEIGHBOR— EXTRA. 
Monday Morning, June 17, 1S44. 

To the PuUic : 

'• As a soft breeze in a hot day mellows the air, so does the simple 
truth calm the feelings of the irritated, and so we proceed to give 
the proceedings of the City Council relating to the removal of the 
Nauvoo Expositor as a nuisance. AVe have been robbed, mobbed 
and plundered with impunity some two or three times, and as every 
heart is more apt to know its own sorrows, the people of Nauvoo 
had ample reason, when such characters as the proprietors and abet- 
tors of the l^a.\\\oo Kcpositor\>Yo\edi to be before the City Council, 
to be* alarmed for their safety. The men avIio got up the press 
were constantly engaged in resisting the authority or threatening 
something. If they were fined an appeal was taken, but the 
slander went on ; and when the paper came, the course and the 
plan to destroy tlie city was marked out. The destruction of the 
Cit}' Charter and the ruin of the saints was the all commanding 
topic. Our lives, our city, our Charter and our characters are just 
as sacred, just as dear and just as good as other people's; and wliile 
no friendly arm has been extended from the demolition of our press 
in Jackson county, Missouri, witliout law, to this ]n"esent day, the 
City Council, with all the law of nuisance, from Blackstone down 
to the Springfield Charter, knowing that if they exceeded the law 
of the land, a higher court would regulate the proceedings — abated 
the Nauvoo Expositor. 



304 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

" The proceedings of the Council show, as sketched, that there 
was cause of alarm. The people when they reflect will at once 
say that the feelings and rights of men ought to be respected. All 
persons otherwise, and, without recourse to justice, mercy or 
humanity, to come out with inflammatory publications, destructive 
resolutions, or more especially extermination, shows a want of 
feeling, and a want of respect, and a want of religious toleration 
that honorable men will deprecate among Americans, as they 
would the pestilence, famine, or horrors of war. It can not be that 
the people are so lost to virtue as to coolly go to murdering men, 
women, and children. No. Candor and common sense forbid it. 

For the Neiglibor. 
" Me. Editor : — In your last week's 2:>aper I proposed giving your 
readers an account of the proceedings of the City Council, but time 
forbids any thing more than a brief synopsis of the proceedings of 
the Municipality of the City of Nauvoo, relative to the destruction 
of the press and fixtures of the Nauvoo Expositor. 

" City Council, Regular Session, ) 
June 8th, 1844. \ 

" In connection with other business, as stated in last week's paper, 
the Mayor remarked that he believed it generally the case, that 
when a man goes to law, he has an unjust cause and wants to go 
before some one who wants business, and that he had very lew 
cases on his docket, and referring to councilor Emmons, editor of 
the Nauvoo Expositor., suggested the propriety of first purging the 
City Council; and referring to the character of the paper and pro- 
prietors, called up Theodore Turley, a mechanic, who, being sworn, 
said that the Laws (Wm. and Wilson) had brought bogus dies to 
him to fix. 

" Councilor Hyrum Smith inquired what good Foster, and his 
brother, and the Higbees, and Laws had ever done; while his 
brother Joseph was under arrest, from the Missouri persecution, 
the Laws and Foster would have been rode on a rail, if he had not 
stepped forward to prevent it, on account of their oppressing the 
poor. 

"Mayor said while he was under arrest by writ from Gov, Carlin, 
"Wm. Law pursued him for $40.00 he was owing Law, and it took 
the last expense money he had to pay it. 

''Councilor H. Smith referred to J. H. Jackson's coming to this 
city, etc. Mayor said Wm. Law had off'ered Jackson $500.00 to 
kill him. 

" Councilor H. Smith continued Jackson, told him, he (Jackson) 
meant to have his daughter; and threatened him if he made any 
resistance. Jackson related to him a dream; that Joseph and 
Hyrum were opposed to him, but that he would execute his 
purposes; that Jackson had laid a plan with four or five persons 
to kidnap his daughter, and threatened to shoot any one that should 
come near, after he had got her into the skiff"; that Jackson was 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 305 

engaged in trying to make bogus, which was his principal business, — 
referred to the revelation read to the High Council of the Church, 
which has caused so much talk about a multiplicity of wives; that 
said revelation was in answer to a question concerning things 
which transpired in former days, and had no reference to the present 
time; that when sick, Wm. Law confessed to him that he had 
been ' guilt}' of adultery,' and ' was not fit to live,' and had 
'sinned against his own soul,' etc., and inquired who was Judge 
Emmons. When he came here he had scarce two shirts to his 
back, but he had been dandled by the authorities of the city, etc., 
and was now editor of the Nauvoo Kcjyositor, and his right-hand 
man Francis M. Higbee, who had confessed to him that he had * 

"Washington Peck sworn: — Said soon after Joseph 11. Jackson 
came here, he came to witness to borrow money, which witness 
loaned him, and took some jewelry as security. Soon after, a man 
from across the river came after the jewelry; Jackson had stolen 
the jewelry from him. At another time, wanted to get money of 
witness; asked witness if he would do any thing dislionorable to get 
a living. Witness said he would not. Jackson said witness was a 
damned fool, for he could get a living a deal easier than he was 
then doing by making bogus, and some men high in the Church 
were engaged in the business. Witness asked if it was Joseph. ' No,' 
said Jackson, '1 dare not tell it to Joseph.' Witness understood 
him the Laws were engaged in it. Jackson said he would be the 
death of witness, if he ever went to Joseph or any one else to tell 
what he had said. 

'' Ordered by the Council that Sylvester Emmons be suspended 
until his case could be investigated for slandering the City Council; 
that the Recorder notify him of his suspension, and that his case 
would come up for investigation at the next regular session of the 
Council. [The order is in the hands of the Marshal.] 

" Councilor J. Taylor said that Councilor Emmons helped to 
make the ordinances of the city, and had never lifted his voice 
against them in the Council, and was now trying to destroy the 
ordinances and the charter. 

"Lorenzo Wasson, sworn : — Said Joseph 11. Jackson told witness 
that bogus-making was going on in the city; but it was too 
damned small business. Wanted witness to help him to procure 
money, for the General (Smith) was afraid to go into it, and with 
$500 he could get an engraving for bills on the bank of Missouri, 
and one on the State of New York, and could make money; said 
many times witness did not know him; believed the General had 
been telling witness something. 'God damn him, if he has I will 
kill him,' — swore he would kill any man that should prove a traitor 
to him. Jackson said if he could get a company of men to suit 
him, he would go into the frontiers and live by highway robber}^; 
had got sick of the world. 

"Mayor suggested that the Council pass an ordinance to prevent 



306 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

misrepresentation and libelous publications, and conspiracies 
against the peace of the city; and referring to the reports that 
Dr. Foster had set afloat, said he had never made any proposals to 
Foster to come back to the Church. Foster proposed to come back; 
came to Mayor's house and wanted a private interview; had some 
conversation with Foster in the Hall, in presence of several gentle- 
men, on the 7tli inst.; oft'ered to meet him aad have an interview 
in presence of friends, three or four to be selected by each part}", 
which Foster agreed to; and went to bring his friends for the inter- 
view, and the next notice he had of him was the following letter: 

'"June 7, 1814. 
'"To Gen. J. Smith: 

" '■Sir — I have consulted my friends in relation to your proposals 
of settlements, and they as well as myself are of the opinion that 
your conduct and that of .your unworth}^ unprincipled clan is so 
base that it would be morally wrong and detract from the dignity 
of gentlemen to hold any conference with you. The repeated in- 
sults and abuses, I, as well as my friends, have suffered from your 
unlawful course towards us demands honorable resentment. We 
are resolved to make this our motto; nothing on our part has been 
done to provoke your anger, but have done all things as become 
men; you have trampled upon everything we hold dear and sacred, 
you have set all law at deliance and profaned the name of the Most 
High to carry out your damnable purposes, and I have nothing 
more to fear from you than you have ah-eady threatened; and I as 
well as my friends will stay here and maintain and magnity the law 
as long as we stay; and we are resolved never to leave until we sell 
or exchange our property that we have here. The proposals made 
by your agent, Dimick Huntington, as well as the threats you sent 
to intimidate me, I disdain and despise as I do their unhallowed 
author. The rights of my family and my friends demand at my 
hand a refusal of all your offers; we are united in virtue and truth, 
and we set hell at detiance and all her agents. Adieu. 

" 'K D. Foster. 

'''Gen. J.Smith: 

"Mayor continued: — And when Foster left his house, he went to 
a slioe shop on the hill and reported that ' Joseph said to him if 
he would come back he would give him Law's place in the Church 
and a hat full of specie.' 

"Lucien Woodworth sworn: — Said that the conversation as stated 
by the Mayor was correct; was at the Mansion June 7th when Dr. 
Foster rode up and inquired if Gen. Smith was at home. Dr. Fos- 
ter went into the house; witness followed. Dr. Foster was there, 
tlie General and others looking at some specimens of penman- 
ship ; something was said respecting a conversation at that time 
between the General and Doctor. Gen. Smith observed to Foster, 
if he had a conversation he would want others present. The Doctor 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 307 

said he would have a word with hiin by himself, aud went into the 
hall. Witness went to the door that he might see and hear what 
was passing. Tliey still continued to talk on the subject of a con- 
versation that they might have afterwards with others present, 
whom Mr. Smith might choose and Foster might choose. Foster 
left, and went for them that he said he wanted ]-»resent, and would 
return soon with them; thinks he heard all the cdnversation ; heard 
nothing about Gen. Smith's making any offers to Foster to settle; 
was present all the time. Dimick Huntington said he had seen 
Foster and talked with him. 

" Mayor said he wished it distinctl}^ understood that he knew 
nothing about Dimick Huntington going to see Foster. 

"Woodworth said he sent Dimick Huntington to Foster, and 
Joseph knew nothing about it. 

"Councilor H. Smith said Dimick Huntington came to him on 
the 7th inst., and said he had had an interview with Dr. Foster, and 
thonght he was about ready to come back, and a word from him to 
Joseph would bring it about. 

" Mayor said the conduct of such men and such papers are cal- 
culated to destroy the peace of the city, and it is not safe that such 
things should exist, on account of the mob spirit which they tend 
to produce; be had made the statements he had, and called the 
witnesses to prepare the Council to act in the case. 

" Emmons was blackguarded out of Philadelphia, and dubbed with 
the title of Judge (as he had understood from the citizens of Phila- 
delphia), was poor, and Mayor helped him to cloth for a coat before 
he went away last fall, and he labored all winter to get the post- 
oftice from Mr. Iligdon (as informed). 

" Mayor referred to a writing from Dr. Goforth, showing that the 
Laws presented the communication from the 'Female lielief So- 
ciety,' in the Nauvoo Neighhor^ to Dr. Goforth, «5 the hone of con- 
tention^ and said, 'If God ever spake by any man, it will not be five 
years before this city is in ashes and we in our graves, unless we go 
to Oregon, California, or some other place, if the city does not put 
down everything which tends to mobocracy, and put down their 
murderers, bogus-makers and scoundrels;' all the sorrow he ever had 
in his family has arisen through the influence of Wm. Law. 

" C. H. Smith spoke in relation to the Laws, Fosters, Higbees, 
editor of the Signal^ etc., and of the importance of suppressing that 
spirit which has driven us from Missouri, etc. ; that he would go 
in for an effective ordinance. 

"Mayor said at the time Gov. Carlin was pursuing him with his 
writs, Wm. Law came to his house with a band of Missourians, for 
the purpose of betraying him; came to his gate, and was prevented 
by Daniel Cairns, wlio was set to watch. Law came within his 
gate and called Maj^or, and the Mayor reproved Law for coming at 
that time of night, with a company of strangers. 

" Daniel Cairns sworn : — Said that about 10 o'clock at night a boat 
came up the river, with al)out a dozen men. Wm. Law came to 



308 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the ^ate with them, witness on guard. Stopped them. Law called 
Joseph to the door and wanted an interview. Joseph said, ' Bro. 
Law, yon know better than to come here at this hour of the night;' 
and Law retired. Next morning Law wrote a letter to apologize, 
which witness heard read, which was written apparently to screen 
himself from the censure of a conspiracy, and the letter betrayed a 
conspiracy on the face of it, 

"Adjourned at half-past 6 P. M. till Monday, 10th, at 10 o'clock 
A. M. 

"adjourned session. 

"June 10th, 10 o'clock A. M. 

"Alderman Harris presiding. 

" Mayor referred to Dr. Foster, and again read his letter of the 
7th inst. (as before quoted.) 

" Cyrus Hills, a stranger, sworn: — Said one day last week, be- 
lieved^ it Wednesday, a gentleman whom witness did not know 
came into the sitting-room of the Nauvoo Mansion, and requested 
the Hon. Mayor to step aside, he wanted to speak with him. Mayor 
stepped through the door into the entry by 'the foot of the stairs, 
and the Gen. (Mayor) asked him what"^he wished. Foster, as wit- 
ness learned since was the gentleman's name, said he wanted some 
conversation on some business witness did not understand at the 
time. The Gen. refused to go any farther, and said he would have 
no conversation in private; what should be said should be in public; 
and told Foster if he would choose three or four men, he would 
meet him with the same number of men, among whom was his 
brother Hyrum, and they would have a cool and calm investiga- 
tion of the subject, and by his making a proper satisfaction, things ■ 
should be honorably adjusted. Witness judged from the manner 
in which Foster expressed himself that he agreed to the Mayor's 
proposals, and would meet him the same day, in presence of friends. 
Heard no proposals made by Mayor to Foster for settlement, heard 
nothing about any offers of dollars, or money, or any other offer 
except those mentioned before; nothing said about Wm. Law; was 
within hearing of the parties at the time conversation was going on. 

"O, P. Eockwell sworn: — Some day last week, said Dr. Faster 
rode up to the ISTauvoo Mansion and went in; witness went in, and 
found the Mayor and Dr. Foster in conversation. Gen. Smith was 
naming the men he would have present, among whom was Hyrum 
Smith, Wra. Marks, Lucien Woodworth and Peter Hawes, and Dr, 
Foster had leave to call an equal number of his friends, as wit- 
ness understood, for the purpose of having an interview on some 
matters in conversation. 

_ " The doctor's brother was proposed ; Gen. said he had no objec- 
tions; w^anted him present. "Dr. Foster started, saying he would 
be back shortly. Before Dr. F. left, the men whom Gen. Smith 
had named to be present at the conversation were sent for. 



HI8T0KY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 309 

" Cross-examined, — Witness went into the house as Mayor and 
Dr. Foster were coming out of the bar-room into the hall; nothing 
said by the Mayor to Dr. Foster about his coming back; made no 
offer to Foster about a settlenaent. 

" Mayor said the first thing that occurred when he stepped into 
the hall with Foster, was that he wanted to assassinate him; he 
saw something sliining below his vest; Mayor put his finger on it 
and said, ' What is tJiatf Foster replied, ^ It is my pistol^'' and 
immediately took out the pistol and showed it openly, and wanted 
the Mayor to go with him Alone. Mayor said he would not go 
alone. Mayor never saw the pistol before; had a hook on its side, 
to hang on his waistcoat. 

"Andrew L. Lamaraux sworn: — Said that in 1839 or '40, while 
President Joseph Smith, Elder Kigdon, Judge liigbee, O. P. 
Rockwell and Dr. R. D. Foster, on their way to Washington, 
called at witness' house in Dayton,'Ohio; the evening w^as spent 
very agreeably, except some dissatisfaction on the part of certain 
females with regard to the conduct of Dr. Foster. On their return 
from Washington, witness informed President Smith of Foster's 
conduct. President Smith said he had frequently reproved Foster 
for such conduct, and he had promised to do better, and told wit- 
ness to reprove Foster if he saw anything out of the way. That 
evening Foster refused to join the company, and walked through the 
town till about 8 o'clock, when he came in and interrupted President 
Smith, who was expounding some passages of scriptures, and 
changed the conversation. Soon after the company was invited to 
Mr. Brown's at the next door, whither they all repaired. While 
at Mr. Brown's, conversation going on, and the room much 
crowded. Dr. Foster and one of the hidies he had paid so much 
attention to befoi'e, took their seats in one corner of the room. 
Witness heard her state to Dr. Foster that she supposed she had 
been en ceinte for some time back, but had been disappointed, and 
supposed it was on account of her weakness, and wanted Foster to 
prescribe something for her. Foster said he could do it for her, 
and dro])ped his hand to her feet, and began to raise it, she gave 
him a slight push and threw herself close to the wall. 

" Pie laid his hand on her knee, and whispered so low that witness 
could not hear. Next morning witness went in while Foster and 
others were at breakfast, and related what he had seen. Foster 
denied it. President Smith told him not to deny it, for he saw it 
himself and was ashamed of it. Foster confessed it was true, and 
promised to reform. 

" Peter Hawes sworn.: — Said that he had come to Nauvoo before 
the Laws and brought considerable property; it was a short time 
after the Church had been driven out of Missouri, and had arrived 
in this place. The families having been robbed of all in Missouri 
were in a starving condition. By the counsel of the Presidency, 
witness converted his funds to feeding the poor, bringing in meat 
and flour, etc., and while thus engaged drew upon the Laws, who 



310 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

were at that time engaged in merchandise, to the amount of some 
six hundred dollars, which, on account of expenditure for the poor, 
he was not able to pay, to within some YO or SO dollars, whicli 
the\' pressed him for as soon as they wanted it, although he offered 
them good property at considerable less than the market value. 
As witness was obliged to leave the city on Church business for a 
little season, Wm. Law threatened and intimidated witness' family 
during his absence for the pay. 

"Dr. Foster made a public dinner on the 4th of July. Witness 
was obliged to be absent, and deposited meat, flour, etc., withAVm. 
Law, to give to the poor at that dinner, and Law handed it out as 
his own private property. "Witness carried a load of wheat to 
Law's mill to be ground. Law would not grind it only to give a 
certain quantity of flour in return by weight. Law used up the 
flour, promising from time to time he would refund it. As wit- 
ness was about to start on a mission to the South, with valise in 
hand, saw Law before his door, talking with Llyrnm Smith; called 
on Law and told him he was going away, and his family wanted 
the flour: Law promised on the honor of a gentleman and a saint, 
his family shoultl have the flour when they wanted. 

" Councilor H. Smith said he recollected the time and circum- 
stance. 

" Hawes said when he returned, found his family must have 
starved if they had not borrowed money to get food somewhere 
else — could not get it of Law. And Law was preaching jm/ie- 
tualify, PUNCTUALITY, PUiN'OTUALITy, as the whole drift of his 
discourses to the saints; and abusing them himself all the time, 
and grinding the poor. 

"Mayor said if he had a City Council who felt as he did, the 
establishment (referring to the Nauvoo Expositor) would be a 
nuisance before night; and he then read an editorial from the 
Nauvoo Expositor. Lie then asked, ' Who ever said a word 
against Judge Emmons until he has attacked this Council, or even 
against Joseph H. Jackson or the Laws, until they came out 
against the city? Here is a paper (Nauvoo Expositor') that is 
exciting our enemies abroad. Joseph H. Jackson has been proved 
a murderer before this Council.' He declared the paper a nui- 
sance, a greater nuisance than a dead carcass. They make a crimi- 
nality for a man to have a wife on the earth, while he has one in 
heaven, according to the keys of the holy Priesthood; and he then 
read a statement of William Law's from the Expositor.^ where the 
truth of God was transformed into a lie concerning this thing. 
He then read several statements of Austin Cowles in t\\Q Expositor 
concerning a private interview, and said he never had anj' private 
conversation with Austin Cowles on these subjects; that he 
preached on the stand from the Bible, showing the order in ancient 
days, having nothing to do with the present times. AVhat the 
opposition party want, is to raise a mob on us and take the spoil 
from us, as they did in Missouri. He said it was as much as he 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 311 

could do to keep his clerk, Thompson, from publishing the proceed- 
ings of the Laws, and causing the people to rise up against them, 
Said he would rather die to-morrow and have the thing smashed, 
than live and have it go on, for it was exciting the spirit of moboc- 
racy among the people and bringing death and destruction upon 
us. 

"Peter Hawes recalled a circumstance, which he had forgotten to 
mention, concerning a Mr. Smith who came from England and 
soon after died. The children had no one to protect them; there 
was one girl 16 or 17 years old and a younger sister. AVitness 
took these girls into his family out of pity. AVilson Law, then 
Major-General of the JNauvoo Legion, was familiar with the eldest 
daughter. AYitness cautioned the girl. Wilson was soon there 
again and went out in the evening with the girl, wlio, when 
charged by witness's wife, confessed that Wilson Law had seduced 
her. Wilson told her he could not keep her. The girl w^ept, 
made much ado, and many promises. Witness told her if she 
would do right she might stay; but she did not keep her promise. 
Wilson came again and she went out with him. Witness required 
her to leave his house. 

" Mayor said certain women came to complain to his wife, that 
they had caugiit AVilson Law with the girl on the floor at Mr; 
Ilawes' in the night. 

" Councilor C. H. Smith proceeded to show the falsehood of 
Austin Cowles in the Expositor^ in relation to the revelation 
referred to, that it was in reference to former days, and not the 
present time, as related by Cowles. 

'' Mayor said he had never preached the revelation in private, 
as lie had in public; had not taught it to the anointed in the 
Church in private, which statement many present confirmed, that 
on inquiring concerning the passage in the resurrection concerning 
'they neither marry nor are given in marriage,' etc., he 
received for answer, ' Men in this life must marry in view of 
eternity, otherwise they must remain as angels, or be single in 
heaven, which was the amount of the revelation referred to; ' and 
the Mayor spoke at considerable length in explanation of this 
principle and was willing for one to subscribe his name, to declare 
the Ex2)Ositor and whole ostablishment a nuisance. 

2 o'clock P. M. 
"The Clerk of the Council bore testimony to the good character 
antl high standing of Mr. Smith and his family, whose daughter 
was seduced by Wilson Law, as stated by the last witness before 
the morning Council; that Mrs. Smith died near the mouth of the 
Mississippi, and the father and eldest daughter died soon after 
their arrival in this place; and that the seduction of such a youth- 
ful, fatherless and innocent creature by such a man in high stand- 
ing as the Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion was one of the 
darkest, damndest and foulest deeds on record. 



312 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

" Councilor Hyrnm Smith concurred in the remarks made by 
the clerk concerning the excellent character of Mr. Smith and his 
family. 

" Mayor said the Constitution did not authorize the press to 
publish libels, and proposed that the Council make some provision 
for putting down the Nauvoo Expositor. 

" Councilor Hyrura Smith called for a prospectus of the Expos- 
itor. 

" Councilor Phelps read article 8, section 1, Constitution of 
Illinois. 

" Mayor called for the Charter. 

" Tlie Clerk read the prospectus of the Nauvoo Expositor. 

"Mayor read the statements of Francis M. Higbee from the 
Expositor aud asked, 'Is it not treasonable against all chartered 
rights and privileges, and against the peace and happiness of the 
city?' 

"•Councilor H. Smith was in favor of declaring the Exjyositor o, 
nuisance. 

"Councilor Taylor said no city on earth would bear such slan 
and he would not bear it, and was decidedly in favor of active 
measures. 

"Mayor made a statement of what Wm. Law said before the City 
Council under oath, that he was a friend to the Mayor, etc., etc., and 
asked if there were any present who recollected his statement, 
when scores responded, Yes! 

"Councilor Hunter was one of the grand jury; said "Wm. Law 
stated before the grand jury that he did not say to the Council that 
he was Joseph's friend. 

" Councilor Taylor continued: ' Wilson Law was President of 
this Council during the passage of many ordinances, and referred 
to the Pecords. Wm. Law and Emmons were members of the 
Council; and Emmons has never objected to any ordinance while 
in the Council; but has been more like a cipher, and is now become 
editor of a libelous paper, and is trying to destroy our charter and 
ordinances.' 

" He then read from the Constitution of the United States on the 
freedom of the press, and said, ' We are willing they should pub- 
lish the truth; but it is unlawful to publish libels; the Expositor 
is a nuisance and stinks in the nose of every honest man.' 

"Mayor read from Illinois Constitution, article 8, section 2, 
touching the responsibility of the press for its Constitutional 
liberty. 

" Councilor Stiles said a nuisance was any thing that disturbs 
the peace of a community, and read Blackstone on Private Wrongs, 
vol. ii, page 4; and the whole community has to rest under the 
stigma of these falsehoods, referring to the Expository and if we 
can prevent the issuing of any more slanderous communications, 
he would go in for it. It is right for this community to show a 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 313 

proper resentment, and lie would go in for suppressing all further 
communications of the kind. 

"Councilor H. Smith believed the best way was to smash the 
press and ' pi ' the type. 

"Councilor Johnson concurred w^ith the Councilor who had 
spoken. 

"Alderman Bennett referred to the statement of the Expositor 
concerning the Municipal Court in the case of Jeremiah Smith as 
a libel, and considered the paper a public nuisance. 

" Councilor Warrington considered his a peculiar situation, as 
he did not belong to any Church or any party; thought it might 
be considered rather harsh for the Council to declare the paper a 
nuisance, and proposed giving a few days' limitation and assessing 
a fine of $3,000 for every libel, and if they would not cease pub- 
lishing libels, to declare it a nuisance, and said the statutes made a 
provision for a fine of $500. 

" Mayor replied that they threatened to shoot him when at Car- 
thage, and the women and others dare not go to Carthage to pros- 
ecute; and read a libel from the Expositor concerning the impris- 
onment of Jeremiah Smith. 

"Councilor H. Smith spoke of the Warsaw Signal and disap- 
proved its libelous course. 

" Mayor remarked he was sorry to have one dissenting voice in 
declaring the Expositor a nuisance. 

" Councilor Warrington did not mean to be understood to go 
against the proposition; but would not be in haste in declaring it 
a nuisance. 

"Councilor H. Smith referred to the mortgages and property of 
the proprietors of the Expositor and thought there would be little 
chance of collecting damages for libels. 

"Alderman E. Smith considered there was but one course to 
pursue; that the proprietors were out of the reach of the law; that 
our course was to put an end to the thing at once; believed, by 
what he had heard, that if the city did not do it, others would. 

" Councilor Hunter believed it to be a nuisance; referred to the 
opinion of Judge Pope on habeas corpms^ and spoke in favor of the 
charter, etc.; asked Francis M. Higbee before the grand jury if 
he was not the man he saw at Joseph's house making professions 
of friendship; Higbee said he was not [hundreds know this state- 
ment to be false] ; he also asked R. D. Foster if he did not state 
before hundreds of people that he believed Joseph to be a propliet; 
' No,' said Foster. They were under oath when they said it. 
[Many hundreds of people are witness to this perjury.] 

" Alderman Spencer accorded with the views expressed, that the 
Nauvoo Expositor is a nuisance; did not consider it wise to give 
them time to trumpet a thousand lies. Their property could not 
pay for it; if we pass only a fine or imprisonment, have we any con- 
fidence that they will desists None at all! AVe have found these 
men covenant-breakers with God! with their wives! ! etc. Have 



314 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

we any hope of their doing better? Their characters have gone be- 
fore them; shall they be suffered to go on, and bring a mob upon 
US and mujder our women and children, and burn our beautiful 
city? No! I had rather my blood would be spilled at once, and 
would like to have the press removed as soon as the ordinance 
would allow, and wish the matter might be put into the hands of 
the Mayor, and everybody stand by him in the execution of his 
duties, and hush every murmur. 

" Councilor Levi Kichards said he had felt deeply on this sub- 
ject, and concurred fully in the view General Smith had 'expressed 
of it this day;' thought it unnecessary to repeat what the Council 
perfectly understood; considered private interest as nothing in com- 
parison*^with the public good. Every time a line was formed in the 
far West he was there, for what? To defend it against just such 
scoundrels and influence as the Nauvoo Expositor and its support- 
ers were directly calculated to bring against us again. Considered 
the doings of the Council this day of immense moment, not to this 
city alone, but to the whole world; would go in to put a stop to the 
thing at once; let it be thrown out of this city, and the responsi- 
bility of countenancing such a press be taken off our shoulders and 
fall on the State if corrupt enough to sustain it. 

" Councilor Phineas Richards said that he had not forgotten the 
transactions at Haun's Mills, and that he recollected that his son, 
George Spencer, then lay in the well referred to, on the day pre- 
vious, without a winding-sheet, shroud, or coffin. He said he could 
not sit still when he saw the same spirit raging in this place; he 
considered the publication of the Expositor as much murderous at 
heart as David was before the death of Uriah. Was for making a 
short work of it; was prepared to take his stand by the Mayor, and 
whatever he proposes, would stand by him to the last. The quicker 
it is stopped the better. 

" Councilor Phelps had investigated the Constitution, Charter, 
and laws; the power to declare that office a nuisance is granted to 
us, in the Springfield charter, and a resolution declaring it a 
nuisance is all that is required. 

"John Birney sworn: — Said Francis M. Higbee and Wm. Law 
declared they had commenced their operations and would carry 
them out, law or no law. 

"Stephen Markham sworn: — Said that Francis M. Higbee said 
the interest of this city is done the moment a hand is laid on their 
press. 

" Councilor Phelps continued, and referred to Wilson Law in 
destroying the character of a child, an orphan child, who had the 
charge of another child. 

"Warren Smith sworn: — Said F. M. Higbee came to him and 
proposed to have him go in as a partner in making bogus money. 
Higbee said he would not work for a living; that witness might go 
in with him if he would advance fifty dollars, and showed him 
(witness) a half dollar he said was made in his dies. 



f% 



» 



\ 



/^A- 







La Ha/rpe Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 3lY 

"Councilor Phelps continued, and said he felt deeper this day 
than ever he felt before, and wanted to know, by ' Yes,' if there 
were any present who wanted to avenge the blood of that innocent 
female who had been seduced by the then Major-General of the 
Nauvoo Legion, Wilson Law, when ' Yes ' resounded from every 
quarter of the house. He then referred to the tea plot at Boston, 
and asked if anybody's rights were taken away witli that trans- 
action, and 'Are we offering, or have we offered to take away the 
rights of any one these two days?' {N'ofJ! resounded from every 
quarter.) lie then referred also to Law's grinding the poor during 
the scarcity of grain, while the poor had nothing but themselves to 
grind; and spoke at great length in support of active measures to 
put down iniquity and suppress the spirit of mobocracy. 

" Alderman Harris spoke from the chair, and expressed his 
feelings that the press ought to be demolished. 

" The following resolution was then read and passed unanimously, 
with the exception of Councilor Warrington: 

Resolved, By the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, that the printing office 
from whence issues the Nauvoo Expositor is a public nuisance, and also all of said 
Nauvoo ExpontorH which may be or exist in said establishment; and| the Mayor is 
instructed to cause said printing establishment and papers to be renioved without 
delay, in such manner as he shall direct. 

Passed June 10th, 1844. Geo. W. Harris, Prest. pro tern. 

W. Richards, Recorder. 

6 o'clock, p. m., Council adjourned. 

This certifies that the foregoing i^ a true and correct synopsis of the proceedings 
of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, on the 8th and 10th days of June, 1844, 
in relation to the Nauvoo Expositor and proprietors, as taken from the minutes of 
said Council. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, 
[l. s.] and the corporation seal, at Nauvoo, this 17th day of 

June, 1844. 

WiLLAED Richards, 
Recorder and Clerk of the City Council. 

The following order was immediately issued by the Mayor: 

STATE OF ILLINOIS, I 

City of Nauvoo. ) To tlie Mdj'fthal of Hoid Gity^ Greeting: 
YoH are hereby commanded to destroy the printing press from whence issues the 
Nauvoo Exjyositor, and pi the type of said printing establishment in the street, and 
burn all the Expositors and libelous hand-bills found in said establishment; and if 
resistance be offered to your execution of this order, by the owners or others, 
demolish the house, and if any one threatens you, or the Mayor, or the officers of the 
City, arrest those who threaten you and fail not to execute this order without delay 
and make due return hereon. 
By order of the City Council. 

Joseph Smith, Mayor. 
Marshal's return — The within named press and type is destroyed and pied 
according to order, on this 10th day of June, 1844, at about 8 o'clock, p. m. 

J. P. Green, C. M. 

Headquarters Nauvoo Legion,) 
June 10, 1844. y 

To Jonathan Diinhom, luiimj Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion: 

You are hereby commanded to hold the 'Nauvoo Legion in readiness, forthwith 
to execute the City ordinances, and especially to remove the printing establishment 
20 



318 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of the Nauvoo E.rposito)-. and this you arc required to do at sight, vuidcr the penalty 
of the laws; provided the IMarshal shall require it, and need j'our services. 

Joseph Smith, Lieut. -General Nauvoo Legion. 

PROCLAMATION. 

Mayor's Offick, Nauvoo, June 16, 1S41:. 

" As there are a nmtiber of statetnents in circulation which have 
for their object tlie injury of the 'Latter-Day Saints,' all of which 
are false, and prompted by black-hearted villians, I therefore 
deem it my duty to disabuse the public mind in regard to them, 
and to give a plain statement of facts which have taken place in the 
citv within a few days past, and which has brought upon us the 
displeasure of the unprincipled and the uninformed, and seems to 
afford an opportunity to our enemies to unite and arouse themselves 
to mob; and already they have commenced their hellish operations 
by driving a few defenseless Mormons from their houses and homes 
ill the vicinity of Warsaw and Carthage. 

" A short time since a press was started in this city which iiad 
for its object the destruction of the institutions of the city, both 
civil and religious; its proprietors are a set of unprincipled scoun- 
drels, who attempted in every conceivable way to defame the char- 
acter of the most virtuous of our community, and change cur 
peaceful and prosperous city into a place as evil and polluted as their 
own black hearts. To rid the city of a paper so filthy and pesti- 
lential as this, becomes the duty of every good citizen who loves 
good order and morality; a complaint was made before the City 
Council, and after a full and impartial investigation it was voted, 
without one dissenting voice, a public nuisance, and to be imme- 
diately destroyed; the peace and happiness of the place demanded 
it, the virtue of our wives and daughters demanded, and our con- 
sciences demanded it at our hands as conservators of the public 
peace. That we acted right in this matter we have the assurance 
of one of the ablest expounders of the laws of England, viz.: Black- 
stone, the (constitution of the State of Illinois, and our own 
chartered rights. If then our charter gives us the power to decide 
what shall be a nuisance and cause it to be removed, where is the 
offense? What law is violated? If then no law has been violated, 
why this ridiculous excitement and bandying with lawless ruffians 
to destroy the happiness of a people whose religious motto is 
'peace and goodwill toward all men?' 

" Our city is infested with a set of blacklegs, counterfeiters and 
debauchees, and that the proprietors of this press were of that class, 
the minutes of the Municipal Court fully testify, and in ridding 
our young and flourishing city of such characters, we are abused 
by not only villainous demagogues, but by some who, from their 
station and influence in society, ought rather to raise than depress 
the standard of human excellence. We have no disturbance or 
excitement among us, save what is made by the thousand and one 
idle rumors afloat in the country. Every one is protected in his 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 319 

person and property, and but few cities of a population of twenty 
thousand people, in the United States, hath less of dissipation or 
vice of any kind, than the city of Nauvoo. 

"Of the correctness of our conduct in this affair, we appeal to 
every high Court in the State, and to its ordeal we are willing to 
appear at any time that His Excellency, Governor Ford, shall please 
to call us before it. I therefore, in behalf of the Municipal Court 
of Nauvoo, warn the lawless not to be precipitate in any interfer- 
ence in our affairs, for as sure as there is a God in Israel we shall 
ride triumphant over all oppression. 

"Joseph Smith, Mayor." 

It was stated at the time, that the brothers, Joseph and Hyrum-, 
were occasionally, during the two da^^s' discussion in the Council, 
highly excited, and indulged in violent language. The former is 
reported to have vehemently exclaimed: " If you will not stick 
by me, and wade to your knees hi hlood^ for my sake, you unay go 
toJi — I and he d — <i, and I will go and build another city !" Hyrum 
is reported to have used this ironical language: " We had better 
send a message to Long-nosed Sharp that if he does not look out, 
lie might be visited with a pincii of snuff that will make him 
sneeze!" And continued: "If any person will go to Warsaw 
boldly, in daylight, and break the press of the Signal office with a 
sledge hammer, I will bear him out in it, if it costs me a farm. He 
could only be taken with a warrant at any rate, and what good 
would that do?" 

Of course such language would not do to be reported in the 
organ. It is proper, however, to state that Hyrum and his friends 
, made emphatic denial of having uttered threats against the Signal 
or its editor. 

The foregoing report in the extra is to be taken as conclusive ot 
the reasons for the destruction of the press. When analyzed they 
resolve themeelves into this: Emmons was poor when he came to 
the city, with only two shirts to his back; the Laws oppressed the 
poor, by adhering to their rules in grinding, and they had dunned 
the prophet for money due; Dr. Foster had been too intimate with 
a sister in Ohio, and besides had written the Mayor a sauc}' letter; 
Wilson Law had seduced another sister; they had all misrepre- 
sented the spiritual-wife doctrine; and all this amounted to treason 
and rebellion against the independent sovereignty and kingdom of 
Nauvoo; and, therefore, their printing press was a nuisance, and 
must be destroyed. Even in tliis the Mayor transcended the 
authority given him by the Council. The resolution instructed him 
to abate the nuisance by removal; he issued his order to the City 
Marshal to destroy the press and pi the types in the street, and, if 
necessary, demolish the house, and arrest all who oppose. 

the atokement. 

The city was now at fever heat. The seceders all left, and 
repairing to the county seat, procured writs for all engaged in the 



320 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

destruction of the press, on the charge of riot. These writs were 
placed in the hands of an officer, who, with a yosse, went to the city 
and arrested a number of persons charged. The habeas corpus was 
ao-ain applied, and they were "honorably discharged!" 

Meanwhile the whole county was in commotion. Public meet- 
ings were held at various points, and the people called to arm for 
the approaching crisis. The following resolutions were adopted at 
"Warsaw and afterward at Carthage, by acclamation: 

Resolved, That the time, in our opinion, has arrived, when the adherents of Smith 
as a body should be driven froin the smrounding settlements into Nauvoo. That 
the prophet and his miscreant adherents should then be demanded at their hands, 
and if not surrendered, a war of extermination should be waged to their entire 
destruction, if necessary for our protection. 

Resolved, That every citizen arm himself to be prepared to sustain the resolutions 
herein contained. 

It is proper here to state that. there were at this time and even 
afterward while the Mormons remained, four classes of citizens in 
the county: 1. The Mormons themselves; 2. A class called Jsck- 
Mormons, who, not members of the church, adhered to and sus- 
tained them for mercenary or political gain; 3. Old citizens who 
were Anti-Mormons at heart, but who refused to countenance any 
but lawful measures for redress of grievances; and 4. Anti-Mor- 
mons who, now that the crisis had come, advocated " war and exter- 
mination." Some of the third class w^ere denounced as Jacks, by 
the extremists; though the great body of them acted throughout 
with the fourth class, in all but their extreme measures. 

All over the county men were arming, organizing and drilling, 
liavint»- been notified by the officers that the posse comitatus 
would-be called out to assist in making the arrests. A great want 
existed in the absence of arms and ammunition. Agents were sent 
to Quincy, to St. Louis and other places. At St. Louis a cannon 
and a lot'of ammunition were procured and brought to Warsaw. 
The authorities of the town voted $L000 for supplies. A deputa- 
tion having been sent to Gov. Ford, at Springfield, he decided to 
visit the county in person, and judge for himself. 

In much that follows regarding the death of the Smiths, and the 
events leading thereto and subsequent, we condense from Ford's 
History, correcting his evident mistakes, and his many distortions 
of facts in order to make a case against the old citizens. 

Upon the Governor's arrival at Carthage he found an armed force 
collected and collecting, while another was assembling at Warsaw. 
Gen. Deming had also called for the militia of McDonough and 
Schuyler counties. The Governor at once placed all the troops 
under orders and under command of their proper officers. He 
next summoned the Mayor and City Council of Nauvoo to present 
their side of the question, which they did, through a committee 
sent to him. After some considerable delay and indecision as to 
what course to pursue, "a force of ten men was sent with the 
constable to make the arrest and to guard the prisoners to head- 



UISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 321 

quarters." The officer made the arrests of the Mayor and Council- 
ors, who sifjnified their M'illingness to accompan}^ him to Carthage 
at eight o'clock next morning. Eight o'clock came, but the 
accused tailed to appear, and the posse marched back to Carthage 
without them. 

This incensed the Governor; he blamed the officer for coming 
without them, very unjustly. The officer knew better than His 
Excellency the waj's of the accused. He knew if they had intend- 
ed suljmission, they would have presented themselves at the time; 
and that if they did not, an officer and ten men would find it an up- 
hill business to hunt out and bring away an equal number, from 
the midst of two or three thousand armed men. 

Next the Governor demanded that the State arms in possession 
of the Legion should be delivered up; and they delivered three 
pieces of cannon and 220 stand of small arms, of 300 which had 
been distributed to it by Quarter-Master General Bennett. 

The surrender of the chiefs being insisted on, on the 24th the 
prophet, his brother Hyrum, some members of the City Council, 
and others, came in and surrendered to the officer holding the 
writs, and voluntarily entered into recognizances to appear at 
court. 

In the mean time a new warrant charging Joseph and Hyrum 
with treason had Ijeen issued, and they were again arrested by the 
constable. The charge of treason was based on the alleged fact of 
levying war against the State, by declaring martial law, and order- 
ing out the legion to resist the execution of the laws. Here 
historian Ford, in order to find fault with the Hancock people, 
gives us a new and novel definition of treason. He says: 

Their actual guiltiness of the charge would depend upon circumstances. It' their 
opponents had been seeking to put the law in force in good faith, and nothing more, 
then an arra}" of militarj- force in open resistance to Wie poxse cumitat as Awdiha 
militia of the State, most probably would have amounted to treason. But if those 
opponents mainly intended to use the process of the law, the militia of the State, 
and ilia potise comitntus, as cat's-paws to compass the possession of their persons for 
the purpose of murdering them afterward, as the sequel demonstrated the fact to be, 
it might well be doubted whether they were guilty of treason. — [Ford's Hist. III., 
p. 337. 

So that treason, instead of depending upon the acts and inten- 
tions of the person charged, is to be measured by the] acts and 
intentions of others. It is a ])rinciple of law that intention must 
be taken into account; but it comes strangely from the Governor 
of a State, that to constitute crime, the intentions of the people 
who are endeavoring to bring a criminal to justice, rather than his 
own, are to be considered. But by what process does Gov. Ford 
so summarily arrive at the intentions of those he styles the "oppo- 
nents" of the Mormon leaders? I 

Neither ])arty being prepared fur the examination on the charge 
of treason, the Smiths were committed to the county jail for greater 
securitv. 



322 h:stoky of hancock county . 

The Governor now decided to march his force into ISTauvoo, but 
does not seem to have had any clearly defined purpose in so doing. 
The morning of the 27th was fixed on for the march, and on the 
26th word was sent to the troops at Warsaw to meet him and the 
main body at Golden's Point, about seven miles from the city; 
but on the 27th he wavered in his intention of going with a force 
into the city, and called a council of officers to consult. A small 
majority voted in favor of going, but the Governor took the respons- 
ibility, and ordered the troops disbanded, excepting three compa- 
nies, two to remain at Carthage, and one to accompany himself 
and a few friends to Nauvoo. 'Word to this effect was sent to the 
Warsaw troops, who were already on the march; and they were 
met by the messenger on the prairie before reaching Golden's 
Point. Here, much to their dissatisfaction, the officer disbanded 
them. After disbanding, many returned home, while a portion 
lingered, and finally straggled east toward Carthage. The two 
companies left to guard the jail were placed under command of 
Capt. Smith, of the Carthage Greys, his own company being one 
of them. 

" Having ordered the guard, and left Gen. Deming in command 
in Carthage, and discharged the residue of the militia, I immedi- 
ately departed for Nauvoo, IS miles distant, accompanied by Col. 
Buckmaster, Quartermaster-General, and Capt. Dunn's (Augusta) 
company of dragoons." — [p. 345. 

It was claimed that one purpose had in View, in thus visiting 
the city, M-as " to search for counterfeit money." But on the way, 
he began to fear an attack on the jail; so he decided to omit the 
search, but hurry on to the city, make the Mormons a speech, 
and return to Carthage the same night. The baggage wagons 
were halted, with orders to return at night. He and his escort 
reached the city about four o'clock, called the people together, made 
them an address, in which he says he rated them pretty severely 
for their bad conduct, and ended by putting the vote whether they 
in future would obey the laws. They unanimously voted Yes, 
when His Excellenc}^ and his retinue started for Carthage a little 
before sundown. A few miles out they were met by a messenger 
with the information that the two Smiths had been assailed in jail 
by a mob, and killed! The messenger who brought the news was 
ordered to return with them to Carthage, which he did; but by 
some means unknown to us the news reached the city daring the 
night. 

General consternation now pervaded the whole county. The 
troops had been disbanded, and most of them had left for their 
homes. Three companies only remained — the one with the Gov- 
ernor, and the two at Carthage — to confront the Legion, should it 
make a raid upon them. The Governor with his command hurried 
on to Carthage, only to find the place partiall)'- deserted; and all 
who had not gone were going as fast as they could find means of 
conveyance. Men with their families, in carts, in wagons, and on 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 323 

horseback or a-foot, were en route mostly toward Augusta and St. 
Mary's. The Hamilton Hotel, where the dead bodies and their 
wounded comrade had been taken, with perhaps a few other houses 
only, were not forsaken. Gen. Deniin^ had left town in the afternoon, 
before the deed had been committed. The Governor, in great 
excitement, hurried into town, where he remained only long 
enough to denounce the people for their folly, and rode on to 
Augusta. 

At Warsaw the people were not long in hearing what had been 
done, and anticipating Mormon vengeance, hurried from their 
homes, mostly crossing the river to Alexandria. Picket guards 
were stationed about the town to watch the approach of an enemy. 

At Nauvoo great consternation prevailed. The messenger had 
been turned back by the Governor; yet late in the night the news 
somehow reached the city. The people were appalled at the dis- 
aster which had befallen them. Most of the citizens had retired 
to sleep before the news was received, so that only a portion knew 
of the death of their leader till the morning. 

On the morning of the 2Sth of June, 1844, the sun rose on as 
strange a scene as the broad Hancock prairies had ever witnessed. 
At the three corners of a triangle, 18 miles asunder, stood a smitten 
city and two almost deserted villages, with" here and there a group 
of questioning men, anxious to hear the news of the night. To- 
ward the two villao'es the more couraijeous ones were returnino' to 
find their several abodes unsacked and untouched. The wet and 
heavy roads leading to the county seat from the south and east 
were being again traversed by the refugees of the night, now 
returning, and wondering that they had homes to return to. All 
know that a great crime had been committed, by whom they knew 
not; and they knew not how, upon whom, where, or in what man- 
ner retribution might fall! 

The murder of the Smiths, while he was at Nauvoo and in dan- 
ger, convinced our suspicious Governor that his own death had 
been contemplated by the murderers as a part of the programme. 
But for this suspicion he had not the shadow of evidence. He, 
however, very justly concluded that his authority was at an end. 
He had by his course failed to satisfy either party, and both 
regarded him with distrust. He accordingly hurried from the 
county, and brought np at Quincy, forty miles from the scene of 
the troubles. It was strongly suspected by the citizens that he had 
contemplated a rescue or an escape of the prisoners; and he was 
very angry with them for harboring such suspicion. But he 
acknowledges in his book that he had such a plan, which was 
"thwarted by this insane folly of the Anti-Mormons," [p. 339]. 
Tliis fact was never fully known, until made public by himself. 
Its consummation could hardly have been effected without blood- 
shed and violence. And here we have the startling fact confessed, 
that the Executive of a State, whose duty it is to execute the laws, 
was contemplating the escape of great criminals, in order to avoid 



324 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. * 

the responsibilities his duty devolved upon him, and a5 the easiest 
way of getting rid of troublesome men. 

now IT WAS DONE. 

There can be little doubt that the killing of the Smiths was 
perpetrated by men who had been with or of the Warsaw troops. 
There was plent}^ of time during the day, however, for others to 
have joined them, and they may have done so. Those troops were 
composed partly of citizens of Warsaw and the country around it, 
with a few from Missouri and other places. They numbered some 
one or two hundred, and were nnder command of Colonel Levi 
Williams. 

After being disbanded on the prairie, as we have seen, a portion 
of them left at once fur their homes, while others went on toward 
Carthage. What course thej' took, or what became of them, until 
the afternoon when they were observed approaching the jail, is not 
known. From a lady who resided perhaps nearest the jail, and who 
saw them approach, we lately obtained the following: That they 
strung along in single file and quick step, from the direction of the 
woods northwest of the town, until they came to the fence sur- 
rounding the building. This they scaled at once, and seized the 
guard . She was several hundred yards away, too far to recognize 
any of them, or to see positively whether they were masked or 
otherwise disfigui-ed, though she thinks they were not. Her first 
impression was that thej^ were Mormons, come to release the pris- 
oners; and that impression was shared by the other inhabitants of 
the town, as the alarm spread. She thinks there were not more 
than thirty to forty men in the gang, as they filed along. The 
guard was soon overpowered, and a rush was made for the stairway, 
ascending on the outside to the door of the jail, on the south end, 
the upper story being used for that purpose. The door was assailed 
and burst open. The prisoners inside, aware of the attack, were. 
however, behind it, well armed, endeavoring to prevent ingress. 
As the door would yield to the outside pressure, the Prophet fired 
several shots around the edge with his' revolver. The mobbers fired 
a number of shots through the door, which killed Hyrum Smith, 
and wounded John Taylor severely. Seeing they were being over- 
powered, Richards, who was still unhurt, ran with Taylor wounded 
into the inner dungeon, while Joseph Smith hastened to a window 
on the east, raised the sash and leaned partly out, probably with a 
view of jumping, when he was shot by several balls from the out- 
side, and he fell to the ground near the well curb. It has been 
stated that after he fell, he was set up against the curb, and several 
times shot. This last, we are reliably informed, is not the fact, 
but that no shot was fired after he fell, and that he died from the 
two or three shots he received in the window. The story, we 
believe, is based on the statement of Daniels, who afterward issued 
a pamphlet giving a most miraculous account of the transaction. 

Gov. Ford and others have stated that the plan had been devised 



HISTORY OF irANCOJK COUXTY. 325 

and concerted between the mob and the Carthage Greys, and that 
the guard of ten men of that company wlio were stationed around 
the jail, were in the plot, and made only a feint at resistance. Tliis 
we are compelled to believe is partly true. It is certain that a por- 
tion of the Greys knew that something- was to be done; but others, 
the great body of them, knew nothing about it. We have lately 
conversed with some who protest that they were wholly ignorant of 
anything going on, until the firing was heard, and then, like the 
rest of the citizens, they apprehended a Mormon rescue. 

Gov. Ford also charges that the mob selected that time — while 
he was in Nauvoo, and in the power of the Mormons — to do the 
bloody deed, in order to compass his own destruction at their hands 
in revenge. His own too excitable and suspicious nature origin- 
ated the thought. So far from it being the fact that they designed 
and contemplated the murder of the Governor, we believe the}- did 
not even contemplate the killing of the prisoners! This avowal 
will no doubt surprise many of our readers; for we well know that 
the Governor's statement has been so often reiterated that it has 
been generally received. But from all the inquiries we have made, 
and looking at the circumstances as they are known to have existed, 
that is our honest and fixed conclusion. Of the thirty or fort}' men 
who approached the jail that day with stealthy tread, we do not be- 
lieve there was one with murder in his heart. They are not excus- 
able, nevertheless. They were there for an unlawful and wrongful 
purpose; though we believe that purpose was not clearly defined in 
any one's mind. 

Let us look at the circumstances on which this opinion is based: 
There had been several demands made by Missouri for the delivery 
of Smith, in the near past, all of which had in some way been 
thwarted. Added to this, only a short time before, a puV)lic meet- 
ing at Warsaw and another one at Carthage had asked the Gover- 
nor of Missouri to make another demand, and pledging aid in sup- 
port of it. This purpose, we are convinced, and this only — 1(> take 
the prisoners and run them into Missouri — was as far as any pur- 
pose went, until they reached the door of the jail. There they were 
met with resistance — with fight; a defense certainly to have been 
expected; and it ended in death. It has been stated that tw.o or 
three of the mobbers were wounded and carried away. We know 
not whether this is so. 

This "Book of Daniels," referred to above, was such a curiosity 
in itself, and contained so many wonderful statements, that we 
should be glad to copy it entire as a specimen of the literature and 
truthfulness of the times. It was put forth by one AVm. M. Dan- 
iels, a good-for-nothing youth, whom no one ever heai'd of before 
or since, who says that he was among the AV^arsaw troo]^s, and at 
the jail wlu;ii the deed was done, and that afterward he was M-arned 
in a dream that he must go and join the Saints, and publish his 
knowledge to the world, in order to further the ends of justice. lie 
accordingly went to Nauvoa, and, with the assistance of a typo there, 



326 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

his book was ushered to the world. But we must content ourselves 
with a very short extract. He says that on the way to Carthage, 
after being disbanded, the Warsaw troops concocted the plan of 
killing the Smiths; that Sharp, and Grover, and Davis, and others, 
openly boasted of it along the road; that they sent a squad of men 
on ahead, to confer with the Carthage Greys; that a portion of the 
latter came out to meet them with a proposition, which was agreed 
upon; that the Greys stood and looked on while the killing was 
going on, etc., etc. He says, that after Joseph fell to the ground — 

A fellow six feet tall and upward, holding a pewter flute in his hands, bare- 
headed and bare-footed, having on nothing but his pants and shirt, with his sleeves 
rolled above his elbows, and his pants rolled above his knees, picked him up instantly 
and set him up on the south side of the well curb, situated three or fom- feet from 
the building. As the ruffian sprang over the fence to Gen. Smith, and while he was 
in tlie act of picking him up, he said : "This is old Jo; I know him. I know you, 
old Jo. Damn you ! You are the man that had my daddy shot." The reason of his 
talking in this way, I suppose, was that he wished to pass himself to Gen. Smith as 
being the sou of Gov. Boggs. * * * Four of the ruffians who stood in front of 
Col. Williams, about eight feet east of the curb, were ordered by Williams to fire. 
They raised their muskets and the fire was simultaneous. * * * After the breath 
had left his body, the person I have previously described, who had passed as the son 
of Gov. Boggs, caught up a bowie knife for the purpose of cutting off his head. 
The knife was raised ready to strike, when a light, so strange, so bright and sudden, 
flashed between him and the corpse, that he and the four men who had shot him 
were struck with terror and consternation. Their muskets fell from their hands, 
and they stood like marble, not having power to move a single limb. They were 
about to be left, when Col. Williams, who had also beheld and been terrified at the 
light, shouted out to the men, "For God's sake, come and carry away these men !" 
They were obliged to carry them awaj^ as they were as helpless as though they were 
dead. This light was something like a flash of lightning, and was so much brighter 
than the day, tliat after it had passed, it left a slight darkness like a tAvilight. 

Daniels further states tliat when it became known that he was 
going to be a witness against the accused, and the nature of his 
testimony became public, the sum of $2,500 was offered him to 
leave the State; this failing, efforts were made to put him ont ot 
the way by violence! 

BEFORE INDICTMENT AND TRIAL. 

During the summer and fall (lS4i), after the death of the lead- 
ers, great dissatisfaction and trouble existed at Nauvoo, growing 
mainly out of the struggle for tlie succession. Kigdon and his 
adherents were at work against Brigham Young and the rest of the 
Twelve. Many of the rank and file were becoming lukewarm, and 
were quietly leaving the city; at the same time numbers were 
retiring from the Mormon settlements in other parts of the county, 
some locating in the city, and others scattering to other counties, 
and in doing so were stealing liberally from the Gentiles. 

To add to the excitement a Grand Military Encampment was 
called to be held at Warsaw on the 2d of October. This call was 
cii-culated i^ handbill, and was dated 27th Sept., signed by Col. 
Williams, Major Aldrich, and a number of officers of independent 
companies in the neighborhood of Warsaw. 

We are assured that this movement aetuallv intended nothing 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 327 

beyond what was expressed in the call, bat it gave great uneasiness 
to the Mormons and their friends. They saw in it something 
more than a peaceful military display; and it soon became magni- 
fied into a great wolf hunt, in which the wolves hunted were to be 
Mormons in sheep's clothing. The excitement spread, and the 
Governor was appealed to for protection. His Excellency, ever 
ready to believe any thing prejudicial to the old citizens, in this 
case allowed himself to be imposed upon, and without proper 
inquiry, decided to send an expedition with troops into the county. 
A proclamation was accordingly issued, calling for volunteers 
(2,500 required), and after a delay of several days a force of about 450 
men was marched into Hancock, the whole under command of Col. 
John J. Hardin, accompanied bv the Governor himself. The two 
Quincy companies were sent directly to Nauvoo, by way of the 
river. Peoj)le were reluctant to volunteer, believing that the Gov- 
erno'* was engaged in an unnecessary and uncalled-for enterprise. 

Some days previous to the call for troops, Murra}' McConnell, 
Esq., of Jacksonville, had been sent into the county, to Carthage 
and J^anvoo; and the result was that Messrs. Williams and Sharp 
of Warsaw, and the Laws and Fosters of Rock Island, with Joseph 
H. Jackson, were selected as examples for arrest, and writs for 
them were accordingly issued by Aaron Johnson, a Nauvoo Justice 
of the Peace. These writs, excepting as to Col. Williams, were 
served ; but all refused to go to JNTauvoo for hearing, and no 
attempt was made to take them there. 

After a delay of a day or two at Carthage, the Governor's army 
■was marched to Kauvoo on the 27th, and encamped about a mile 
and a half below the city near the Mississippi. On the 2Sth the 
Xauvoo Legion was paraded for review. From Nauvoo the troops 
were ordered to Warsaw, where they arrived on the 29th, and 
encamped in the suburbs. As the troops approached the town, the 
men apprehending arrest, with some of their friends, quietly 
repaired across the river to Alexandria. Knowing this fact, Gov. 
Ford chartered a keel-boat at Montebello, and had it secretly 
dropped down to the vicinity of Warsaw; intending to use it that 
night in kidnapping the men from Missouri, and bringing them 
to the Illinois side. But during the afternoon Cols. Hardin and 
Baker visited the Missouri side, and had a conference with the 
accused. An agreement was entered into by wdiich Williams and 
Sharp (Jackson being sick) agreed to give themselves up on con- 
dition that they be taken before Judge Thomas for examination, 
with some other conditions as to bail, etc. The writ was accord- 
ingly read to them, and afterwards, with Col. Baker, escorted by 
Quincy troops, they were sliipped to Quincy in quest o'" the Judge. 
Here, after waiting two days, and no prosecuting witnesses a]>pear- 
ing, they entered into voluntary recognizance to appear at next 
term of Court, and were set at liberty; thus leaving the whole mat- 
ter as it was previous to the Governor's expedition. 



328 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

All this occurred just previous to the October term of Court, at 
which the indictments were found. 

Mention has been made of Joseph H. Jackson . Mr. J. was an adven- 
turer of fine appearance and gentlemanly manners, who appeared 
in the county during the troubles; went to ISTauvoo and became 
quite intimate with the prophet and the leaders; afterwards turned 
against them, went to "Warsaw and published a pamphlet claiming 
to be an exposure of Mormonism and the evil purposes and prac- 
tices of its chiefs. This pamphlet made many serious charges 
against Smith and his adherents — charges of murder and conspir- 
acy, of counterfeiting, debauchery, spiritual-wifsry, etc. ; and 
claimed that he had gone among them with the sole view of 
ingratiating himself and then exposing them. His expose was 
of much the same character as that of General Bennett. As in the 
case of the latter, much of his statement was corroborated by cir- 
cumstances, and much lacked confirmation. The equivocal position 
in which he stood, it is proper to say, tended to lessen the confi- 
dence of the public in his statements, and his little book made but 
slight impression. The Mormons charged that he was an adven- 
turer of the worst class, and came there to practice his trade of 
counterfeiting, etc., and quarrelled with the prophet and the 
authorities because he was detected and exposed. 

TRIALS AND ACQUITTALS. 

At the October term, 1844, of the Hancock Circuit Court — 
present, Jesse B. Thomas, Judge; William Elliott, Prosecuting 
Attorney; Jacob B. Backenstos, Clerk, and Gen. Minor R. Dem- 
ing, Sheriff. 

The following composed the Grand Jury: 

Abrain Lincoln, Thomas Gilmore, 

James Reynolds, Benj. Warrington, 

Thomas J. Graham, Reuben H. Loomis, 

Wm. M. Owens, Samuel Scott, 

Ebenezer Rand, James Ward, 

Thomas Brawuer, Samuel Ramsey, 

Ralph Gorrell, Thomas H. Owen, 

Brant Agnert, David Thompson, 

Martin Yetter, John J. Hickok. 
William Smith, 

Abram Golden, E. A. Bedell, and Geo. Walker, excused for cause. Samuel 
Marshall refused to serve, and fined tS.OO. 

The Court began its session on Monday, the 21st. There had been rumors indus- 
triously circulated that the old citizens intended to rally and interpose obstacles in 
the way of the Coiu-t, and considerable anxietj^ was felt. The Judge in his charge 
to the Grand Jury alluded to this rum or, and said he was glad to see thafno such demon- 
strations were being made. He charged them to do their duty in the cases likely to 
come before them, and leave the consequences. His charge gave general satis- 
faction. 

There was a rumor that a lot of Mormons and Indians were encamped near town, 
and this rumor occasioned considerable uneasiness. Orders were issued to investi- 
gate. The facts turned out to be that a number of Mormons had come down from 
Nauvoo to attend Court, and had gone into camp to save expense. As to the 
Indians, it was ascertained that a company of them had gone tlu-ough the county, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 329 

on their way to Iowa, for some purpose not known ; but the two facts had no con- 
nection with each other. 

On Tuesday the Grand Jury began their work, and on Saturday al^out noon, they 
brought into Court two bills of indictment against nine individuals; one for the 
murder of Joseph Smith, and the other for the murder of his brotlier Ilyrum. 
Tlie persons indicted were as follows: Levi Williams, Jacob C. Davis, Mark 

Aldrich, Thos. C Sharp, William Voras, John Wills, Wm. N. Grover, 

Gallaher and Allen. 

Murray McConnell, Esq., of Jacksonville, by special .-ippointment of the 
Governor, was present, assisting Mr. Elliott in the prosecution. Messrs. Bushnell 
and Johnson of Quincy and Calvin A. Warren, and perhaps others, appeared for 
defendants. 

Immediately on announcement of the indictments, most of the defendants 
appeared, and asked for an immediate trial. This Mr. McConnell objected to on 
the ground of not being ready. His witnesses before the Grand Jury had 
departed without being recognized, and besides, Mr. Elliott had gone. It was 
finally agreed that the causes be postponed until next term, and that no aiputs 
should issue from the Clerk in the interim, if the defendants would pledge them- 
selves to appear at the time agreed on — a compact which was afterward violated 
by the prosecution. 

Subpcenas were asked for by the prosecution for between thirty and forty 
witnesses, among whom wereWm. M. Daniels and Brackenberry, the two miracle 
men, and John Taylor, Mrs. Emma Smith, and Governor Ford. 

On May 19, 1845, Court again met in special term at Carthage — 
present, Richard M. Young, Judge; James 11. Ralston, Prosecuting 
Attorney; David E. Head, Clerk; and M. R. Deming, Sheriff! 
The cause of The People vs. Williams et al. coming up, Messrs. 
Williams, Davis, Aldrich, Sharp and Grover appeared, and were 
admitted to bail on personal recognizance in the sum of $5,000 
jointly and severall3\ Josiali Lam born, of Jacksonville, as Assist- 
ant Prosecutor; and Wm. A. Richardson, O. H. Browning, Calvin 
A. Warren, Archibald AVilliams, O. C. Skinner and Thos. Morri- 
son for defendants. Motion of defendants to quash the array of 
jurors for first week, on account of supposed prejudice of County 
Commissioners, who selected them, and of the Sheriff and deputies, 
was sustained. Also, motion for the appointment of elisors for 
the same cause, and absence of Coroner from the county. The 
array was set aside, and Thomas H. Owen and Wm. D. Abernethy 
appointed elisors for the case. These gentlemen had a thankless 
and arduous duty to perform. Usually it is not hard to find men 
willing to sit on juries; in this case but few were willing to try the 
experiment of going to Court, with the almost certainty of being 
rejected by one or the other party; and the position was not an 
enviable one, if taken. Kinety-six men were summoned and 
brought into Court before the requisite panel of twelve was full. 
The following are the names of the jurors chosen: 

Jesse GrifBtts, Jonathan Foy, 

Joseph Jones, Solomon J. HiU, 

Wm. Robertson, James Gittings, 

Wm. Smith, F. M. Walton, 

Joseph Massey, Jabez A. Beebe, 

Silas Griffitts, Gilmore Callison. 

The trial lasted till the 30th, when the jury was instructed by the 
Court, and, after a deliberation of several hours, returned a verdict 
of Not Guilt If. 



330 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. • 

Instructions to the jury had been asked by both parties. The 
following, among a list of nine asked by defendants' counsel, were 
given, and probably had most influence on the verdict: 

That where the evidence is circumstantial, admitting all to be proven which the 
evidence tends to prove, if then the jmy can make anj' supposition consistent with 
tlie facts, by which the murder might have been committed without the agencj^ of 
the defendants, it will be their duty to make that supposition, and find defendants 
not guilty. 

That in making up their verdict, they will exclude from their consideration all that 
was said by Daniels, Brackenberry, and Miss Graham. [Witnesses.] 

That whenever the probability is of a definite and limited nature, whether in the 
proportion of 100 to 1 or of 1,000 to 1, or any ratio, is immaterial, it cannot be 
safely made the ground of conviction; for to act upon it in any case would be to 
decide that for tlie sake of convicting many criminals, the life of one innocent man 
might be sacrificed. — [Staekie, 508. 

Same defendants, for murder of Hyrum Smith, were required to 
enter into recognizance of $5,000 each (with 14 sureties) to the 
June term, 1845. At said term case was called, and Elliott and 
Lainborn not answering, the cause was dismissed for want of pros- 
ecution, and defendants discharged. 

It has been the custom for sensational writers to treat this trial 
and verdict as farcical and an outrage. One of these writers. Col. 
John Haj, now of the State Department at Washington, though 
then a mere boy, was jet raised in the county, and had within his 
reach correct sources of information. In the Atlantic Monthly for 
Dec, 1869, he has a lengthy article, abounding in extravagant and 
sensational statements and surmises, among which we quote only 
the following: 

"The case was closed. There was not a man on the jury, in the 
Court, in the county, that did not know the defendants had done 
the murder. But it was not proven, and the verdict of Not Guilty 
was right in law." 

Here is a iiing at the jury, the Judge, and people; and we ven- 
ture to characterize it as extremely unjust. We know the writer 
intended to perpetrate no wrong. He was too intimately con- 
nected with some of the accused — indeed, with all concerned — to 
desire them wrong; but he aimed to produce a readable story for 
the Atlantic^ which he did, though at the expense of candor and 
justice. Another fling at the jury was equallj' nnjust: 

" The elisors presented ninety-six men before twelve were found 
ignorant enough and indiflerent enough to act as jurors." 

Some of those men we knew — not all; and we know that they, 
instead of being " ignorant and indiflerent," were men of intelli- 
gence, probity and worth. 

There were some circumstances connected with those cases, not 
generall}'^ known, that tend to show how difficult it was to find out 
the guilty ones. The Mormons had had one John C. Elliott 
arrested and bound over, charged with the offense; they had also 
had writs for the Laws, and Fosters, and Higbees, at Rock Island, 
under the same charge. And when the Grand Jury was in session, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 331 

the names of some sixty individuals were presented by tlie prose- 
cution for indictment. One of those sixty has informed us that he 
since learned that he narrowly escaped indictment, although, being 
one of the Warsaw men, he returned immediately home after dis- 
bandment, and had no knowledge of the affair till after it was over. 
It has since transpired that the Grand Jury voted on the whole 
sixty together at the first, and failing of an indictment, struck off 
ten and voted again, and so on until the last nine were reached, 
when the indictment carried. It has also been ascertained that the 
Grand Jury found bills against the nine, some as principals and 
some as accessories solely on the testimony of the three witnesses 
whose testimony on the trial the Court instructed the petit jury to 
disregard. 

From all these facts it is verj' easy to say .that a murder had 
been committed; that somebody had done the deed. But to say 
that among the Elliotts, Laws, and Fosters, and Iligbees, and long 
list of men charged, those five or six who were on trial had done 
it, and the jury, and Court, and everybody else knew it, is saying 

A GKEAT DEAL. 

STRUGGLE FOR THE SUCCESSION. 

If anything were needed to convince one of the fully and wicked- 
ness of Mormonism, it is to be found in the quarrels and conten- 
tions of the leaders. During the prophet's lifetime he was contin- 
ually at variance with one or more of his former followers and 
trusted associates; denouncing and excommunicating them one 
month, and the next taking them back to his embrace and confi- 
dence. Cowdery, Harris, Whitmer, Rigdon, Phelps, "Williams, 
and many others, had been sent by his maledictions to " buffet 
with Satan for a thousand years;" and long before their time was 
out, taken back again and the malediction removed. 

So, after his death, a great struggle began for the possession of 
the mantle that had fallen from his shoulders. The grief at his 
death was genuine on the part of the main body; but on the part 
of the few, its bitterness was assuaged by the hope of assuming 
his place and honors. Rigdon, who had the best right — having 
furnished the principal brain supply for the concern at its origin 
— was soon sent back to Pittsburg with a flea in his ear. He had 
made the inexcusable and unlucky mistake of moving to carry the 
delusion back to the East. Young, wiser and more discerning, 
adopted the idea of following the setting sun; and he succeeded 
in overcoming all opposition. Absent when the prophet was 
killed, he hastened home, and quietly but firmly began to gather 
the reins of government about him — one by one securing the 
co-operation of his associates — till, before they knew it, he was 
supreme dictator, and they the pliant tools of his wall. 

William, the patriarch (all the Smiths, we believe, had been 
patriarchs), the only male member left of the family, also hurried 
to Nauvoo, to advance his claims. But he was vacillating and 



332 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

weak, and sadly lacking in the traits requisite for a leader; and lie 
fell into the meshes of the others, and quietly settled down into 
the business of dispensino^ " patriarclial blessings" for pay; and 
the organ urged the brethren and sisters to patronize him. But 
the pay being insufficient, or for some other cause, he again 
became troublesome — flew off at a tangent — quarrelled with and 
denounced the Twelve — and finally went and joined James Y. 
Strang in Wisconsin. But after the leaders had left for the West, 
thinking there might be a chance again, he came back to Nauvoo, 
and tried to prevent the remnant from following Young into the 
wilderness. Failing again, he, Rigdon and Strang organized a 
trinity which drew off a great many of the faithful. Whether Strang 
had ever been with tliem at Nauvoo, we do not know. The first we 
hear of him is at a place he called Voree, in Wisconsin, where he 
tried the old game of finding plates, claimed the prophet's mantle 
by will from the prophet himself, got up revelations, issued a 
small monthly paper, and for a time made some noise in the Mor- 
mon world. The following illustrates his method of plate finding: 

Strang's four witnesses. 

On the 13th clay of September, 1845, we, Aaron Smith, Jirah B. Wheelan, James 
M. Van Nostrand, and Edward Whitcomb, assembled at the call of James J. 
Strang, who is by us and many others approved as a prophet and seer of God. He 
proceeded to inform us that it had been revealed to him in a vision that an 
account of an ancient people was buried in a hill south of White river bridge, 
near the east line, of Walworth county, and leading us to an oak tree about one 
foot in diameter, told us that we would find it enclosed in a case of rude earthen- 
ware under that tree e.t a depth of about three feet; requested us to dig it up, and 
charged us to examine the ground, that we should know we were not imposed 
upon, and that it had not been buried since the tree grew. The tree was sur- 
rounded by a sward of deeply rooted grass, such as is usually found in the open- 
ings, and upon the most critical examination we could not discover any indication 
that it had ever been cut through or distunjed. 

We then dug up the tree, and continued to dig to the depth of about three feet, 
where we found a case of slightly baked clay containing three plates of brass. 
On one side of one is a landscape view of the south end of Gardner's prairie, and 
the range of hills where they were dug. On another, is a man with a crown on 
his head and a scepter in his hand; above is an eye before an upright line; below 
the sun and moon surrounded by twelve stars; at the bottom are twelve large stars 
from three of which pillars arise, and closely interspersed with them are seven 
very small stars. The other four sides are very closely covered with, what appear 
to be alphabetic characters, but in a language of which we have no knowledge. 

The case was found imbedded in indurated clay so closely fitting that it broke 
in taking out, and the eartli below the soil was so hard as to be dug with difficulty, 
even with a pick-ax. Over the case was found a flat stone about one foot wide 
each way and three inches thick, which appeared to have undergone the action 
of fire, and fell in pieces after a few minutes' exposure to the air. The digging 
extended in the clay about eighteen inches, there being two kinds of earth of 
difterent color and appearance above it. 

We examined as we dug all the way with the utmost care, and we say, with 
utmost confidence, that no part of the earth through which we dug exhibited any 
sign or indication that it had been moved or disturbed at any time previous. The 
roots of the tree stuck down very closely on every side, extending below the case, 
and closely interwoven with roots from other trees. None of them had been 
broken or cut away. No clay is found in the country like that of which this 
case is made. 

In fine, we found an alphabetic and pictorial record, carefully cased up, buried 
deep in the earth, covered with a flat stone, with an oak tree one foot in diameter 




Q:y^^i^'y^-(>U'i^ iiJj^ 



<xUe^ 



WILCOX Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 335 

growing over it, with every evidence that the sense can give that it lias lain as 
long asthat tree has been growing. Strang toolv no part in the digging, but kept 
entirely away from before the first blow was struck till after the plates were taken 
out of the case; and the sole inducement to our digging was our faith in his 
statement as a prophet of the Lord, that a record would thus and there be foiin d 

Aaron Smith, 

JlRAH B. WlIEELAN, 

I. M. Van Nostrand, 
Edward Whitcomb. 

Now, if living, stand forth, Messrs. Smith, Wheelan, Yan Kos- 
trand, and Whitcomb, and answer: When you made that public 
statement thirty -five years ago, did you nut utter an absolute and 
infamous falsehood? 

AVliy the discovery of these plates did not form the basis of anew 
revelation and a new creed, we can not say; nor even whether Strang 
ever attempted a translation of them. It may be tliat he came to the 
yery erroneous conclusion that the fools were nearly all dead — and 
so gave it up. 

Kigdon, as heretofore stated, endeavored by all the means in his 
power to gain the place left vacant in the Church. The Twelve how- 
ever decided quite unanimously that they would have no prophet, seer 
and revelator any more, but that the Twelve should be the supreme 
authority as a body. The breach widened, and finally they brought 
the contumacious old man to trial befor*^. the conference. This 
trial is reported at length in the Times and Seasons, and deserves 
a conspicuous place in the history of ecclesiastical tribunals. The 
charge against him was — a little of everything bad; but theoflfense 
for which he was tried and condemned, was really that he wished 
to be President of the Church. The trial was a long one, and 
finally the vote was put, offered by W. W. Phelps, " that Elder 
Sidney Rigdon be cut off from the Church, and delivered over to 
the buffetings of Satan until he repents." 

The vote, says the report, 'Svas unanimous, excepting about ten." 
A motion was then made to cut off the ten. This failed, and they 
were taken singly, on separate and different charges, and cut off by 
unanimous votes. Elder Marks was one of them, having made a 
speech defending Rigdon; but the conference had hopes of him, 
and he was not expelled. In the next Times and Seasons he issued 
a card, stating that after candid consideration he had become con- 
vinced that Sidney' Rigdon's claims to the Presidency were not 
founded in truth. The conference closed after Elder Young liad 
delivered Sidney over to the buffetings of Satan, in the name of 
the Lord, " and all the people said Amen!" 

Mr. Saulsbury, a brother- indaw to the Smiths, though we 
believe never a leader among them, about tliis time came out, and 
through a letter to the Warsaw Signal denounced the Twelve and 
made the same or similar charges against them that William Smith 
and Rigdon had made. He died in this county. 

21 -> 



336 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



MORE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED. 



If the year 18-M was one of blood, that of 1845 was more bloody 
still. Excitement and violence prevailed during a great part ot 
the year. 

We have seen that Gen. Minor R. Deming M-as elected Sheriff ot 
the connty in August, 1844, and Jacob B. Backenstos and Almon 
"W. Babbitt members of the Legislature, by Mormon votes. More 
objectionable men to the Anti-Mormon citizens could scarcely have 
been found in the county. Gen. Deming was an officer of militia, 
and a citizen previously in no way identitied with the Mormon 
fraternity. He had resided on a farm some miles out of Carthage; 
was well educated and capable, and we think he was conscientious 
in his endeavors to do right. But he was extremel}' conservative 
in his respect for law and order. He was also conceited and self- 
willed, and had "an itching palm " for office, and the best way to 
obtain this was to ingratiate himself with the Mormon leaders. 

Mr. Backenstos was a new-comer into the county, imported, it 
was said, b}^ Judge Douglas from Sangamon, to take the office ot 
Circuit Clerk, which he had held for some time previous to his 
election to the Legislature. Babbitt was a Mormon lawj^er. He 
was expected to obey the behests of the Mormon leaders, of course. 
As the others obtained favor with the Mormons, they incurred the 
hatred and distrust of the other citizens of the county. 

As before stated, the agreement entered into that no arrests 
should be made of the parties indicted for killing the Smiths, was 
violated on the part of the prosecution, and frequent attempts 
were made by the Sheriff and his deputies to arrest some of them, 
during the winter. J. C. Davis, one of them, was State Senator. 
At the opening of the Legislative session he took his seat in that 
body. During the winter he was arrested at Springfield by an 
officer from Hancock countj, but was ordered released by resolution 
of the Senate. 

During the session a move was made to repeal the Nauvoo char- 
ters, and after discussion in the House was passed, January 21, 
1845, by a vote of 76 to 3G. It subsequently passed the Senate. 
Messrs. Backenstos and Babbitt both made speeches against the 
repeal, the former taking occasion to violently denounce the old 
citizens of the county. For this speech, and his otherwise vindic- 
tive and objectionable course, a demonstration was made in the spring 
after his return, to drive him from the county. He soon afterward 
obtained an appointment through Congressman Hoge, to an office 
in the lead mines, and subsequently was made a Captain in the 
forces sent to the Mexican war. 

During the winter and spring, as a result of the unsettled state 
of affairs in Nauvoo, and the consequent hard times, there was an 
unusual amount of stealing done, not only in the city, but in other 
parts of the county. It extended to Adams, Henderson, and other 
adjoining counties. In Adams, where arrests could be made, there 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 337 

were as many as eif^lit Mormons in jail at one time. In the city, 
the two parties, Tvvelveites and liigdonites, stole from each other; 
while in the country the Gentiles were the chief sufferers. This 
became so insupportable that public meetings were held at many 
points to devise means of })rotection and redress. Township com- 
mittees were appointed to collect statistics of these thefts, which 
was done, and many of them published, footing up hundreds of 
dollars in various townships. Some of these reports were no doubt 
exaggerated; but as many must have been omitted, it is safe to say 
that the totals fell short of the truth. Of course, it was not proven 
that all these depredations were committed by Mormons, and proba- 
bly were not. The charge has often been made that stealing was 
done on Mormon credit, which is in itself an admission against 
them; but that a vast percentage of it was done by them alone, 
all circumstances go to show. And events which transpired this 
year, show that they had among them some who did not hesitate 
at robbery and murder, as well as theft and burglary. 

On Saturday night, May 10, 18-15, a horrible murder was com- 
mitted near the town of Franklin, in Lee Co., Iowa, on the persons 
of John Miller, a Menonite German minister from Pennsylvania, 
and his s?5n-in-law, Leiza. The latter was not killed, but died of 
his wounds afterward. The locality is about ten or twelve miles 
from Nauvoo, and the murderers, three in number, were traced to 
that city. Their names were William Hodge, Stephen Hodge, 
and Thomas Brown. The Hodges were arrested on the 13th and 
conveyed to the Iowa penitentiary at Fort Madison, for safe keep- 
ing. On the 15th they were indicted by the Grand Jury at West 
Point, and on the 21st were arraigned for trial. They asked for a 
change of venue, and the cause was certified to DesMoines county. 
On the 21st of June they were put upon their trial at Burlington. 
They were defended by two eminent Burlington attorneys, J. C. 
Hall and F. D. Mills, assisted by George Edmunds, of iSTauvoo. 
The trial lasted about a week. Mason, District Judge, then sen- 
tenced them to be hung on the 15th of July. They were so 
executed. 

A peculiar cap worn by one of the murderers, and which he lost 
at the house of the murder, led to their arrest. They were traced 
to Nauvoo, and found at the house of their brother, Amos Hodge, 
in the suburbs. They were taken before Aaron Johnson, a Justice 
of the Peace, for examination, where they were defended by Almon 
W. Babbitt. Babbitt himself was afterward^murdered mysteriously 
in Utah, while U. S. District Attorney. 

On the night of the 23d of June, Irvin Hodge, brother to the 
accused, was assassinated in Nauvoo, while on his way home from 
a visit to them at Burlington. He had, it is said, endeavored to 
induce Brigham Young to send and have his brothers rescued from 
jail, and failing, was free in denouncing him for the neglect. But 
little notice was taken of this last murder in Nauvoo. The father 
of the Hodges was allowed to visit them before their execution, 



33S HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

from his confinement in the Alton penitentiary, where he was 
under sentence for larceny. 

The patriarch Wm. Smith, in a letter to the Sangamo Journal^ 
dated Sept. 24, 18i6, says of the Hodges: " Irvin Hodge was mur- 
dered within twelve feet of Brigham Young's door. Amos Hodge 
was murdered, it is said, between Montrose and Nashville, Iowa, 
by Brigham Young's guard, who pretended to escort him out of 
Nauvoo for his safety, under cover of women's clothes, who then 
pretended that he had run away." And again: "If Mr. Amos 
Hodge, the father of the young Hodges, will call and see me, I can 
tell him the names of persons that will put him on the track of the 
men who murdered his sons." 

In an affidavit for witnesses to prove an alibi^ the Hodges claimed 
to rely on the testimony of six or eight named witnesses residing 
in Nauvoo, and upon John Long, Aaron Long, and Judge Fox, 
who they said resided in St. Louis. These names will long be 
remembered in the annals of crime in the West, as the parties who 
perpetrated 

THE MURDER OF COL. DAVENPORT, 

at his home on Rock Island, on the 4th of July, just after the con- 
viction of the Hodges. This murder was perpetrated in broad 
daylight, while all the family but the old Colonel were absent at a 
celebration on the main land. He was an aged and quite infirm 
man, and was quietly sitting at his house reading a paper, when he 
was attacked by the robbers. Rising to approach the door, at which 
he heard a noise, it was pushed open, and three men entered, one 
of whom at once discharged a pistol at him, the ball entering his 
thigh. He was then dragged through a hall, and up the stairs, to a 
closet containing his safe, which they compelled him to open. 
After obtaining the contents, and money from his bureau drawers, 
they left him, still tied upon his bed, in which condition he was 
afterward found by persons passing. Surgical aid was procured, 
and he was revived sufiiciently to describe the assassins and the 
circumstances, but he died about ten o'clock that night. 

Fifteen hundred dollars reward for the murderer was offered by 
George L. Davenport, his son; and John Long, Aaron Long and 
Granville Young were finally arrested and hung for the offense; 
Judge Fox was arrested and allowed to escape, while one Birch, a 
daring desperado, said to have been connected with the Danite 
Band, was implicated and arrested, but escaped by turning State's 
evidence. About the same time numerous acts of robbery and 
burglary were committed in Lee county, opposite, and along the 
river, traceable in almost all cases, to a gang that had their head- 
quarters in Nauvoo. 

EVENTS IN HANCOCK COUNTY. 

But while these acts of violence were being perpetrated out of 
the county, a most lamentable tragedy was enacted at home. On 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTV. 339 

Tuesday, June 24, 1845, an altercation occurred between Dr. 
Samuel Marshall, County Clerk, and the Sherifl" of the county, 
General Deming, which resulted in the death of the former at the 
hands of the latter. The difficulty arose in regard to some mistake 
in official business. Dr. M. was a very exact and punctual man in 
all his affairs, and he expected others to be equally so, and the 
General's apparent carelessness in the matter in dispute irritated 
him. A scuffle ensued, in the midst of which Gen. Deming drew 
a pistol and shot his antagonist. The aifair was a very unfortu- 
nate one, as it resulted in the death of a most estimable citizen and 
public officer, and added to the excitement already existing in the 
county. A little self-control and moderation on the part of both, 
and the conflict might have been avoided. Dr. Marshall was a 
strong Anti-Mormon in his feelings and principles, and had the 
full confidence of the party; yet he resolutely refused to sanction 
any of their unlawful proceedings. He was one of that small 
number who believed it better to suffer all the ills of Mormonism, 
rather than resort to illegal and violent measures for redress. 

Gen. Deming was at once taken into custody by the Coroner, and 
a jury of inquest summoned. The jury returned a verdict of 
" Murder without sufficient cause or provocation." This occurred 
on the day set for the special term of Court for the trial of the 
persons charged with the murder of Hyrum Smith, The Court 
opened about five in the afternoon, and two hours after the tragedy 
Deming was brought into Court, and stated that he was desirous to 
have a Grand Jury impaneled for the investigation of this case. 
The Court ordered the Coroner to summon a Grand Jury by the 
next morning. The accused then inquired if there was no process 
by which he might be admitted to bail during the pendency of the 
investigation, to which the Court gave a negative answer. On 
Wednesday morning a jury was impaneled, and charged by the 
Court, and at three in the afternoon brought into Court a bill for 
murder, with counts for manslaughter. It was stated that the 
vote stood in the jurj- room 16 to 3. 

A motion was made by Deming's counsel to admit him to bail, 
and after hearing he was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000. 
Bail was given and he was discharged from custody. 

Mr. Deming resigned the office of Sheriff', and an election was 
ordered to fill the vacancy, to take place August 11th, resulting in 
the election of J. B. Backenstos by tlie following vote: Backen- 
stos, 2,334; John Scott, 750; scattering, 11. 

Mr. D. was never brought to trial. He was stricken with con- 
gestive fever, no doubt brought on or aggravated by excitement, 
and died on the 10th of September, and was buried in Quincy by 
his brother's side. 

And now it becomes our painful duty to chronicle a series of 
events which transpired in the county, — acts which had no warrant 
in law or order, and which cannot be reconciled witli any correct 
principles of ren=oning. and which we then thor.ght, and still 



340 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

think, were condemned by every consideration looking to good 
government; acts which had for their object, and which finally 
resulted in, the forcible expulsion of the Mormon people from the 
county. The disorders at I^auvoo, tiie vast amount of stealing 
and other depredations upon property, the murders in Iowa and 
elsewhere, and the consequent feeling of fear and insecurity every- 
where, brought the people to a state of recklessness. 

On the night of Sept. 9th, a public meeting of Anti-Mormons 
was being held in a school-house at Green Plains, for some purpose, 
when it was fired upon by parties in the bush. It was at once 
resolved to begin the expulsion of the Mormons from the settle- 
ment known as Morley-Town. This resolve was put into execu- 
tion; on Wednesday night two Mormon cabins were burned, and 
the inmates notified to leave the settlement. For a week the 
burning continued until the whole of Morley-Town was in ashes, 
with many other residences in the Bear Creek region and that of 
Green Plains. In all it is stated that as many as 100 or 125 
houses were burned, and their occupants driven ofi". These pro- 
ceedings created intense excitement all over the county. Sheriff 
Backenstos endeavored to raise ajyosse among the old citizens to 
suppress the disturbances, but failed. He therefore issued a proc- 
lamation dated at Green Plains on the 13th, calling on the rioters 
to desist, and upon the posse comitatus of the county to assist him. 
Pie also stated that it was his policy to have the Mormons remain 
quiet, but that 2,000 men held themselves in readiness in Nauvoo 
to come to his aid when necessary. On the 16th Lieut. Franklin 
A. Worrell was killed while passing from Carthage to Warsaw, by 
Backenstos, or some oih.i's, posse, and on the ITtli Samuel McBrat- 
ney was killed among the burners at Bear Creek, by the posse. 
Lieut. Worrell (of the Carthage Greys) was in no way connected 
with the burners, and had nothing to do with the prevailing dis- 
turbances. In company with eight other men, he was passing on 
the road from Carthage to Warsaw, with the view of ascertaining 
the facts as to the disturbances at Green Plains. Three of these 
men, Worrell and two others, were on horseback; the others 
were in a buggy and a two-horse wagon, the wagon also contain- 
ing the arms of the company. As they came in sight of the road 
leading toward Nauvoo, and which they would cross at right 
angles, they discovered a man riding up tliat road. Not knowing 
him, and seeing he was coming from the direction of the burning, 
the}'^ hurried on to intercept him at the crossing, hoping to gain 
information. He then drove more rapidly, apparently to cross 
before they could come up. They hurried on, the three horsemen 
in the lead. As they neared the brow of a ravine he had crossed, 
and when they came in sight, he was seen standing near his buggy, 
and at the same moment a shot was fired from near him, which 
struck Worrell. He nor his associates had made no demonstra- 
tions of violence; but now seeing or believing it to be Backenstos 
and \\\& posse, immediately wheeled their horses and rode toward 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 341 

the wagon and buggy which were approaching. Mr. Worrell soon 
fell from his horse, was picked up, placed in the wagon and driven 
to Warsaw; but died on the way. 

Backenstos and the notorious O. P. Rockwell were both subse- 
quently indicted for the murder of Worrell, and both acquitted, 
the former under trial by change of venue at Peoria, and the latter 
at Galena. Who was the actually guilty party may never be known. 
We have lately been informed from Salt Lake that Rockwell did the 
deed, under order of the Sheriff, which is probably the case. The 
Sheriff's Proclamation No. 2 would lead to this conclusion. He 
says, in his usual style of exaggeration: " I discovered an armed 
body of some 20 or more men on the Warsaw and Carthage road, 
two or three miles east of me, going toward Warsaw. I watched 
them, and on discovering that four men of the force mounted on 
horses, left the main body, apparently to strike a point in advance 
of me, with all the speed of their horses, and finding that they 
were in pursuit of me, I put the whip to my horse ; as 1 was trav- 
eling in a buggy, they taking a near cut evidently gained on me, 
The chase lasted for a distance of about two miles, when I for- 
tunately overtook three men with teams. I immediately informed 
them that armed men were pursuing me, evidently to take my 
life; I summoned them as a jyosse to aid me in resisting them. 
I dismounted and took a position in the road, pistol in hand. I 
commanded them (the mobbers) to stop, when one of them held 
his musket in a shooting attitude; whereupon one of my posse 
fired, and, it is believed, took effect on one of the lawless banditti." 

Admitting this statement to be an honest one from his stand- 
point — which is not at all likely — it only illustrates how easily the 
fears and excitements of an individual can change peaceable citi- 
zens into "lawless banditti." It is, furthermore, quite certain 
that had Lieut. Worrell and his companions known who it was they 
were following, he would have been permitted to go his way un- 
molested. 

The Sheriff says that he ordered his pos^e to take the burners 
prisoners, if practicable, if not, to fire on them. How well this 
order was ol)eyed the killing of McBratney will show. He was 
pursued, with others, by a crowd of men on horseback; was over- 
taken and shot in the back, and while down was hacked and bay- 
oneted in numerous places. His horse was slow, and he could have 
easily been taken prisoner alive. 

It is proper to state that the Mormons and their friends have 
charged the firing on the school-house at Green Plains to have been 
a sham previously arranged l)y the mol)bers to create a sympathy 
in their favor. This has been denied; whether true or not, we do 
not know. 

The Sheriff, failing to raise a posse outside of i^^auvoo, was 
obliged to resort to his " 2,000 armed men " there, to carry out his 
purposes. He obtained such force as he desired, and soon succeeded 
in scattering the burners. He now carried things in the county 



342 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

with a high hand. Exactly what his object was is not known, but 
on the evening of the 19th of September, the Sheriff, at the head of 
several hundred men, rode into Carthage after sundown, sur- 
rounded the place, and ordered all the citizens who could be found 
to be arrested and taken to headquarters at the court-house. He 
said he was in quest of criminals. After roughly handling many of 
them, and searching their houses for arms, most of them were set 
at liberty. In the morning, the posse, excepting about fift}', left 
town, the fifty remaining, as he said, to protect the town. Thej' re- 
tained possession of the court-house till the arrival of Gen. Hardin 
and his State troops, who gave them immediate leave of absence. 

These disturbances and excesses, as on a former occasion, of 
course, called for executive interference, and accordingly Gov. Ford 
again sent a detachment of volunteers into the county, and again 
under command of Gen. John J. Hardin. The General wasaccom- 
panied as adviser, by J. A. ' McDougal, Attorney-General of the 
State, and also by Judge S. A. Douglas and Major W. B. Warren. 
On the 27th of September, Gen. Hardin issued a highly merito- 
rious proclamation to the people of the county, enjoining them to 
be peaceable and to obey the laws and the constituted authorities. 
In conjunction with his advisers he at once entered into correspond- 
ence with the authorities of the Mormon Church at Nauvoo, 
which resulted in the Mormons agreeing to leave the State in the 
spring. 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END. 

In the meantime a meeting of representatives of nine counties 
contiguous to Hancock had been called to meet at Carthage on the 
first and second days of October (Hancock county being excluded), 
to take into consideration the state of affairs. The convention was 
organized as follows, viz: Isaac N. Morris, Esq., of Adams, Pres- 
ident; Col. Wm. Ross, of Pike, Gen. James McCallen, of Warren, 
and John Kirk, Esq., of McDonough, Yice-Presidents; and Alva 
Wheeler, of Knox, Geo. Pobinson, of Schuyler, and Wm. H. Ben- 
neson, of Adams, Secretaries. Fifty-eight delegates were reported 
from the counties of Adams, Brown, Henderson, McDonough, Pike, 
Schuyler, Warren, Marquette and Knox. On motion of O. H. 
Browning, of Adams, a committee of three from each county was 
appointed to prepare a preamble and resolutions expressive of the 
sense of the convention. Mr. Browning, in behalf of the committee, 
reported a preamble and series of resolutions, of which we find room 
for only two, as giving the sense of the convention on the points 
mentioned. 

Resolved, That it is the settled and deliberate convictiou of this coaventioa that 
it is now too late to attempt the settlement of the difficulties in Hancock county 
upon any other basis than that of the removal of the Mormons from the State; 
and we therefore accept, and respectfully recommend to the people of the sur- 
rounding couDties to accept the proposition made by the Mormons to remove 
from the State next spring, and to wait with patience the time appointed for 
removal. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 343 

Resolved, That we utterly repudiate the impudent assertion so often and so con- 
stantly put forth hy the Mormons, that they are pehsecuted for ihgiiteousness' 
SAKE. We do not believe them to he a persecuted people. We know that they are 
not; hut that whatever grievances they may suffer are the necessary and legitimate 
consequences of their illegal, wicked and dishonest acts. 

The action of this convention, composed as it was of leading and 
representative men from the neighboring counties, and from both 
the political parties, had a beneficial effect njjon the public mind; 
and no doubt satisfied many that the conclusions to which it 
arrived were only such as would give peace and prosperity to our 
distracted county. And the Mormons also accepted the conclu- 
sions as inevitable, and earnestlj' prepared to act accordingly. The 
opinion expressed in the last of the resolutions quoted, is as much 
as the most ardent Anti-Mormon could ask, and should forever shut 
the mouths of those Mormon apologists, who have regarded them 
as a persecuted people, only needing to be let alone. 

As the basis for the subsequent action of both parties, the cor- 
respondence alluded to is here reproduced: 

NAm-oo, Oct. 1, 1845. 
To the First President and Council of the Church at Nauvoo : 

Having had a free and full conversation with you this day, in reference to your 
proposed removal from this countj% together with the members of your Church, 
we have to request you to submit the facts and intentions stated to us in said con- 
versation to writing, in order that we may lay them before the Governor and 
people of the State. We hope that by so doing it will have a tendency to allay the 
excitement at jDresent existing in the public mind. 
We have the honor to subscribe ourselves, respectfully yours, etc , 

John J. Hardin, 
S. A. Douglas, 
AV. B. Warren, 
J. A. McDouGAL. 

NAm-oo, Oct. 1, 1845. 
To Oen. John J. Hardin, W. B. Warren, S. A. Douglas and J. A. McDougal : 

Messrs: — In reply to your letter of this date, requesting us to " submit the facts 
and intentions stated by us to writing, in order that you may lay them before the 
Governor and people of tlie State," we would refer you to our communication of 
the 24th ultimo, to the " Quincy Committee," etc., a copj- of which is herewith 
inclosed. 

In addition to this, we would say, that we had commenced making arrange- 
ments to remove from this county previous to the recent disturbances; that we 
now have four companies organized of one hundred families each, and six more 
companies now organizing of the same number each, preparatory to removal. 
That one thousand families, including the Twelve, the High Council, the Trust- 
ees and general authorities of the Church, are fully deteruiined to remove in the 
.spring, independent of the contingency of selling our property, and that this com- 
pany will comprise from live to six thousand souls. 

That the Church, as a body, desires to remove with us, and will, it sales can be 
effected, so as to raise the necessary means. 

That the organization of the Church we represent is such, that there never can 
exist but one head or presidency at any one time, and all good members wish to 
be with the organization ; and all are determined to remove to some distant point 
where we shall neither infringe or be infringed upon, so soon as time and means 
will permit. 

That we have some hundreds of farms and some two thousand or more houses 
for sale in this city and county, and we request all good citizens to assist in the 
disposal of our property. 

That we do not expect to find purchasers for our Temple and other public build- 
ings; but we are willing to rent them to a respectable community who may 
inhabit the city. 



344 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

That we wish it distinctly understood, that, although we may not find purchasers 
for our propertjr, we will not sacrifice or give it away, or suffer it illegally to be 
wrested from us. 

That we do not intend to sow any wheat this fail, and should we all sell we shall 
not put in any more crops of any description. 

That as soon as practicable we will appoint committees for this city, La Harpe, 
Macedonia, Bear Creek, and all necessary places in the county, to give informa- 
tion to purchasers. 

That if these testimonies are not sufficient to satisfy any people that we are in 
earnest, we will soon give them a sign that cannot be mistaken — we loill leave 
them ! 

In behalf of the Council, respectfully yours, etc., 

Brigham Young, Pres. 

WiLLARD Richards, Clerk. 

The communication to the Qitincy committee was of similar 
import to the above, but referred particularly and in eloquent terms 
to their sufferin<rs and grievances here and elsewhere, and begged 
to be let alone. 

Two other murders were committed at this time, one in ]^auvoo 
and the other in the Camp Creek settlement, by Mormons. On the 
16th, Phineas Wilcox, a young man of St. Mary's township, went 
into Nauvoo on business, was there charged with being a spy, and 
was never afterward heard of, although repeated inquiries and 
search were made for him by his friends. Circumstances strongly 
showed that he had been murdered and thrown into the river. The 
other case, tltat of Andrew Daubenheyer, was as mysterious and 
atrocious. Mr. D. resided in the north part of the county, and was 
known as an active Anti-Mormon. On the 18th of September he 
started to Carthage with a two-horse wagon. On the evening ot 
the 20th he started for his home on horseback, which he never 
reached, but on the morning of the 21st his horse came home with- 
out him. On his road home was encamped a body of Mormons, 
supposed to be of Backenstos' posse^ and the belief was that he had 
been waylaid and killed by them. Search being made his body 
was afterward found, buried near the place of the encampment. 

The agreement entered into by Gen. Hardin and the Mormons 
being deemed sufficient to pacify the county, the troops were with- 
drawn, leaving only Major Warren with a hundred men, to remain 
until withdrawn by tlie Governor. 

THE EXODUS BEGUN. 

In accordance with the pledge made by the Twelve, active prep- 
arations were made during the winter in iNauvoo, and throughout 
the county, to leave in the spring. Those residing in the country 
made sales of their property and retired to the city in order to join 
the expeditions. Large numbers of wagons were manufactured, 
and many were obtained by way of exchange, while oxen and horses 
were in great demand. As early as Feb. 10, the weather being 
favorable, it was stated that over one thousand persons, including 
most of the Twelve, and many of the other dignitaries of the 
Church, had crossed the river and were on their way westward. As 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 345 

the spring- advanced they were still leaving in large numbers; but 
the advance had not yet reached beyond Keosauqua, from which 
point they kept up a constant intercourse with the city. The Rig- 
donites, Strangites, Smithites, and Twelveites, still behind, kept 
up their dissentions, the former all agreeing in denunciation of the 
latter, and all excepting the latter, censuringthe Western movement. 

Major Warren, who had been deputed in the fall to remain in 
the county with a small force, had orders from the Governor in 
April to disband and withdraw on the first of May. He and his 
troops had been stationed at Cartilage all winter, and had performed 
many arduous and delicate duties to preserve the peace, arrest 
offenders, and execute writs. Their aid had been invoked in all 
parts of the county, and they had been employed on numerous occa- 
sions in Nauvoo in the execution of process. They had been 
braved and threatened and insulted, even to violent resistance in 
that city, but they had exhibited a prudence, firmness and judgment 
which entitled them to the regard of all peace-loving citizens. 
These gentlemanly soldiers were mostly from Quincy, the "Quincy 
iliflemen," under the immediate command of Captain James D. 
Morgan and Lieut. B. M. Prentiss, names the country has since 
recognized in the list of Union Generals in the late Rebellion. 

The contemplated withdrawal of the Guard, together withjindi- 
cations at I^auvoo, gave general uneasiness to the people. It began 
to be feared that many of the Mormons were not intending to leave 
the city, but to quietly remain, in the hope and expectation that in 
time all danger would be over. Public meetings began to be held 
in Hancock and the adjoining counties, at which these apprehen- 
sions were expressed, and reference made to the action of the nine 
counties in October. These demonstrations brought a letter of 
inquiry from Mr. Babbitt to Gov. Ford. In his answer the Gov- 
ernor denied that he or the State was a party to the agreement 
that the Mormons should leave in the spring. But he aL-o plainly 
intimated that they were bound to go, and that he would be pow 
erless to prevent their expulsion. ''I tell you plainly," said His 
Excellency, " that the people of Illinois will not fight for the Mor- 
mons." 

The day after Maj. Warren's detachment had been disbanded at 
Carthage, he received an order from Gov. Ford to retain them in 
service until further orders. He again mustered them in and 
remained, making his liead(j[uarters chiefly at the Mansion House in 
Nauvoo. On May 14, he sent a dispatch to the Signal, stating 
that the Mormons were leaving with all possible speed; that the 
ferry was crossing as fast as possible; that an estimate of 450 teams 
and 1,.350 souls had left within the week; that new settlers were tak- 
ing their places, etc. Information was also received from Lallarpe, 
Hamus and other points, that they were fast leaving the neighbor- 
hoods. On the 22(1 he reported: " The Mormons still continue to 
leave the city in large numbers. The ferry at this ]ilace averages 
about 32 teams per day, and at Fort Madison, 45. Thus it will be 



346 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

seen that 539 teams have left during the week, which average 
about three persons to each, making in all 1,617 souls." A week 
later the reported estimate was about 800. 

After the Twelve had left the city, and while within convenient 
reach, O. P. Rockwell seems to have been employed as a messenger 
between the camp and the city. He became very violent in his con- 
duct while there, so much so that the leaders began to fear he would 
bring trouble upon them. On May first, a writ was issued for his 
arrest, on the affidavit of a certain Dr. Watson, charging him with 
the killing of Lieut. Worrell. This writ was placed in the hands 
of some of Maj. Warren's men, who proceeded to ISTauvoo and 
arrested him, surrounded with fifteen shooters and other weapons 
of defense. He waived examination, and was sent to Quincy to 
jail. At the May term in Carthage, a true bill was found against 
him by the Grand Jury, and he was sent to Galena for trial, he hav- 
ing obtained a change of venue from this Circuit. He was subse- 
quently tried in Galena and acquitted. 

Warlike demonstrations still continuing, on May 11th Maj. War- 
ren issued a proclamation, in which he warned the Anti-Mormons 
to desist, assuring them that in his opinion the Mormons were 
making all reasonable efforts to leave. Notwithstanding this assur- 
ance, a public meeting was held at Carthage, at which the opinion 
was expressed that large numbers of the Mormons designed to 
remain; and recommending that the citizens of the surrounding 
counties prepare forthwith to put in execution the resolutions of 
October last. Accordingly a considerable force was assembled at 
Carthage, and tlienee marched to Golden's Point, where they held 
a conference with a deputation of new citizens from Nauvoo, who 
had been invited to meet them there. The latter objecting to their 
entrance into the city, and the force being weak, and poorly officered 
and drilled, it was decided to retire again to Carthage, where it 
was soon disbanded. 

On June 20tli, George Walker, Esq., the "old citizen" County 
Commissioner, resigned his office and notified the public that his 
Mormon associates, Coulson and Perkins, having both left the 
country, there would be a full board to elect at the coming election. 
Backenstos, having been appointed to a Captaincy in the army 
against Mexico, also resigned the office of Sheriff". On July 25th 
an Anti-Mormon Convention was held at Carthage to nominate 
candidates for office. The" following ticket was put in nomination: 
For Senator, Jacob C. Davis; for Representatives, Thomas Morri- 
son and James Stark; for Sheriff", Melgar Couchman; for County 
Commissioners, Frederic Walton, Daniel N. Painter and James 
M. Renshaw; for Treasurer and Assessor, James W. Brattle; and 
for Coroner, Wm. S. Moore — 4 Democrats and 5 Whigs. No fall 
ticket was put up against this, but there were several independents. 
The above named were all elected by majorities of about 400. At 
this election Nauvoo polled between 800 and dOO votes. 

The })eace was of short duration. About the 10th of July, some 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 347 

Mormons from jNauvoo went out to the vicinity of Pontoosiic, and 
engaged in harvesting a field of wheat for one of the brethren. It 
is stated that they behaved in a very nnrnly manner, when some 
of the neighbors collecting, seized and whipped them, and sent 
them away. A few days after, & posse went out from Nauvoo and 
arrested Maj. McAulej^, of Pontoosuc, and James AV. Brattle, of 
Carthage, who happened to be at his house. In return, several 
other Mormons were captured and held as hostages, and this led to 
other arrests, till there were of McAuley's party some ten or fifteen 
held in the city in custody. They were held for over a week, and 
denied the privilege of an examination or giving bail. At length a 
writ of habeas coiyas was obtained from Adams county, and served 
on Clifibrd and Furness, who had the prisoners in custody, and 
they and their prisoners were taken to Quincy, examined and 
released on bail. 

The new citizens of N^auvoo were generally an orderly and well- 
disposed people; but they had a few ruffians among them, who, by 
their violence and intemperate conduct made themselves generally 
obnoxious. Of these, the most conspicuous and disorderly was 
"William Pickett. Clifibrd and Furness, above named, were very 
vindictive toward the Anti-Mormons. 

About the first of April the Hancock Eagle appeared at Nauvoo. 
It was ably conducted by Dr. William E. Matlack, a stranger in the 
county. It claimed to be a " Democratic" sheet, but was in fact 
the organ and mouthpiece of Backenstos and what was known as 
the "Jack- Mormon" influence. Its course no doubt greatly weak- 
ened the Mormon efforts to get away, and increased the animosity 
existing between them and tlieir enemies. It continued under Dr. 
Matlack's management until his death, which occurred about the 
last of August. 

WAR IMPENDING. 

During the first week in August writs were issued by John 
Banks, Esq., of Rocky Run township, for Clifford, Furness and 
Pickett, of Kauvoo, charged with false imprisonment and robbery, 
during the troubles heretofore mentioned. These writs were 
placed in the hands of John Carlin, of Carthage, a Deputy Sheriff. 
On the 7th, the officer went to Nauvoo and arrested Clifford and 
Furness, but was resisted and defied by Pickett. He took Furness 
before the Magistrate (Clifford having taken sick and left), where he 
gave bail for his appearance at Court, and was set at liberty. Carlin 
resolved that Pickett should be arrested. On the 17th he therefore 
issued a proclamation, calling out \\\q, jposse comitatus to assemble 
at Carthage on Monday the 24th, to aid in the arrests. 

On the 12th a meeting was held in Nauvoo, of the Mormons and 
their adherents, at which it was resolved that Carlin's writs should 
not be executed; they also took measures to organize for military 
resistance. 

On the 21st, Gov. Ford, at Springfield, issued an order to Maj. 
James R. Parker, of the 32d V\.Qg. 111. Militia, saying: 



348 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Sir: — I have received iuformation thai another efforl is to be made on Monday- 
next to drive out the inhabitants of Nauvoo, new and old, and to destroy the city. 
Maj. P. was authorized to take command of such persons as would volunteer free 
of cost to the State, and repel any attack and defend the city. He was also 
authorized to assist any peace officer in making arrests. This order of the Gov- 
ernor's placed Parker and Carlin in antagonism. Carlin's proclamation was 
dated the 17th; on the 2.5th, Parker issued a counter proclamation, calling on all 
armed bodies of men in the county to disperse, and stating that he held himself 
in readiness '• to aid any officer in any part of the county in executing any lawful 
writs in his hands." Carlin replied by letter, that he was a legally constituted 
officer, with writs in his hands to execute, that he had been resisted, and had 
called out the jjosse to aid him, that he did not acknowledge the authority of the 
military to interfere, that a large force was collecting, and he should proceed. 
To this Parker rejoined, that he was sent by the Governor, that the force under 
Carlin was a mob, whose aim was to set the Mormons over the river, that his 
position compelled him to regard the posse as a mob, and he must treat them as 
such. This brought another letter from Carlin, who reiterated his former state- 
ments, and concluded : "The posse will proceed to perform its duty, and as you 
have cautioned me, that if it does not soon disperse you will treat it as a mob and 
as one good turn deserves another, I will caution you, that if you attempt to inter- 
fere with this j9osse while acting under the law, I shall regard you and your com- 
mand as a mob, and ' treat them as such.' " Hereupon Parker fell back upon 
proclamations. On the 28tli he issued a second, and on the 3d of September, a 
third, defining his position, and warning " the mob " to desist. 

In the meantime the force was concentratino' at Carthao^e. On 
the 25th, Col. John B. Chittenden, of Adams county, was placed 
in temporary command, with the understanding that Col. James 
W. Singleton, of Brown, was to supersede him on his arrival. 
Col. S. arrived on the 28tli and took command, with Col. Brock- 
man, of Brown, in command of the First Regiment, and Col. Thomas 
Geddes, of Hancock, in command of the Second. The camp was 
fixed about five miles from Carthage, on the Nauvoo road, the 
force n^imbering from 600 to 800 men. Here negotiations for a 
compromise began between the two commanders in secret. This 
was concluded and ratified by Col. Singleton, but unanimously 
rejected by his officers and men, amid great excitement. The con- 
ditions of this agreement were, in short: that the Mormon popula- 
tion of Nauvoo shall all leave in 60 days; that a force of 25 men 
be left as a guard, the expense to be equally borne by both parties; 
that an attorney be selected to take charge of all writs; that the 
Mormons shall deliver up the State arms, and that all hostilities 
shall at once cease. The reasons given for the rejection were, that 
no confidence could be placed in the Mormon's professions of sin- 
cerity, and that no provision was made for the execution of the 
writs in Carlin's hands. 

On the rejection of the treaty, Col. Singleton withdrew from the 
command, and Carlin appointed Col. Brockman to the place. He 
immediately gave orders for an advance, and on the 10th, the whole 
force, numbering about TOO men, marched toward Nauvoo and 
encamped about three miles from the temple. Here a committee, 
consisting of Hon. John Wood, Major Flood and Joel Rice, of 
Quincy, appeared and proposed a compromise. Terms were named 
to them, and by them taken to the cit}'; but no answer was 
received. The posse was put in motion towards the city, and for 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 349 

two days considerable skirmishing was carried on between picket 
guards, and some firing of artillery, of which both parties had a 
few pieces. On the 12th, a flag of truce was sent in b}'^ Brockman 
and Carlin, demanding a surrender. It was repled to by Maj. Ben- 
jamin Cliflford, in command (but what became of Parker does not 
appear), refusing to comply. Preparations for battle were there- 
upon immediately made. As this was the concluding and only 
military battle of the war, we deem a report of it in full, copied 
from the "Warsaw Signed of the 13th October, worthy of a place 
here. 

THE BATTLE AND RESULT. 

"After the reception of this letter (Clifford's) the army was 
drawn up in column on a piece of high ground l.ying between the 
camp and the city. While in this position a few shots were tired 
from a breastwork the Mormons had erected durino' the nio^ht, and 
the tire was returned from our artillery. So soon as all was ready, 
the "Warsaw Tliflemen were divided into two sections and deployed 
on the right and left as flankers. Capt. Newton's Lima Guards, 
with Capt. Walker's gun, were ordered to take position a quarter 
of a mile in front of the camp, and employ the attention of the 
Mormons at their breastwork, and from which they kept a constant 
fire, while the main body of the army wheeled to the left, passed 
down across the La Harpe road, through a cornfield, thence across 
Mulholland street, then bore to the right through an orchard and 
on to the city. So soon as the arm^y was fairly under way, Capt. 
Newton's company and the piece of artillery with it, were iDrought 
up in the rear. This march was made directly across and in the 
face of the enemy's fire, and w^ithin good cannon range, yet not a 
man was injured. 

"Arriving on the verge of the city, the army, all except the 
artillery and flankers, was halted, while the latter advanced and 
commenced an attack on the Mormon works, from which they had 
been firing during the whole time of the march. A hot fire was 
kept up b}^ the artillery from both sides for fifteen or twenty 
minutes. During this time the Mormons did no execution on our 
ranks, while the balls from our cannon rattled most terrifically 
through the houses in the city. 

" At length the fire of small arms was heard from some Mor- 
mons who had taken position on the extreme left in a cornfield. 
Immediately Col. Smith's regiment was ordered up and drove the 
assailants before them. The Second Regiment was in the mean- 
time ordered up to the support of the artillery. By this time the 
action became general. 

"The Mormons were in squads in their houses and poured in 
their shots with the greatest rapidity. Our men were also divided 
oflT into squads, took shelter where they could best find it, and 
returned the fire with great energy. The greater part of the First 
Regiment had no better shelter than a cornfield and a worm fence ; 



350 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the Second Regiment was on open ground, hfiving but two or three 
small houses to cover the whole body; wliile our artillery was 
entirely exposed. 

" The firing of small arms was continued for half an hour, during 
which time our men steadily advanced, driving the enemy in many 
instances from their shelter. For a time their fire was almost 
entirely silenced; but unfortunately at this juncture our cannon 
balls were exhausted; and our commander deeming it imprudent 
to risk a further advance without these necessary instruments, he 
ordered the men to be drawn off. This was done in good order, 
and in slow time the whole force returned to the camp. 

" In this action we had about 500 men engaged, and four pieces 
of artillery; 200 men and one piece of artillery having been left at 
the camp for its protection. Our loss in this engagement, as well 
as in the subsequent skirmishes, will be found in the report of the 
surgeons hereto appended. Most of our men throughout the action 
displayed remarkable coolness and determination; and we have no 
doubt did great execution. We believe if our cannon balls 
had held out ten minutes longer, we should have taken the city; 
but when the action commenced we had but 61 balls. The battle 
lasted from the time the first feint was made until our men were 
drawn off — an hour and a quarter. Probably there is not on 
record an instance of a longer continued militia fight. (?) 

•' The Mormons stood their ground manfully ; but from the little 
execution done by them, we infer that they were not ver^'' cool or 
deliberate. Their loss is uncertain — as they have taken especial 
pains to conceal the number of their dead and wounded. They 
acknowledge but three dead and ten wounded. Amongst the killed 
is their master spirit, Capt. Anderson, of the 15-shooter rifle com- 
panv. Their force in the tight was from three to four hundred. 
They had all the advantage, having selected their own positions ; 
and we were obliged to take such as we could get. Sometimes our 
men could get no cover, and the artillery was all the time exposed, 
while theirs was under cover. 

" On Saturday after the battle, the Anties commenced entrench- 
ing their camp, and on Sunday made it secure against the shots of 
the enemy's cannon, which frequently reached or passed over it. 
On Sunday the Anties cut part of the corn from the field on the 
left of the La Ilarpe road, to prevent the Mormons from taking 
cover in it. While thus engaged the Mormons fired on the guard 
which was protecting the corn-cutters. The fire was returned by 
the guard, and kept up at long distance for two or three hours. In 
this skirmish one of our men was badly wounded. The loss of the 
enemy is not known. On Monday a party of Mormons crept up 
through the weeds to a piece of high ground, and fired at our camp 
— wounding three men, none seriously. Their balls were nearly 
spent when they struck. On Sunday morning after the battle 
a powder plot w^as dug up in the La Ilarpe road, which the array 
was expected to pass. On Wednesday another was dug up on the 




■<'^*«?*.^-., ... -v- 





WALKER TP. 



IIISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 353 

same road nearer the citj. Several of these plots were discovered 
near the temple and in other parts of the city." 

But the fighting was over and the war was ended. On Tuesday 
morning, the 15th, a deputation from 100 citizens of Quincy 
arrived in camp with proposals for mediation. The sub-committee 
was headed by Andrew Johnston, Esq., as chairman. A similar 
sub-committee was sent to Nauvoo to confer with B. Clifford, the 
Commander there. A truce was agreed on, and after a long and 
voluminous correspondence, a treaty was concluded, which we can 
give best in its own words: 

1. The City of Nauvoo will surrender. The force of Col. Brockman to enter 
and take possession of the city to-morrow, the 17th of September, at 3 o'clock p. m. 

2. The arms to be delivered to the Quiucy Committee, to be returned on the 
crossing of ihe river. 

3. The Quincy Committee pledge themselves to use their influence for the 
protection of persons and property from all violence; and the officers of the camp 
and the men pledge themselves to protect all persons and property from violence. 

4. The sick and helpless to be protected and treated with humanity. 

5. The Mormon population of the city to leave the State, or disperse, as soon 
as they can cross the river. 

6. Five men, including the trustees of the Church, and live clerks, with their 
families (William Pickett not one of the number) to be permitted to remain in 
the city for the disposition of property, free from all molestation and personal 
violence. 

7. Hostilities to cease immediately, and ten men of the Quincy Committee to 
enter the city in the execution of their duty as soon as they think proper. 

We, the undersigned, subscribe to, ratify and confirm the foregoing articles of 
accommodation, treaty and agreement, the day and year first above wTitten. 

Signed by : Almon W. Babbitt, Joseph L. Ecyuood, John S. Fullmer, Trustees 
in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Andreio Johnson, 
Chairman of the Com. of Quincy; Thos. S- Brockman, commanding 2^osse; John 
Garlin, Special Constable. 

The remarkable feature of this treaty is, that it contained not a 
word about the arrest of the persons named in the writs held by 
Carlin, and for the service of which the expedition was undertaken. 

Soon after the agreement was signed and exchanged, Major Clif- 
ford gave orders for the withdrawal of the forces under his com- 
mand. By three o'clock the next day, nearly the whole Mormon 
population had crossed the river. At three, Brockman 's force was 
put in motion, marched through the city, and encamped near the 
south end of town. On Friday all except 100 men were disbanded, 
and to co-operate with these the new citizens organized a company 
of 100 men as guards to the city. 

The surgeons in Col. Brockman's camp, Drs. Berry and Charles 
of Warsaw, reported twelve men wounded, as follows: John 
Kennedy, of Augusta, in the shoulder; Jefferson Welsh, of 
McDonough Co., in the thigh ; Mr. Rogers, of Adams Co., thigh 
and hip ; tJriah Thompson, of Fountain Green, inarm; Mr. Hum- 
phreys, of Hancock Co., in the thigh severely, and died ten hours 
afterward; George Wier, Warsaw, in the neck; Capt. Robert F. 
Smith, who commanded the First Regiment, slightly in the neck; 
Mr. Crooks, of Chili, in the head slightly; Mr. Winsor, of Nauvoo, 
in the back, while loading; Mr. Denny, of Green Plains, at camp- 

22 



354 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

•guard; Dr. Geiger, ofNauvoo, in camp; and Mr. Stinson, of Brown 
Co., in the thigh. Of the loss on the other side we have no reliable 
data. 

But, although the war was over, the troubles were not yet to end. 
The force left in the city, not satisfied with the withdrawal of the 
Mormons, dealt pretty roughly with the ring-leaders of the obnox- 
ious new citizens. A few of them were ordei-ed to leave. They 
did so, but made their appeals to the public and to Gov. Ford at 
Springfield, in a tissue of most exaggerated statements. Maj. Bray- 
raan, who had been commissioned by the Governor to investigate, 
made reports also to his Excellency, which, taken together, decided 
him to again order a force into the county. He recruited about 
100 men, with which he entered the county, and after a day or two 
at Carthage, proceeded to Nauvoo, where he arrived on the 28th 
votf'October. He was waited on by numbers of the respectable new 
citizens, who endeavored to disabuse his mind as to the state of 
affairs in the city. The Governor encamped his force about the 
temple, where he remained until the 14th of November, when he 
left for Springfield, leaving a part of his force under Major Weber, 
at Nauvoo. Before reaching the county, the Governor became con- 
vinced that he had undertaken a useless expedition, as the result 
proved, for during his whole two weeks' presence nothing trans- 
pired requiring military or executive interference. The force left, 
remained in the county inactive, until withdrawn by Gov. French. 
Gov. F., having been elected to succeed Ford, was inaugurated 
December 8tli, and on the 12th he withdrew the force, and ad- 
dressed a short note to the people of Hancock county, announcing 
their withdrawal, and exhorting to peace and quietness. 

NAUVOO CHAETER AND ORDINANCES. 

A history of Mormonism in Hancock county would be incom- 
plete that failed to recite the Charter granted that people by the 
State Legislature, and to give a few samples of the Ordinances 
passed by the City Council. The following is a verbatim copy of 
the Charter: 

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE CITY OF NAUVOO. 

Sec. 1. Beit enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the Gen- 
eral Assembly, That all that district of country embraced within the following 
boundaries, to-wit: [omit long description of boundaries.] 

Sec. 2. "Whenever any tract of land adjoining the city of Nauvoo shall have 
been laid out into town lots, and duly recorded according to law, the same shall 
form a part of the city of Nauvoo. 

Sec. 3. The inhabitants of said city, by the name and style aforesaid, shall 
have power to sue and be sued, plead and be Impleaded, defend and be defended, 
in all courts of law and equity, and in all actions whatsoever; to purchase, receive 
and hold property, real and personal, in said city; to purchase, receive and hold 
real property beyond the city for burying ground, or for other public purposes, 
for the use of the inhabitants of said city ; to sell, lease, convey or dispose of 
property, real and personal, for the benefit of the city ; to improve and protect 
such property, and to do all other things in relation thereto as natural persons. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 355 

Sec. 4. There shall be a City Council to consist of Mayor, four Aldermen and 
nine Councilors, who shall have the qualifications of electors of said city, and 
shall be chosen by the qualified voters tliereof, and shall hold their ofiices for two 
j^ears, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. The City Council 
shall judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of their own members, and 
a majority of them shall form a quorum to do business; but a smaller number 
may adjourn from day to day, iuid compel the attendance of absent members, 
under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance. 

Sec 5. The INIayor, Aldermen and Councilors, before entering upon the 
duties of their offices, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation, that they 
will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State; and that they 
will well and truly perform the duties of their offices to the best of their skill and 
abilities. 

Sec. 6. On the first Monday of February next, and every two years thereafter, 
an election shall be held for the election of one ]Mayor, four Aldermen, and nine 
Councilors; and at the first election under this act, three Judges shall be chosen 
vivii voce by the electors i)resent, the said Judges shall choose two clerks, and the 
Judges ami clerks, before entering upon their duties, shall take and subscribe an 
oath or affirmation, such as is now required by law to be taken by judges and 
clerks of other elections; and at all subsequent' elections, the necessary number 
of Judges and clerks shall be appointeil by the City Council. At the first election 
so held the polls shall be opened ui nine o'clock, a.m., and closed at six o'clock, 
p. M. ; at the close of the polls the votes shall be counted, and a statement thereof 
proclaimed at the front door of the house at which such election shall be held; 
and the clerks shall leave with each person elected, or at his usual place of resi- 
dence within five daj'^s after the election, a written notice of his election, and each 
person so notified, shall within ten days after the election, take the oath or affirm- 
ation hereinbefore mentioned, a certificate of which oath shall be deposited with 
the Recorder, whose appointment is hereafter provided for, and be by him pre- 
served; and all subsequent elections shall be held, conducted, and returns thereot 
made as may be provided for by the ordinances of the City Council. 

Sec. 7. All free white male inhabitants, who are of the age of 21 years, who 
are entitled to vote for State officers, and who shall have been actual residents of 
said city sixty days next preceding said election, shall be entitled to vote for city 
officers. 

Sec. 8. The City Council shall have authority to k'vy and collect taxes for 
city purposes, upoia all property, real and personal, within the limits of the city, 
not exceeding one-half per cent, per annum upon the assessed value thereof, and 
may enforce the payment of the same in any manner to be provided by ordinance, 
not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, or of this State. 

Sec. 9. The City Council shall have power to appoint a Recorder, Treasurer, 
Assessor, Marshal, Supervisor of streets, and all such other officers as may be 
necessary, and to prescribe their duties, and remove them from office at pleasure. 

Sec. 10. The City Council shall have power to require of all officers, appointed 
in pursuance of this act, bonds with penalty and seciu-ity, for the faithful perform- 
ance of their respective duties, such as may be deemed expedient; and also to 
require all officers appointed as aforesaid, to take an oath for the faithful performance 
of the duties of their respective offices. 

Sec. 11. The City Council shall have power and authoritj'' to make, ordain, 
establish and execute all such ordinances, not repugnant to the Constitution of the 
United States or of this State, as they may deem necessary for the benefit, peace, 
good order, regulation, convenience and cleanliness of said city; for the protection 
of property therein from destruction by fire or otherwise, and for the health and 
happiness thereof ; they shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen by 
death, resignation or removal, in any of the offices herein made elective; to fix and 
establish all the fees of the officers of said corporation not herein established; to 
impose such fines not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offense, as they may 
deem just, for refusing to accept any office in or imder the corporation, or for 
misconduct therein; to divide the city into wards; to add to the number of Alder- 
men and Councilors, and apportion them among the several wards as may be most 
just and conducive to the interests of the city. 

Sec. 13. To license, tax, and regulate auctions, merchants, retailers, grocers, 
hawkers, pedlars, brokers, pawn-brokers and money-changers. 

Sec. 13. The City Council shall have exclusive power within the city, by ordi- 
nance to license, regulate and restrain the keeping of ferries; to regulate the police 



35G HISTORY OF HAXCOCK C()U^■TY. 

of the city to impose lines, forfeitures and penalties for tlie breacli of any ortlinanee, 
and provide for tlie recovery of sucli lines and forfeitures, and tlie enforcement of 
sucli penalties, and to pass such ordinances as ma}' be necessarv and proper for 
carryinsc into execution the powers specitied in this act: Provided, Such ordi- 
nances are not repuirnant to the Constitution of the United States or of this State ; 
and in tine, to exercise such other legislative powers as are conferred on the City 
Council of the city of Springfield, by an act entitled ''An act to incorporate the city 
of Springfield," approved February third, one thousand eight hundred and forty. 

Sec. 14. All ordinances passed by the City Council shatl, within one month after 
they shall have been passed, be published in some newspaper printed in the city, or 
certified copies thereof be posted up in three of the most public places in the cit}\ 

Sec. 15. All ordinances of the city may be proven b\' the seal of the corporation, 
and wlien printed or published in book or pamphlet form, purporting to be printed 
or published by authority of the corporation, the same shall be received in evidence 
in all courts or places without further proof. 

Sec 16. The Mayor and Aldermeii shall be conservators of the peace witliin 
the limits of said city, and shall have all the powers of Justices of the Peace therein, 
both in civil and criminal cases, arising under the laws of the State; they shall, as 
Justices of the Peace within the limits of said city, perform the same duties, be 
governed by the s.ime laws, give the same bonds and security as other Justices of 
the Peace, and be commissioned as Justices of the Peace in and for said city by the 
Groveruor. 

Seo. 17. The ^layor shall have exclusive jm-isdiction in all cases arising under 
the ordinances of the corporation, and shall issue sucli process as maj' be necessiuy 
to cany said ordinances into execution and effect; appeals maybe had from any 
decision or judgment of said Mayor, or Aldermen, arising under the citj' ordinances, 
to the ^[unicipal Court, under such regulations as may l)e presented by ordinance, 
which Court shall be composed t)f the 3Iayor. or Chief Justice, and the Aldermen 
as Associate Justices, and from the final judgment of the ^lunicipal Court to the 
Circuit Court of Hancock County, in the same manner as appeals are taken from 
the judgments of Justices of the Peace: Provided, That the parties litigant 
shall have a right to atrial by a jury of twelve men in all cases before the ]\Iuni- 
cipal Com't. The Municipal Court shall have power to grant writs of habeas corpus 
in all cases arising under the ordinances of the City Council. 

Sec. 18. The ilunicipal Court shall sit on the first [Monday of everj^ month, and 
the City Council at such times and places as may be prescribed by city ordinance, 
special meetings of which maj'', at any time, be called by the Mayor or any two 
Aldermen. 

Sec. 19. All processes issued by tlie ^layor. Aldermen or 3Innicipal Court shall 
be directed to the Marshal, and in the execution thereof he shall be governed by 
the same laws as are or maj' be prescribed for the direction and compensation of 
constables in similar cases. The Marshal shall also perform such other duties as 
may be required of him under the ordinances of said city, and shall be the 
principal ministerial oflicer. 

Sec. 20. It shall be the duty of the Recorder to make and keep accurate records 
of all ordinances made by the City Council, and of all their proceedings in their 
corporate capacity; which records shall at all times be open to the inspection of 
the electors of said city, and shall perform such other duties as may b'^ required 
of him by the ordinances of the City Council, and shall serve as Clerk of the Mu- 
nicipal Court. 

Sec. 21. When it shall be necessary to take private property for opening, widen- 
ing, or altering any public street, lane, avenue or allev, the Corporation shall 
make a just compeusuion therefor to the person whose proper y is so taken, and 
if the amount of such compensation can not be agreeil upon, tlie ^layor shall cause 
the same to be ascertained by a jury of six disinterested freeholders of the city. 

Sec. 2'2. All jurors impaneled to inquire into the amount of benefits or dama- 
ges that shall happen to the owners of property so proposed to be taken, shall first 
be sworn to that effect, and shall return to the Mayor their inquest in writing, 
signed by each juror. 

Sec. 23. In case the jNIayor shall at any time be guilty of a palpable omis^on 
of duty, or shall willfully and corruptly be guilty of oppression, mal-couduct, or 
partialitj^ in the discharge of the duties of his olfice, he shall be liable to be 
indicted'in the Circuit Court of Hancock county; and on conviction he shall be 
fined not more than two hundred dollars, and the Court shall have power, on the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 357 

recommendation of the jury, to add to the judgment of the Court, that he be 
rcMuoved from ofHce. 

Skc. 24. The City Council may establish and organize an institution of learn- 
ing within the limits of the city for the teaching of the arts, sciences and learned 
professions, to be called the " University of tiie City of Nauvoo ;" which institution 
shall he under the control and management of a Board of Trustees, consisting ot 
a Chancellor, Registrar, and twenty-three Regents, which Boartl shall thereafter 
be a body corporate and politic, wit li jicrpetual succession, l)y the name of the 
" Chancellor and Regents of the llnlversity of the City of Nauvoo,'' and shall iiave 
full ))ower to pass, ordain, establish and execute all such laws and ordinances as 
they may consider for the welfare and prosiierity of said University, its otticers 
and students; Provided, That the said laws anu ordinances shall not be repug- 
nant to the Constitution of the United States or of this State; and. Provided, also, 
That the Trustees shall at all times be appointed by tlie City Council, and shall 
have all the powers and privileges for the advancement of the cause of education 
which appertain to the trustees of any other college or university of this State. 

Sec. 25. The City Council may organize the inhabitants of said city subject to 
military duty into a body of independent military men, to be called the " Nauvoo 
Legion," the court-martial of which sliall be composed of the commissioned offi- 
cers of said Legion, and constitute the law-making department, with full powers 
and authority to make, ordain, establish and execute, all such laws and ordinan- 
ces, as may be considered necessary for the l)enetit, government and regulation of 
said Legion; Provided, Said court-martial shall pass no law or act repugnant to 
or inconsistent with the Constitution of the United Slates or of this State; and, 
Provided, also. That the oflicers of the Legion shall be commissioned by the Gov- 
ernor of the State. The said JjCgion shall perform the same amount of military 
duty as is now or may be hereafter required of the regular militia of the State, 
and shall be at the disposal of the Mayor in executing the laws and ordinances ot 
the City Corporation, imd the laws of the State, and at the disposal of the Governor 
for the public defense and the execution of the laws of the State, or of the United 
^States, and shall l)e entitled to their ])ro])ortion of the public arms; and. Provided, 
also, That said Legion shall be exempt from all other military duty. 

Sec 26. The inhal)itants of the " City of Nauvoo" are hereby exempt from 
working on any road be3'ond the limits of the city; and for the puri)ose of keep- 
ingthe streets, lanes, avenues and alleys in repair, to require of the nuxle inhabit- 
itants of said city, over the age of twenty-one and under fifty years, to labor on 
said streets, lanes, avenues and alleys, not exceeding three days in each year; any 
person failing to perform sucli labors wlien duly notified by the Supervisor, shall 
forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar per day for eac h day so neglected or refused. 

Sec. 27. Tiie City Council shall have power to provide for the punishment of 
offenders, by imprisonment in the county or city jail, in all cases when such of- 
fenders shall fail or refuse to pay the fines and forfeitures which may Ije recovered 
against them. 

Sec. 28. This Act is liereby declared to be a public act, and shall take eflfect on 
the first Monday of February next. 

Approved, December l(i, 1840. 

CITY OKDINANCES. 

And we present below a few of the ordinances passed from time 
to time by the City Councils of Nauvoo: 

AN OKDINANCE 

Regulating the mode of proceeding in cases of habeas corims before the Munici 
{)al Court: 

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, That 
in all cases where any jjcrson or jiersons shall at any time hereafter be arrested 
or under arrest, in this city, under any writ or process, and shall be brougiit before 
the Municiiml Court of this city, l)y virtue of a writ of habeas corpus, the Court 
shall in every such case have power and authority, and are hereby recpiired to 
examine into tlie origin, validity and legality of the writ or i)roeess, under which 
such arrest was made; and if it shall appear to the Court upon sufficient testi- 
mony, that said writ or process was illegal, or not legally issued, or did not proceed 
from the proper authority, then the Court shall discharge the prisoner fiom nuder 



358 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

said an-est; but if it shall appear to the Court that said writ or process had issued 
from proper authority, and was a legal process, the Court shall then proceed and 
fully hear the merits of the case upon which said an-est was made, upon such 
evidence as may be produced and sworn before said Court; and shall have power 
to adjourn the hearing, and also issue process from time to time, in their discre- 
tion, m order to procure the attendance of witnesses, so that a fair and impartial 
trial and decision may he obtained in every case. 

Sec. 2. And be it further ordained. That if upon investigation it shall be 
proven before the Municipal Court that the writ or process has been issued either 
through private pique, malicious intent, religious or other persecution, falsehood 
or misrepresentation, contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of this 
State, the said writ or process shall be quashed, and considered of no force or 
effect, and the prisoner or prisoners shall be released and discharged therefrom. 

Sec. 3. And be it also further ordained. That in the absence, sickness, debility 
or other circumstances disqualifying or preventing the Mayor' from officiating 
in his office, as Chief Justice of the Municipal Court, the Aldermen present shall 
appoint one from amongst them to act as Chief Justice or President pro tempore. 

Sec. 4. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. 

Hyrum Smith, 
Vice-Mayor and President p)ro tempore. 

Passed August 8, 1843. 

James Sloan, Recorder. 

AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING MARRIAGES. 

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, That 
all male persons over the age of seventeen years, and females over the age of 
fourteen years, may contract and be joined in marriage; Provided, in all cases 
where either party is a minor, the consent of parents or guardians be first had. 

Sec. 2. Any persons as aforesaid wishing to marry, or be joined in marriage, 
may go before any regular minister of the gospel. Mayor, Alderman, Justice of 
the Peace, Judge, or other person authorized to solemnize marriages in this State, 
and celebrate or declare their marriage in such manner and form as shall be most 
agreeable, either with or without license. 

Sec. 3. Any person solemnizing a marriage as aforesaid, shall make return 
thereof to the City Recorder, accompanied by a recording fee of fifty cents, within 
thirty days of the solemnization thereof ; and it is hereby made the duty of the 
Recorder to keep an accurate record of all such marriages. The penalty for a 
violation of either of the provisions of this ordinance, shall be twenty dollars, to 
be recovered as other penalties or forfeitures. 

John C. Bennett, Mayor. 

Passed Feb. 17, 1842. 

James Sloan, Recorder. 

- The foregoing, it will be observed, abrogates a law of the State, 
which requires a license to be obtained from the County Court. 
The second section was a mere scheme to put money into the 
pockets of the Kecorder; and no penalty for its infraction could 
have been enforced by law, as every person solemnizing a marriage 
is required by State law to make return to the County Clerk, and 
when that is done the law is fulfilled. 

Here is an ordinance investing the " Prophet, Seer and Revelator," 
and President of the Church of Zion, with all the rights, duties, 
responsibilities and emoluments — aye, emoluments — belonging to 
the liquor traffic: 

AN ORDINANCE 

For the health and convenience of travelers and other persons. 

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, That 
the Mayor of the city be and is hereby authorized to sell or give spirits, of any 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 359 

quantit}-, as he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health, comfort or conven- 
ience of ^uch travelers or other persons as shall visit his house from time to time. 

JosEi'ii Smith, Mayor. 
Passed Dec. la, 1843. 

W. Richards, Recorder. 

AN EXTRA ORDINANCE 

For the extra case of Joseph Smith and others. 

[Preamble recounting Smith's difficulties with Missom-i omitted.] 
Section 1. Be it ordained b)^ the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Accord- 
ing to the intent and meaning of ,the Charter, for the " benefit and convenience" 
of Xauvoo, that hereafter if any person or persons shall come with process, demand 
or requisition, founded upon the aforesaid Missouri difiiculties, to arrest said Joseph 
Smith, he <t thej^ shall be subject to be arrested by any officer of the citj^, with or 
without process, and tried by the Municipal Court, upon testimony, and if found 
guilty, sentenced to imprisonment in the city prison for life, which convict or con- 
victs can only be pardoned by the Governor, with the consent of the Mayor of 
said city. ***** 

Joseph Smith, Mayor. 
Passed Dec. 8, 1843 

W. Richards, Recorder. 

Another of similar purport: 

AN ORDINANCE 

To prevent unlawful search or seizure of person or property, by foreign process' 
in the City of Nauvoo. 

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, To pre- 
vent kidnapping, illegal arrests of persons, or unlawful searches for property, 
that all writs issued om of the city sliall, before thej' are executed within the limits 
of the city, be examined by and receive the approval and signature of the Mayor 
of said city on the back of said process, and be served by the Marshal of said city. 

Sec. 2. And be it further ordained. That every officer who shall execute, or 
attempt to execute, any process as aforesaid, without first obtaining the approval 
and signature of ihe Ma}-or of said city, as specified iu the first section of this 
ordinance, shall be subject to a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than 
one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not less than one month nor more than si.x 
months in the cit)' prison, or both, as a breach of ordinance to be tried before the 
Municipal Court of said citv. Joseph Smith Mayor. 

Passed Dec. 21, 1843. 

W1LI.ARD RiciiAKi).s, Hecorder. 

AMENDMENT. 

Sec. 3. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, That noth- 
ing in the foregoing ordinance shall be so construed astoprevent, hinder, or thwart 
the designs of justice, or to retard the civil officers of the State or county iu the 
discharge of their official duties; but to aid and assist them within the limits of 
this city. Joseph Smith, Mayor. 

Pa.ssed Jan. 10. 1844. 

WiLLARD Richards, Recorder. 

Tliese two ordinances were so glaringly illegal and oftensive, that 
it was deemed necessarj' to repeal, or at least make a show of repeal- 
ing them. That was done in this wise, — a repeal which re-enacts 
their chief features, only slightly varying the penalty: 

AN ORDINANCE 

Entitled "An ordinance to repeal certain ordinances therein mentioned." 

Whereas, An ordinance entitled "An ordinance for the extra case of Joseph 
Smith and others," passed December 8, 1843, and. Whereas, the ordinance entitled 



360 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



' ' An ordinance to present unlawful search and seizui-e of person and propertj' by 
foreign process in the city of Nauvoo," passed December 31, 1843, have had tlieir 
desired effect in preserving the peace, happiness, persons or property of the citizens 
of Nauvoo, according to their intent and meaning ; therefore. 

Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nauvoo, That the 
aforesaid ordinances are hereby repealed. 

Seo. 2. And be it further ordained, that nothing in the first section of this ordi- 
nance shall be so construed as to give license or libertj^ to any foreign ofRcer, or other 
person or persons, to illegally disturb the peace, happiness or quiet of any citizen of 
said city, any ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding, under a penalty of not less 
than five hundi'ed dollars, or imprisonment six months in the city prison. 

Joseph Smith, Mayor. 

Passed February, 1844. 

WiLLARD Richards, Recorder. 

The foregoing ordinances are copied verbatim from the Times 
and Seasons and the Naiivoo Neighhor, the official and recognized 
organs of the Church and city. Want of room forbids the copying 
of a number of other ordinances passed by the City Council, exem- 
plifjnng the peculiar genius of that honorable body for governing 
a city. 

In concluding this chapter on Mormon affairs in Hancock county 
we throw together a number of items omitted in the course of the 
narrative, of more or less importance as parts of a complete history. 

tup: kinderhook plates. 



e o t) 



^, .T,^li 










The above are fair representations of two of the six plates of cop- 
per, held together by a small ring, which were dug from a mound 
at Kinderhook, Pike county, Illinois, by Mr. Wiley, a merchant of 
that place, about the year 1843. They were brought to Nauvoo, 
and exhibited among the Mormons, as well as at other places in 
the county, and regarded by the Saints as proofs of the authentic- 
ty of the Book of Mormon! The writer hereof saw and " hefted " 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 361 

them, at the time, but is now unable to tell what became of them. 
Thev are probably deposited in some museum, where they should 
be, unless the an^el who guided Mr. Wiley in procuring tliem, or- 
dered them replaced in the mound. Whetlier the prophet ever 
undertook their translation, we are not informed. 

" SONS OF DAN." 

" Both John and Orson Hyde believed in and doubtless knew of 
the existence of tiie Danite Band. The former, in his work on 
Mormonism, published ten or twelve years after that people left 
Hancock county, states that in 1S3S, in Missouri, a " death society" 
was formed under the direction of Sidney Rigdon ; that its first 
captain was David Patten, one of the Apostles, known as Capt. 
Fearnaught ; and that its object was to " punish the obnoxious." 
They had some trouble to find a suitable name. " Daughters of 
Zion," was first adopted, but dropped, from its inappropriateness. 
" Genesis xlix, 17, furnished the name they finally assumed. The 
verse is quite significant : ' Dan shall be a serpent by the wa^^, an 
adder in the path that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider 
shall fall backward.'" And Hyde continues: " ' The Sons of Dan ' 
was the style adopted; and many have been the times they have 
been adders in the path, and many a man has fallen backward and 
has been seen no more." — [Stenhouse, p. 104. 

From " Sons of Dan," they came to be known to the Gentiles as 
the " Danite Band." Brigham Young himself furnishes full con- 
firmation, as quoted by Stenhouse from the Deseret News, vol. 7, 
page 148: 

" If men come here and do not behave themseh^es, they will not 
only find the Danites, whom they talk so much about, biting the 
horse's heels, but the scoundrels will find something biting their 
heels. In my plain remarks, I merely call things by their own 
names." 

It is due to the Mormons to say, that in all their publications, 
they have steadily denied the existence of any such organization 
among them. 

BEASTS IN THK LAND OF PROMISE. 

The country (America) to which these " AYandering Jews," 
descril)ed in the Book of Mormon, were directed, was entirely unin- 
habited. But "there were beasts in the forests of every kind," 
— among the rest the ox. Here is revealed a fact in natural history 
of which even Cuvier was ignorant. Oxen have heretofore been 
supposed to exist only in countries inhabited by man; but here 
they were found running wild in the forests of America ! 

WILLIAM W. PHELPS. 

This man, notorious among the faithful at Nauvoo as one of the 
most blindly obsequious followers of the prophet, was a printer by 



362 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

trade, and published at Independence the Evening and Morning 
Star. He was a readj writer, but usually dealt in the " bifalutin -^ 
style. He was supposed .to have been often employed by Joseph 
to adorn his compositions. For these many acts of kindness, his 
patron is said to have had a revelation in his favor, that he should 
live till Jesus came. The Salt Lake papers report his death in that 
city on March 7, 1872, aged over SO years. 

THE TITLES OF THE TWELVE, 

As given by W. W. Phelps, and published in the Times and 
Seasons, in 1841 : 

Brigham Young — The Lion of the Lord. 

Parley P. Pratt — The Archer of Paradise. 

Orson Hyde — The Olive Branch of Israel. 

Willard Richards — The ICeeper of the Rolls. 

John Taylor — The Champion of Right. 

William Smith — The Patriarch of JacoVs Staff. 

Wilford "Woodruff — The Banner of the OosjyeX. 

George A. Smith — The Entahlature of T'uth. 

Orson Pratt — The Gauge of Philosophy. 

John E. Page — The Sun-Dial., and 

Lyman Wight — The Wild Ram of the Mountains. 

THE PROPHET AS A LINGUIST. 

How he became a linguist is beyond comprehension, seeing he 
was so entirely ignorant of his own native English tongue. But 
he was fond of parading his acquirements in that respect before 
his wondering followers. In the Times and Seasons of May 1, 
1843, we find over his signature a learned dissertation on the 
derivation of the name "Mormon:" 

* * * It has been stated that this word was derived from the Greek word 
Mill' I no. This is not the case. Tliere was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from 
which I, tlu-ough the grace of God, translated the Booli of ]\Iormon. Let the 
language of that book speak for itself. On the 523d page of the fourth edition, it 
reads : 

' 'And now behold we have written this record according to our knowledge in the 
characters which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, being handed down 
and^ altered by us, according to our manner of speech ; and if our plates had been 
sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew ; but the Hebrew hath been 
altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold ye would have 
had no imperfection in om- record ; but the Lord knoweth the things which we have 
wi'itten, and also that none other people knoweth our language ; therefore he hath 
prepared means for the interpretation thereof." 

Here, then, the subject is put to silence; for "none other people knoweth our 
language," therefore the Lord, and not man, had to interpret, after the people were 
all dead. * * * "\ye say from the Saxon, good; the Dane, god; the Gotli. goda; 
the German, gut; the Dutch, goed; the Latin, bonus; the Greek, knlos; the Hebrew, 
tob; and the Egyptian, vion. Hence, with the addition more, or the contraction 
moi\ we have the word Mormon, which means literally more good. 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 363 

AND ANOTHER. 

In a correspondence with James Arlington Bennett, a " swell- 
head " relative of Dr. John C. Bennett's, residing at Arlington 
Honse, near New York city, the prophet made this display of his 
learning : 

"Were I an Eg}!)!!.^, I would exclaim Jah-oh-eh, Euish-go-on-dosh, Flo-ces-Flos- 
is-is (O, the Earth! the power of attraction, and the moon passing between her and 
the sun); a Hebrew, Haueloheem yenau; a Greek, O |theos phos esi; a Roman, 
Dominus regit me: a German, Got gebe uns das licht; a Portiigee, Senhor Jesu 
Christo e libordade: a Frenchman, Dieu defend le di'oit; biit as I am, I give God 
the glory, and say, in the beautiful figure of the poet : 

Could we wltn Ink the ocean fill ; 

Was tlie whole earth of parchment made, 
And every single stick a qiilU, 

And every man a scribe by trade,— 
To wilte the love of God above 

Would drain the ocean dry ; 
Nor could the whole upon a scroll 

Be spread from sky to sky. 

That beat Arlington. He had been appointed to some office in 
the Nauvoo Legion, and he had had some thought of coming to 
Illinois, and through the prophet's influence being elected Gov- 
ernor. But he never came. 

AND STILL ANOTHER 

of those grand displays is given in "Gen. Joseph Smith's 
Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys." This effort was published 
in the Nauvoo Neighbor about the last of Jan., 1843. It was an 
a,ddress " To the Freemen of the State of Vermont, the brave Green 
Mountain Boys, and honest men." The burden of it was a recital 
of his sufferings in Missouri, and a call for aid in obtaining redress 
for the same, but whether by the sword and bayonet, or moral 
suasion, is not stated. He starts out by stating that he was born 
and raised in Vermont ; that his father fought in the Revolution, 
etc., and after a rehearsal of Missouri outrages, and other matters, 
he injects the following learned paragraph : 

Were I a Chaldean, I would exclaim : " Keed'-naob ta maroon le-hoam elauhay 
augh deyshemayaugh yah aur kan ion gua abadoo, yabadoo ma-ar'guan bomen 
tehoat shemayaugh elah." (Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not 
made the heavens and the earth, they shall perish from the earth, and from these 
heavens.) An Egyptian : " Sa e eh-ni." (Wiiat other persons are those ?) A 
Grecian : "Diabolos bassileuei." (Tlie Devil reigns.) A Frenchman : "Messieurs 
sans Dieu." (Gentlemen without God.) A Turk : " Ain sheurs." (Tiic fountain 
of light.) A German : "Sie sind unferstandig.' (Wliat consummate ignorance!) 
A S^'rian : " Zanbok." (Sacrifice.) A Spaniard : "II sabio muda conscio, il 
nescio no." (A wise man reflects, a fool does not.) A bTamaritan : "Sannau." (O 
Stranger!) An Italian: "O tempa! O dilfidanza!" (O the times! O the 
diffidence!) A Hebrew: "Antoubail rancy." (Thou Goii seest me.) ADane: 
" Hoad tidende ? " (What tidings ?) A Saxon : " Hwart riht ! " (What right I) 
A Swede : " Hvad skilla! '' (^VHiat skill !) A Polander : " Nav-yen-shoo-bah poa 
na Jesu Christus." (Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ.) A Western Indian : 
"She-mo-kah, .she-mo-kah, ougii-ne-gah." (The white man, O the white man, he 
very uncertain.) A Roman: " Procol, o procol este profani." (Be oflF, be off", ye 
profane.) But as I am, I will only add : " When the wicked rule, the people 
mourn." 



364 HISTORY OF HAXCOCK COUNTY. • 

JOHN D. LEE. 

Our readers will remember this individual as having been tried, 
found guilty, and executed a few years ago in Utah, for his partic- 
ipation in the Mountain Meadow Massacre. In looking over the 
Church organ, we find his name as having been a resident at 
!Xauvoo in 1S43, and a traveling elder, preaching and healing the 
sick, as reported. He was afterward advanced to the position of 
bishop, and at the time of the Mountain Meadow affair was known 
as Bishop Lee. 

THE '• KETELATIOXS "' 

uttered in the name of the Lord, by the prophet. Smith, soon after 
his appearance in Illinois, and indeed throughout his whole career, 
would of themselves form a curious chapter in religious literature. 
The limit and scope of this work will not permit us to devote much 
space to them; but we copy parts of one given Jan. 19. ISil. as 
found in the Times and Sea^ofis. of June 1. 1S41. It is long, 
and we only quote its essential portions: 

Verily, thus saith the Lord uuto you, my servjint, .Joseph Smith, I am well 
pleased with your otferings ;md acknowledgments which you have made: for 
unto this end have I raised you up, that I might shew forth iuy wisdom through 
the weak things of the earth. Your prayers are acceptable before me, and in 
answer to thetn, I say unto you that you "are now called immediately to make a 
solemn proclamation of my "gospel, and of this stake which I have planted to be 
a corner-stone of Ziou, which shall be polished with that refinement which is 
after the similittide of a palace. This proclamation shall be made to all the kings 
of ike world, to the four corners thereof, to the honorable President-elect, and 
the hi'.:h-miuded Governors of the nation in which vou live, and to all the nations 
of the larth scattered abroad. * * * " * * * * 

And agjiin I &ty imto you, let my servant, Robert B. Thompson, help you to write 
this proclamation, for I am well pleased with him, etc. 

And again I verily say imto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith, for I, the 
Lord, loveth him, etc. 

Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in yom: lalK>r. in sending my 
word to the kings and people of the earth. * * * i ij.^ve seen the work he hath 
done, which I accept, if he continue, and will crown him with blessings and great 
glory. 

Aiid again, it is my will that my servant LjTuan Wright should continue in 
preaching for Zion, etc. 

And agtiiu. my servant GJeorge Miller is without guile: I seal upon his head the 
office of a bishoprick. Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my 
servant John Snider aud others, build a house unto my name, such an one as my 
servant Joseph shall show uuto them, upon the place which he shall show imto theiii 
also. And it shall l>e for a house of boanling, a house that stnmgt^rs may come from 
afar to lodge therein: therefoi-e let it be a gooii house, worthy of all acceptation, that 
the weary traveler may find health aud Siifety while he shall contemplate the word 
of the Lord, and the corner-stone I have app^nnted for Zion, This house shall l>e a 
healthy habitation, if it be built unto my name, and if the Governor which shall be 
appointed uuto it shall not sutfer any pollution to c\ime upon it. It shall be holy, 
or the Lonl yoiu- G*xi will not dwell "therein. 

And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints fn.">m afar, and send ye s^^ift 
messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and sjjy unto them, come ye, with all your gold 
and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all yoiu- antiquities: and ■^^"ith 
all who have knowledgeof antiquities, that will come, may come, aud bringthelvx- 
tree and the fir-tree and the pine-tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth: 
and with irvm. and with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your 
precious things of the e;u-th, and build a house to my name for the Most High to 
dweU therein, etc. * * * 



HISTOKY UF ilAXCoOK 0«>LN"TV. 3G5 

And now I say luito yovi. lis pertaiuiuir to my Ixxinling house, which I have com- 
mandeii you to build for the Ixviniing of strangers, let it be built unto my name, ;uid 
let my name be nameii ujx^n it. and let my servant J«.^seph and liis house have place 
therein fn.nn generation to generation. * * * Therefore, let my servant Joseph 
and his seeil after him. have place in that house from generation to generation, for- 
ever and ever, saith the Lord, and let the name of that house be caHed the Xauvoo 
House. * * * 

Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock in that house, for I, the Lord loveth him 
for the work he hath done, and will forgive all his sins, etc. * * * And let my 
servant William Law pay stock in that house for himself and his seed after him, 
etc. * * * And ag-ain. verily I sjiy unto you. if my sers-ant Sidney will serve 
me. and l>e a counselor unto my servant Ji.>seph. let hini arise and stand in the office 
of his calling, and humble himself l>efore me. * * * Verily I sjiv unto vou, even 
now, if he will hearkei; to my voice it shall lie well with him. 

POLYGAMY. 

Wlio inav be entitled to the intamy of iiitrodiiciiii; polvgainv as 
part of the system of Morinonism is not positively known to* the 
outside world. It is a question on whieli tlie saints themselves 
disagree. That it was instituted and practiced sometime before it 
was publicly acknowledgeii is certain. It nee<.ls no argument to 
prove that it is a direct and flagrant violation of law throughout 
all Christendom, the bane of the social system, destructive of the 
best influences of home and the family circle, and an outrage upon 
civilized society. It has not one ennobling and humanizing feature; 
and could have only been engrafted into their system and practiced 
for the most debasing and lustful purposes. But no people, no 
set of men and women, however well-meaning they may be, have 
a right to shield themselves from just punishment for such prac- 
tices, under cover of a religious creed. And it is a wonder and a 
shame, that more determined eflorts have not been made by the 
constituted authorities to put an end to these illegal practices. It 
is now claimed that the system has been so long in operation, that 
to break it up would cause great injury to many innocent persons. 
It is a principle of law. that one shall not take advantage of his own 
wrong; and besides, every one is presume*.! to know the law. These 
pretended revelators, while claiming the sanction of heaven to cover 
their selfish purposes, knew that the law and the morality of the 
country were against them, and that their so-called revelation was 
an infamous and blasphemous falsehood. Religious creed, too 
often used as a cloak for sin. cannot be permitted to shield its 
wearer from the consequences of crime. 

That Joseph Stuith ever advocated or encouraged polygamy, as a 
branch of the creed, is nuw strenuously denieii by the followers of 
his son, of the re-organized branch. They justly denounce it with 
all the rest of Christendom; and they quote strong proof from his 
writings and from the Book of Mormon, that he set his tace against 
it. The Salt Lake Mormons as flatly assert that he was its author 
and introducer. We think the new branch will have hard work to 
convince the world, — as they cerPainly have not convinced us, — 
that the prophet was innocent of this outrage. He may not in his 
day have fully incorporated it into his creed and taught it to his 



366 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

followers in public; but we think there is indubitable evidence that 
he was its originator. Who, without his sanction, had a right to 
broach such a thing, and preach it, by degrees and parcels, as was 
done in his life-time and in his chosen city? And how came it to 
be so fully established so soon after his death, that it had become a 
sweet morsel in the creed of the leaders, at the time they left for 
the West two years afterward, so sweet a morsel that it divided 
man and wife ? In his life- time it liad not reached the dignity of 
title it has since, ^ow, it is '' Polygamy " (and didn't Solomon 
and David and Abraham, and all the patriarchs practice polygamy?). 
Then it was " Spiritual- wifery," a sort of clandestine, sneaking 
system of concubinage, with an I- would-if-I-dare effort to adopt it, 
and an I-do-and-I-don't acceptance ; but with a crushing public 
denial and denunciation. All who remember the days of Mormon- 
ism in this county and are conversant with its workings, know that 
this is the way in which polygamy became a constituent of its creed 
and a chief pillar in its system. Had the main body remained here 
it would have been " spiritual-wifery " still, most probably — denied 
to the outside world, and practiced in the harems of the leaders. 
Before they left it was the accepted creed of the governing class; 
and we know of one legal wife of a prominent man among them, 
who refused to go with him, and did not, because he would not 
agree to forego the anticipated delights of the system in the wilder- 
ness; while others generally went, by force of circumstances, though 
their best natures as women cried out against the unnatural dogma. 
The Salt Lake people now publish a revelation which they assert 
was delivered by the prophet before his death, in which this doc- 
trine is promulgated. The reorganized branch here claim this to 
be a forgery; whether justly or not, we leave the reader to decide. 
John Taylor is now and has ever been a prominent leader at Salt 
Lake; while here, and after the prophet's death, we believe 
throughout, he was editor of both the Mormon papers. The files 
of those sheets show that he was continually denying the doctrine, 
and ridiculing it as an invention of their enemies. If said revela- 
tion had been genuine, as now claimed, Taylor must have known 
it; and what can be said of his and their truthfulness? 

TEMPERANCE CLAUSE. 

The Act to incorporate the " Kauvoo House Association " con- 
tained one clause which can be recommended to all similar asso- 
ciations: 

Sec. 9. It is moreovet established as a perpetual rule of said house, to be 
observed by all persons who may keep or occupy the same, that spirituous liquors 
of every description are prohibited, and that such liquors shall never be vended 
as a beverage, or introduced into common use in said house. 

A TOLERATION ORDINANCE. 

The following ordinance was flourished in the Nauvoo papers, 
without date, as proof of the tolerant spirit prevailing there: 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTi'. 367 

AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

Sec. 1. Be it Ordained by the City Council of tlie city of Nauvoo, Tliat tlie 
Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-Day Saints, Quakers, Epis- 
copalians, Uuiversalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects 
and denominations whatever, shall have free toleration and equal privileges in 
this city ; and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise 
depreciating another in consequence of his religion, or of disturbing or interrupting 
anj' religious meeting, within the limits of this city, he shall, on conviction thereof 
before the Mayor or Municipal Court, be considered a disturber of the public 
peace, and fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned 
not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of said Mayor or Court. 

The foregoing was paraded as proof of the extremely liberal 
spirit prevailing in the city; and yet it will be perceived that it 
empowers the Maj'^or to line a man five hundred dollars and 
imprison him six months, for merely speaking in depreciation of 
the Mormon religion ! 

THE MANSION HOUSE, 



which many have confounded with the Nauvoo House, was a neat 
frame building situated some hundreds of yards from the river, 
and was in all the prophet's after years his residence and home, 
and where he dispensed hospitality and good cheer to friends and 
visitors. It was a hotel, and was opened with great ostentation on 
the 3d of October, 1843, on which occasion a large crowd sat down 
to the table. The following is one of the volunteer toasts passed : 
"Resolved, That Gen. Joseph Smith, whether we view him as a 
Prophet at the head of the Church; a General at the head of the 
Legion ; a Mayor at the head of the City Council, or as a Landlord 
at the head of his table, has few equals and no superiors." 

EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS. 

Prof. Caswell, of Kemper College, near St. Lotiis, told the follow- 
ing story: He paid a visit to Nauvoo and the Mormon prophet, and 
had in his possession a Greek psalter of great age — one that had 
been in his family several hundred years. Why he took it to Nau- 
voo does not appear; but some of the brethren saw it, and insisted 
that he should giv^e Ijrother Joseph a chance of translating it. The 
professor consented, and the l)ook was handed over. The spirit of 
prophecy — the same as in the days of the golden plates — descended 
upon Joseph, and he said, " This book I pronounce to be a Dic- 
tionary of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics." 

THE TEMPLE 

is said to have cost in labor and money over a million of dollars. 
It may be possible, and is very probable, that contributions to that 
amount were made to it, but that it cost that much to build it, few 
will believe. Half that sum would be am])le to build a much more 
costly edifice to-da}'; and in the three or four years in which it was 
being erected, labor was cheap and all the necessaries of life remark- 
ably low. Wlieat was quoted in the county markets at forty to 



368 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

sixty cents; corn, 20; flour, $4.00, and pork, $2.00. If a million of 
dollars were contributed by the faithful for the temple fund, it is 
easy to ^uess where at least half the sum was expended. 

THE NAUVOO HOUSE 

was never half finished during the prophet's life-time, and was never 
occupied by him or any one. It stood, one of its wings under roof, 
but the walls of the main building unfinished, an imposing struc- 
ture, until long since the prophet had met his fate, and his follow- 
ers had located in the wilderness. It was left or somehow passed 
to the ownership of the widow and her second husband, Major Bid- 
amon, and has recently been fitted up and kept by them as a hotel. 
The location is most beautiful and commanding, being on the slop- 
ing and rocky bank of the Mississippi, facing southward at the 
curve of the river, and about 150 yards from the water's edge. 

The work upon this building was never prosecuted by the faith- 
ful with the same zeal as that upon the temple. While the contri- 
butions flowed in freely for the temple, those for the hotel lagged; 
and it took much hard begging to keep the latter going forward. 
At the April conference, 1841, President Smith said: " It is neces- 
sary that this conference give importance to the Nauvoo House. 
A prejudice exists against building the Nauvoo House, in favor of 
the Lord's House, and the conference are required to give stress to 
the building of the Nauvoo House. This is the most important 
matter for the time being; for there is no place in this city where 
men of wealth and character and influence from abroad can go to 
repose themselves, and it is necessary we should have such a place." 

So the Times and Seasons^ under date of Nov. 15, 1841, in an 
editorial says: "Let us not forget that we have another house also 
to build in this place, even the Nauvoo House; and which is as 
important to us as the temple; inasmu chas great things are depend- 
ing upon that house, and it is commanded us of God.'' 

JAMES C. BREWSTER. 

This was an ambitious young man, who resided in Springfield 
111., and a member of the Church. He claimed to be gifted with 
the spirit of prophecy, and issued a pamphlet in which he put forth 
his claims. But this was not allowed. He was dealt with, and 
the organ, Dec. 1, 1842, admonishes the brethren against him, 
quoting from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants: " But behold, 
verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive 
commandments and revelations in this Church, excepting my ser- 
vant Joseph Smith, junior, for he receiveth them even as Moses," 
etc. So Mr. Brewster was squelched. But this command must 
have been afterward abrogated in favor of brother Hyrum ; for we 
find him declaring a revelation in the 'election of 1843, in favor of 
Hoge for Congress; and the prophet vouched that " brother Hyrum 
never told a lie." 



^ 




La Harpe Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 371 

A STORY FROM STENHOCTSE. 

" It is stated that on leaving Nauvoo for Cartilage, he said: ' I 
am going like a himb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer 
morning. I have a conscience void of oftense toward God and 
toward all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall jet be said of 
me, "He was murdered in cold blood.'" " — [Doctrine and Cove- 
nants, p. 335. 

Stenhouse says: 

Notwithstanding tliis apparent readiness to meet death, and the deep and clear 
divine impressions claimed to have been iniparted to the prophet of his forthcoming 
end, it is understood that lie managed to send from prison a communication to the 
Mormon otticers in military command at Nauvoo, to bring with all possible dispatch 
a portion of the Legion to protect him from treachery and from that assassination 
which he had then so much cause to apprehend. This military commander put the 
prophet's communication into his pocket and gave no heed to the call for help. No 
one was acquainted with the contents of the paper, and the officer was therefore, 
he presumed, safe in disregarding it. 

After the prophet's death, by some accident or other, this communication was 
lost, and picked up on the street and read. The intelligence that Joseph had called 
for aid, and none had been rendered him, was soon bruited among the Saints, and 
excited then* deepest indignation, as they were not only ready to march at a 
moment's notice, but were eager for the opportiinity. 

Some time afterward, when all was quiet, this "coward and traitor," as some of 
the Mormons called him, or "fool and idiot," as others said, was sent on a mission 
to the Western frontiei's, accompanied by a faithful elder. While traveling alone 
with his companion he fell ill and died, it is said of dysentery! His companion 
buried him. Pucje 164, Note. 

If the foregoing statement is true, it reveals a fact which we 
have never heard from any other source. The whole story bears 
the semblance of truth; and from the narrator's twenty-five years' 
connection with the priesthood afterward, it is evident he had every 
facility to learn the truth. It was always accounted a wonder that 
the Legion did not make some demonstration while their leaders 
were in jail, either to protect or release them. That they did not, 
we have attributed to their reliance upon the prophet's previous 
good luck. This story, taken in connection with the admission of 
Gov. Ford, that he, too, contem])lated a rescue, presents a very 
important suggestion: whether the disobedience of the officer of 
the Legion did not frustrate a rescue, and the consequent massacre 
of the guards and citizens. The belief has always been general, 
that had not the murders been perpetrated as they were by the 
mob, the affair would soon have terminated in a bloody encounter 
by an attack from the other side. This belief cannot be ofi'ered as 
an excuse for the murders, but it does excuse the people of Carth- 
age and the Greys for the feverish a])prehension under which they 
labored, and which their vacillating and excitable Governor blamed 
them so severely for. AVho that I^egion commander was, thus 
alluded to in the quotation, and who died afterward of dysentery 
(the italics are Stenhouse's own) we are unable to state. The italics 
suggest a popular Mormon mode of dealing with ofienders. 

23 



372 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



COL. THOMAS GEDDEs' STATEMHNT, 



We have shown from his own admission, that Gov, Ford was 
willing to connive at the escape of the Smiths, notwithstanding 
his virtuous indignation at the citizens for suspecting him. We 
shall now show that, notwithstanding his devotion to law and 
order, he did, what was asserted at the time, counsel the violent 
expulsion of the Mormons from the State. Col. Thomas Geddes, 
then still residing at Fountain Green in this county, and at the 
time of the troubles in command of a portion of the troops at 
Carthage, has recently made us this statement, of which he says 
his recollection is clear: 

" While the Smiths were in jail, I "went to the jail in company 
with Gov. Ford, and there we conversed with them for some time, 
the burden of Smith's talk being that they were only acting in 
self-defense, and only wanted to be let alone. After leaving the 
jail, and while returning from it, the Governor and I had still 
further conversation about the subject matter. After some time 
the Governor exclaimed, ' O, it's all nonsense; 3'ou will have to 
drive these Mormons out yet!' I then said, ' If we undertake 
that. Governor, when the proper time comes, will you interfere?' 
'No, I will not,' said he; then, after a pause, adding, ' until you 
are through.'" 

MRS. ELIZA R. WELLS, 

wife of the now General Daniel H. Wells, one of the dignitaries 
at Salt Lake, was a daughter of Rev. Charles Rohison. She now 
resides at Burlington, Iowa. On the authority of her brother, 
Chauncey Robison, of Appanoose, we have the statement that 
when the Mormons left for the Far West, Mrs. Wells refused to 
go with her husband because he would not consent to confine him- 
self to one wife — which he refused to do. She had never joined 
the Church. Thus they were separated and divorceds, he remain- 
ing behind, and he following the fortunes of the Brighamites, with 
whom he was then and has since remained in high authority. This 
fact tends to show that polygamy was a cherished institution with 
the leaders before they left Kauvoo. 

THE CARTHAGE GREYS. 

A good deal was said by Gov. Ford and in the Mormon papers, 
about the insubordination of the Carthage Greys toward Gen. 
Deming, while the Smiths were in custody. From a gentleman 
who was a member of that company, we have procured the follow- 
ing statement of the facts, as near as he can recollect them. It 
seems that after the McDonough regiment had been disbanded and 
were about to return home, they expressed a desire to see the 
prisoners. The wish was reasonable, and as the easiest mode of 
gratifying it, they were drawn up in line, and Gen. Deming, with 
the two prisoners, one on each arm, and the Greys as an escort, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 373 

passed along the line of the troops, Deming introducing them as 
" Gen. Joseph Smith," and "Gen. Hyrum Smith, of the Naiivoo 
Legion." The Greys, not aware that this was done at the request, 
of the McDonongh men, and not satisfied to be made an escort to 
such a display, exhibited signs of dissatisfaction, and finally gave 
vent to their feelings by hisses and groans. As a punishment for 
this ofiense, they were afterward ordered under arrest. In the 
mean time there was great excitement in the company. As a 
detachment of the troops was being detailed for the purpose of 
putting the General's order into execution, the officer in command 
of the Greys addressed them a few words, and then said, " Boys, 
will you submit to an arrest for so trifling an offense?" "No!" 
was the unanimous response. "Then load your pieces with ball!" 
was his sullen order. In the mean time some explanations had 
been made, which permitted Gen. Deming to countermand the 
order for arrest, and the Greys were quietly marched to their 
encampment. 

PARLEY p. PRATT AS A PROPHET. , 

In 1838 Parley P. Pratt was engaged in a controversy with 
LaRoy Sunderland, editor of Zion^s WatchTnan, an Eastern paper. 
During the controversy, Mr. Pratt was seized with the spirit of 
prophecy, and poured forth the following: " Within ten years from 
now the people of this country who are not Mormons will be 
entirely subdued by the Latter-Day Saints, or swept from the face 
of the earth; and if this prediction fails, then you may know the 
'Book of Mormon' is not true." 

It has now been forty-two years since this prediction was uttered, 
and Pratt himself, and the prophet, and Rigdon, and Young, have 
been "swept from the face of the earth." So we have Pratt's own 
testimony to the falsity of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Pratt mis- 
took his own intense fanaticism for the voice of the Lord, — a 
mistake which many men wiser than he have made before him. 

THE BAPTISMAL FONT, 

in the temple at Nauvoo, was in itself a curiosity, and a fit 
accompaniment to the building. It was first constructed of wood, 
but this being deemed not sufficiently durable, was taken away, and 
anotlier built of stone. It rested on the backs of twelve stone 
oxen of colossal size — four abreast at the sides, and two at each 
end, standing back to back. The oxen had the appearance of being 
sunk in the floor half-way to their knees, and the font rested on 
their shoulders, their horns, heads, necks and shoulders being 
exposed to view outside. The font itself was of immense size — 18 
teet long, eight feet wide, and four feet deep. It thus stood about 
eight feet high, from the top of its rim to the floor. It was placed 
in the basement, or first story of the building — an object of great 
curiosity and comment to all stranger visitors. 



374 HISTORY OF HAXCOCK COUNTY. 



IXCIDEXTS OF THE BUEXIN'G. 



From a very respectable old gentleman who was an eve-witness 
of some of the honse-burning operations in the fall of 1S45. we 
have the following statement received from him verballv durinor 
the last year. He says that for snch lawless and ontrageons acts, 
they were done in snch a qniet and orderlv manner as to be aston- 
ishing. He resided not far from some of the houses that were 
burned ; and hearing what was going on, he mounted his horse 
and rode to where the work whs in progress. There seemed to be a 
company of 25 or 30 men engaged — mostly, as he thought, Warsaw 
clerks, though he only knew a portion. They were commanded, 
he thinks, by a man from the north part of the county, whose name 
he could not recollect. 

The burning began at what is now Tioga — then called Morley- 
town, or Yelrome, in Walker township — and continued on up to 
Green Plains. The last house burnt in that section of the countv, 
was the one they were at when attacked by the Mormon jH\*5t^ under 
Sheritf Backenstos, and where McBratney was killed. The houses 
burnt were mostly log cabins of not much value, though some 
pretty good dwellings were included. 

The manner was to go to the house and warn the inmates out — 
that they were going to burn it. Usually there would be no show 
of resistance; but all hands, burners and all, would proceed to take 
out the goods and place them out of danger. When the goods were 
all securely removed, the torch would be applied, and the house 
consumed. Then on to another. We are not aware that a correct 
count was ever made of the number thus burned: but our inform- 
ant states that there were probably 70 or SO. Some accounts have 
placed it as high as 125. 

As an evidence of the coolness and good temper in which this 
work was done, our informant relates the following, to which he 
says he was an eye-witness. While the burners were engaged in 
burning a certain house, a young woman belonging to the family, 
standing and looking on, felt an inclination to smoke, and asked 
one of the burners for some tobacco. Having none himself, he 
pointed to one of his comrades and said he would give her some. 
She approachei^l the other; he unconcernedly put his hand in his 
pocket, handed her the tobacco, from which she took what she 
wanted, and handed it back; when he went on with the work in 
hand, and the young woman proceedevi to smoke I 

MORMON METHODS. 

I. R. Tull, Esq.. of Pontoosue, gives us the following items, as 
illustrating Mormon methods: "I often went with produce to 
2sauvoo; and it mattei^ed little what kind it was, so it was some- 
thing people could live on; and if at any time my stuff was dull 
sale, I would go to the committee rooms, and could always trade it 
off for something. They had almost every conceivable thing, from 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTT. 376 

all kinds of implements and men's and women's clothing down to 
babv clothes and trinkets, which had been deposited bv the owners 
as tithing, or for the benefit of the temple.'' 

Again he says: "In the fall of 1S43 I went to Xauvoo to bnv 
calves, and called on a blind man who had one to sell. I bought 
his calf, and being curious to learn his history, went in and saw his 
wife, with two little twin infants iji a cradle, and great destitution. 
He told me that he had a nice home in Massachusetts, which gave 
them a gtK>d support. But one of the Mormon elders preachinor iu 
that country called on him and told him if he would sell out and go 
to Xauvoo, the prophet would open his eyes and restore his sight. 
And he sold out. and had come to the city, and had spent all his 
means, and was now iu great need. I asked why the prophet did 
not open his eyes. He replied that Joseph had informed him that 
he could not open his eyes until the temple was finished, and then 
when the temple was finished he would open them, and he should 
see better than before I And he believed, and was waiting patiently 
for the last stroke to be made on the temple." 

And again, of this same poor family: "After this interview, 
when in Xauvoo I otten took them something, and the blind man's 
wife seemed to think I was one of the Saints. One day I inquired 
how they were getting along. She told me they had been getting 
along finely; that there was a company formed to go out on the 
prairie and butcher cattle to get beef for the destitute, and they 

had been well supplied until about a \veek ago: but brother 

was mean enough to tell on them, and now they dare not go out 
any more to kill beef on the prairie, and ' what to do we don't 
know.' '' 

GOT. ford's IXACCUKACIES. 

As a specimen of Gov. Ford's general inaccuracy of statement in 
regard to our difliculties. we mention tlie following: He says in 
his History of Illinois, p. 319, or "Walker and Hoge's canvass: •• Mr. 
Hoge received about o.OCK) votes in !Nauvoo, and was elected by 
600 or 800 majority.'' The facts are: the vote for Hoge through- 
out the whole county, including regular Democrats and Mormons 
outside the city, was just 2,0SS, and he was elected by 4:65 majority 
in the district. 

THE PROPHET A LAND SPECCLATOR. 

The prophet was quite a speculator in lands and town lots, in 
and about Xauvoo. Of course, he desired a monopoly of the busi- 
ness. One of his methods was to keep the following notice stand- 
ing in the Neighbor: 



To £iiii';ra:itg and Laiter-Day Saints GtutrnUy: 

I. feel it my duty to say to the brethren generally, and especially thoee who are 
emigrating to this' place." that there is in the hands of the trustees in trust, a large 
quantity of lands, both in the city and adjoining townships in this county, which is 



376 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

for sale, some of whichibelongs to the Church and is designed for the l:)enefit of the 
poor, and also to liquidate debts owing by the Church, for which the trustee in 
trust is responsible. Some, also, is land which has been consecrated for the building 
of the Temple and the Nauvoo House. 

If the brethi'en who move in here and want an inheritance, will buy their lands of 
the trustees in trust, they will therebj^ benefit the poor, the Temple, and the Nauvoo 
House, and even then onl}^ be doing that which is their duty, and which I know, by 
considerable experience, will be vastlj^ for their benefit and satisfaction in days to 
come. Let all the brethren, therefore, when they move into Nauvoo, consult Presi- 
dent Joseph Smith, the trustee, etc., and purchase their lands of him; and I am bold 
to say that God will bless them, and they will hereafter be glad they did so. 

We hold ourselves ready at any time to wait upon the brethren and show them the 
lands belonging to the Churcli, and Temple, etc., and can be found any day, either 
at President Joseph Smith's bar-room or the Temple Recorder's office at the Temple. 

Nauvoo, Dec. 16, 1843. W. Clayton, Clerk. 

THE KE-OKGANIZED CHURCH. 

In concluding this history of the Mormon Era in Hancock 
county, it will not be out of place to refer to Joseph Smith, junior, 
who, it is known, is building up a sect which he denominates the 
" Keorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." 
(While he was about it he might have reorganized the phraseology 
of its title to advantage.) 

At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo Joseph was a mere 
child, and with his mother and the rest of the family remained 
behind; she not choosing to relinquish a competence and a home 
here, for the uncertain honors and the certain privations of a 
sojourn in the new promised land. In this she acted wisely ; but 
by doing so she greatly thwarted the purposes of the leaders. It 
was their ambition to carry with them the widow, and above all, 
the 3'oung son of their martyred leader. For years afterward they 
adhered to this darling scheme, and many efiorts were made to 
induce the youth to join them. Embassies were sent to him, and 
glowing representations made ; but to no purpose. His ever- 
watchful mother and his own disinclination proved effective against 
all their solicitations and blandishments. 

Joseph grew up to be a sober, temperate, and steady young 
man, and with a fair reputation among his neighbors. We never 
heard that he aspired to any extra share of holiness, or to the pos- 
session of any miraculous gifts; or pretended to have had any 
special call from heaven, for the course he has seen proper to pursue. 
Nor do we know just at what time or in what manner he under- 
took his work of reorganization. Strange as it may seem, 
we must infer that he believes in the divine mission of his father 
and the truth ol'his claims; as he makes these in effect the basis 
of his work. 

This reorganized Church is based on the " Book of Mormon," 
the " Book of Doctrines and Covenants," and other works common to 
Utah Mormonisra; but it totally rejects the polygamy features of 
the Utah creed. We are not able to perceive any other marked 
features of difference either in creed or form. The practice of the 
new Church, however, has been widely different. Instead of call- 
ing all the believers together to one " Zion," or " New Jerusalem," 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 377 

the building of one magnificent temple, and the pampering of a 
domineering and infallible priesthood, as under the old system, 
the new organization thus far has allowed its members the freedom 
of choice as to where they may make their homes and pursue the 
business of life. Consequently here and there through the States, 
societies are springing up, churches being erected, and regular 
worship carried on, much as is done by societies of other denomi- 
nations. There are several of these reorganized Churches in this 
county. And why not? Joseph Smith has just as good a right 
to head a sect as any man has, and to build up a creed and ransack 
the country for proselytes. And he has a right to base his creed 
on Spaulding's Manuscript Found or Esop's Fables^ if h$ so 
choose. That is a right to which no man or set of men has a 
monopoly. And so long as he will continue in what seems to be 
his present course and policy, and avoid the rocks on which his 
father went down — and which are sooner or later to be the destruc- 
tion of Utah Mormonism — while we ma}'- not respect his judg- 
ment or wish him God-speed, no man can desire him evil. 

While Methodism, Presbyteriauism, Quakerism, or any other 
form of Christianity can live and be at peace even with Paganism, 
no so-called Gentile people in a land of light and liberty can 
quietl}^ dwell side by side with Mormonism, as it existed of yore 
under the dynasty of Smith, the elder, in this county, and since 
under Brigham Young in Utah. Under them it was eternally 
aggressive upon the rights, the consciences, the property of their 
neighbors. " This land is for the home of the Saints — This prop- 
erty you call your own, is consecrated to their use and the service 
of the Lord — Your blood is as water, to be poured out upon the 
earth, for the unbeliever shall be utterly destroj'ed," — is now and 
has been from the beginning, the teaching from their temples and 
the burden of their songs. And should this reorgauizer (" Presi- 
dent," we believe he calls himself) ever fall into this fatal and 
wicked error, it will as certainly bring to him disaster, as it did to 
his predecessors who adopted it. 

Whatever may be in the future for Utah Mormonism, it looks as 
if the reorganized branch might take and hold a respectable place 
among the religious sects of the day, could but the facts of its ori- 
gin and the character of its founders be effaced from memory. 

CONCLUSION. 

And we now close our account of the Mormons and Mormon 
history in Hancock county and the State of Illinois. Much more 
we are compelled for want of room to omit. We believe, however, 
that we have brought together in tliese preceding chapters, a moi-e 
complete and reliable statement of Mormon affairs, during their 
eight years' sojourn in this county, than can elsewhere be found, or 
that has ever before been given to the public. 

And, in conclusion, we beg to be indulged in a few reflections. 
It would seem that no one can take the trouble to acquaint himself 



378 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 



With Joseph Smitli's character and career, as seen in the lio-ht of 
history and truth, and not know that he was a very bad man— a 
hypocrite a blasphemer, a knave. And yet hundreds and thousands 
believe otherwise, that he was a holy man, a saint and a martyr to 
the truth Such is the difference in men. And while we are 
torced to believe that he was as before stated, we are also compelled 
to conclude that many of his professed followers and believers were 
equally guilty— were, in truth, not his dupes, but his tools. That 
while he was takm^^ care of number one, and rioting in luxury and 
debauchery, they were doing the same thing, as his aiders and abet- 
tors. His own talents could never have secured for him the posi- 
tion and notoriety he obtained; but to Sidney Rigdon, Parley P 
Pratt, Brigham Young, and scores of others, whom Ms interests and 
their interests drew around him, he was largely indebted for his 
success. They submitted to be managed by him, because their in- 
terest lay in submission. 

Beyond these and around them, supporting, feeding, paraperino-, 
and ready to fight for them, rallied a host of others, of many crradS 
ot character, sincere, devout, ignorant, willing and unwilling dupes, 
to whose sustaining power the sect owes its life. They furnish the 
bonds that hold the rotten system together. 




CHAPTER yil. 

FORTS JOHNSON AND EDWARDS. 

In Andreas' " Illustrated Historical Atlas of Hancock county," 
published in 1S74, we find the following: 

About the beginning of the eighteenth century, the French built Fort Johnson at 
this place (Warsa'^)." It stood on the point of bluif near where Albers' mill now 
stands. In the middle of the eighteenth centurj-, dming the trouble between the 
French and English, it was abandoned, because of an expected attack from the 
latter, via the Great Lakes. In tne latter part of the eighteenth century. Fort Ed- 
wards, named after Gov. Edwards, of Illinois, was built by Capt. (afterwards Presi- 
dent) Zachary Taylor. It stood on the bluff at the foot of Claj^ street, and was aban- 
doned in 1825, and afterward used by the fur company. 

It would be difficult to jumble together a dozen lines of " history " 
containing more palpable errors than are to be found in the fore- 
going. First, the eighteenth century began in 1701, now 180 
years ago, only 30 or 40 years after the discovery of the Nortliwes- 
tern country by the French. Secondly, had the French built Fort 
Johnson at that early day, they would not likely have named it 
after the killer of Tecumseh, who flourished more than a hundred 
years afterward. Thirdly, " It was abandoned about the middle 
of the eighteenth century," sixty-three years before it was actually 
built. And, FourtJily, Fort Edwards was built by Capt. Zach. 
Taylor, and named after Gov. Edwards, in the latter part of the 
eighteenth century, while Zach. Taylor and Ninian Edwards were 
both in their infancy! 

Not wishing to record history by guess, we addressed a note of 
inquiry to the War Department, and received the following in 
reply : 

"W.vR Depaktment, WAsniNCxTON City, ) 

Sept. 7, 1878. } 

Sir: — In regard to the history of old Forts Johnson and Edwards, which were 
situated in Hancock countj', Illinois, information coacerning which was desired 
in your letter of the 27th ultimo, I have the honor to state that the onh' data in 
possession of this Department regarding Fort Edwards, is that it was established 
about the year 1814, and abandoned in July, 182-4, per general order No. 30, from 
the Adjutant-General's office, June 11, 1824, at which date it was garrisoned by 
Company F, Fifth Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Gideon Low, Fifth Infantry. 

There is nothing of record here regarding Fort Johnson. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servani, 

Geo. W. McCkary, Secretary of War. 
Thomas Gregg, Esq., Hamilton, 111. 

ORDER NO. 36. 

Adjutant-General's Office, Western Department, ) 
Louisville, Ky., 11th June, 1824. \ 
The position of Fort Edwards, 111., will forthwith be evacuated, and its garri- 
son (excepting a faithful non-commissioned officer and six privates, who will be 

(379) 



380 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

left for the preservation of the public property, and the crop at present standing) 
be removed to Fort Armstrong. 

Assistant Surgeon McMillan will, on the receipt of this order, report by letter 
to the Surgeon-General for orders, as to his present station, and will accompany 
the garrison at Fort Edwards to Fort Armstrong, where he is required as a witness 
before the Court to be convened at that post, for the trial of Brevet-Major Mars- 
ton, of the Fifth Infantry. 

The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary facilities for the 
most prompt execution of this order. By order of 

Major-General Scott. 

H. Smith, Lt. and Aid-de-Camp. 

The foregoing is to be taken as conclusive as to Fort Edwards, 
but it settles nothing regarding Fort Johnson. Recourse must be 
had, then, to the history of the times. This we have searched until 
we feel sure that the mystery is explained, and conclude that the 
two forts were built within a few months of each other, in 1814. 

Peck's " Annals of the West," second edition, St. Louis, 1850, 
on page 744, says: 

A detachment under command of Major Taylor left Cape au Gris on the 23rd 
of August, 1814, in bdats, for the Indian town at Eock river. The detachment 
consisted of 334 men, officers and privates. A report from the commanding officer 
to Gen. Howard, dated from Fort Madison, Sept. 6, and published in the Missouri 
Gazette of the 17th, gives the details of the expedition. 

The expedition met with a superior force at Rock Island, were 
repulsed and fell back. The report says: 

I then determined to drop down the river to the Des Moines without delay, as 
some of the officers of the Rangers informed me their men were short of provis- 
ions, and execute the principal object of the expedition, in erecting a fort to com- 
mand the river. 

Fort ^Johnson (says the Annals), a rough stockade with block-houses of round 
logs, was then erected, on the present site of the town ot Warsaw, opposite the 
mouth of the Des Moines. 

Then, on pa^je 746, the Annals continues: 

Fort Madison, after sustaining repeated attacks from the Indians, was evacuated 
and burnt. And in the month of October the people of St. Louis were astounded 
vrith the intelligence that the troops stationed at Fort Johnson had burnt the block- 
houses, destroyed the works, and retreated down the river to Cape au Gris. The 
officers in command (Maj. Taylor having previously left that post), reported they 
were out of provisions and could not sustain the position. 

That there was no fort between Cape au Gris and Fort Madison 
previous to 1814, is proven by several circumstances. In the sev- 
eral expeditions made up the river before that time, mention is 
made of the Des Moines river and rapids, but no mention of a fort 
till Madison is reached. Again, about 1813, Gov. Edwards fur- 
nished the "War Department with a long table of distances from 
Prairie du Chien down, in which Madison, tlie head of the rapids, 
the foot of the rapids, Des Moines river, are all named, but noth- 
ing about a fort. 

And so we conclude, and so state, as veritable history, that, 
instead of having been built one hundred and eighty years ago by 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNXr. 



381 



the French, and named Johnson^ that fort was erected during our 
war with Great Britain, bj our own soldiery and by command of 
our own Government, in 18J4:; and that Fort Edwards ^a.^ also 
built and occupied the same year, after the destruction of the 
former, and named after the Governor of Illinois Territory; and 
that Capt. Zachary Taylor, afterward President of the United 
States, was the builder of them both. 




CHAPTER YIII. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

MUCK-AH-TAH-MISH-E-KA-AH-KE-AK. 

Referring to the foregoing State History, page S-i, for a general 
account of the Black Hawk war, we deem a more particular account 
of that noted cliieftain proper in this place. Many of the citizens 
of Hancock county' were more or less engaged in that struggle, or 
interested in it from its proximity to them; and besides, there was 
a tradition that he was born within tlie limits of the county, upon 
Camp creek. For this there was probably no good foundation. 

That Black Hawk was a man of genius and bravery cannot be 
denied. He fought, and fought bravely, for what he deemed his 
rights. But when, at the battle of Bad- Axe, he was conquered and 
made prisoner, his spirit was broken, and he yielded to inexorable 
fate. He was carried a prisoner to Washington, and on a tour 
through the Eastern States, and then returned to his tribe beyond 
the Mississippi, with presents and an admonition. That tour of 
itself, showing him the vast power and resources of the people with 
whom he had been contending, w^as sufficient to convince him of 
the lutility of war as a means of redressing his wrongs, and he 
buried the hatchet forever. He mingled with liis tribe more as an 
humble follower than as a warlike chief. And when passing about 
among the whites, his deportment was always quiet and resigned. 
He acted as a deposed chief might be presumed to act, whose spirit 
was broken and whose will had ceased to be law. 

Tlie writer of this first met Black Hawk in 1837, at Fort Des 
Moines, now Montrose. He was usually accompanied by his wife, 
and they were always treated with attention and respect by those 
wiiites upon whom they called. More than once have Black Hawk 
and his well-behaved squaw sat at our table; and while the two 
women would chat freely over their tea, talking "Greek" to each 
other, the "chiefs " were compelled perforce to maintain respectful 
silence. These tea-parties are remembered with as much pleasure 
a? though the entertained had been a duke and duchess. Black 
Hawk in those days usually wore a black hat and a white blanket, 
and took no pride in triidvets and feathers. Keokuk, whom he 
hated, and whose hate was returned, seldom appeared in public 
without being decked out in fanciful stj^le. He was portly and 
made an imposing appearance. 

These joint tribes were then settled up the Des Moines river, and 
their chief villages were, we believe, near where the city of Des 
Moines now stands. 

(382) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 383 

But the old chieftain's career as a brave and a warrior had 
closed, and it was soon to close as a man. He, whose seal ping- 
knife and tomahawk had gleamed in the face of many a foe, whose 
war-whoop had wakened the echoes of the night from the Missouri 
to the Wisconsin, and whose martial shout had sent defiance and 
threat across the Father of Waters, was soon to take his departure 
to the far-off hunting grounds prepared for him by the great 
Manitoul He died on the banks of the Des Moines river, in what 
is now the county of Davis. 

At this day, and among a people so familiar with him and his 
career, it will he hard to assign him his true place in history. His 
abilities as a commander and leader were doubtless inferior to those 
of Philip, of Pokonoket, orPowhattan; his talent for strategy and 
his energy of purpose were excelled by those of Tecumseli; his 
oratory, of which little has been handed down to us, very likely 
fell short of that of Logan; but his name on history's page will 
stand along with these, and serve with theirs "to point a moral 
and adorn a tale." 

We have been unable to fix with absolute certainty, the date of 
the old chief's death, or of his age at the time. Gov. Ford, in his 
History of Illinois, gives his age at eighty, and places his death on 
the 3d of October, 1840. We should have called him at least ten 
years younger. It is stated that he had been aid de-camp to 
Tecumseh, in the war of 1812-'15. A correspondent of the 
Keosauqua Republican states his death to have occurred in 1837; 
Mr. Wm. Garrett, an old resident of Burlington, places it in 1838, 
or '39; while Mr. James H. Jordan, of Davis county, who resided 
near and owned the land on which Black Hawk resided at his 
death, claims that it occurred in Sept., 1838. His remains were 
not buried, but deposited in usual Indian style above ground. 
Previous to his death he requested to be buried on the spot where 
he had held his last council with the lowas, near by, which was 
complied with. 

He was dressed in a full suit of regimentals, frock coat with gold 
epaulettes, a cocked hat, sword and belt and spear cane. Fastened 
about him were three large medals — one presented him by Gen. 
Jackson, one by President Madison, and one by the British. The 
body was placed on puncheons at an angle of 30 or 40 degrees, and 
covered with puncheons like a house roof. The whole was sur- 
rounded by a strong palisade of posts. 

The remains were afterwards stolen and carried away, but 
recovered by the Governor of Iowa, and placed in the Museum of 
the Historical Society at Burlington, where they were destroyed 
by fire. 

Mr. J. H. Lawton, of Plymouth, tells the following anecdote of 
Black Hawk: About 1837 or '38, he .was employed by Mr. Hiram 
Kimball, who had a store at Commerce, to clerk while Mr. K. went 
East. He had been instructed to keep a good watch over the 



384 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Indians when they came about the store, and to call in an old 
settler there to interpret for him when necessary. 

One day Black Hawk, among others, came in. The old warrior 
lingered around for some time, and finally pointed to a book lying 
upon the desk, an account book used in the store. The clerk, sup- 
posing he wished to examine it, took it and began to show him its 
construction, etc.; but the chief shook his head: that was not what 
was wanted. He took it, turned over the leaves, and pointed to the 
entries. Concluding finally that he wanted to refer to them, the 
clerk turned leaf by leaf, till he came to an entry against Black 
Hawk himself — such and such articles charged, amounting to so 
many dollars and cents. He was now understood; figuring up the 
amount, the clerk communicated it to him in some way, when the 
old chief pulled out the exact sum and paid it. When this was 
done, he motioned to have tlie account balanced, which was done, 
and he went away satisfied. The articles had been purchased and 
the entries made months before. The transaction showed not only 
an honesty of purpose, but good credit and a good memory on the 
part of the old chief. 

Henry Asbury, Esq., of Quincy, furnishes the following: 

" I met (at Burlington in 1835) the Indian chief Black Hawk, 
who, through an interpreter, told me that for a time when a child 
he resided with his parents at the point where Quincy now stands. 

" Whilst standing on the bank of the river conversing with the 
chief, the steamboat Warrio?' passed up the river without landing. 
Black Hawk manifested whilst looking at the boat, great anger and 
displeasure; and went on to say that the day before, or a short 
time before the battle of the Bad-Axe, this same steamboat 
Wan'io?' came up to a point where his warriors were collected in 
their retreat — that he sent a white flag to the shore for tlie purpose 
of offering a surrender — and that the flag was fired on from the 
boat. That he wanted in good faith to surrender, and would have 
done so, if permitted; and that the subsequent massacre of his 
people might have been thus avoided. 

" He knew the name of the captain — Throckmorton — and called 
him ' Che-wal-i-ki Che-mo-ko-mon.^ [Bad White Man.] 

" Black Hawk was a very extraordinary Indian; rather under 
size, yet he was compactly built; possessing the most pleasant face 
and features I ever saw in an Indian. In manner grave, dignified, 
and polite. He looked less the savage than any Indian I have 
ever seen." 

Another correspondent, Col. J. C. Walsh, of Maryland, says: 

'' I have often heard the old chieftain, Muck-ah-tah-mish-e-ka- 
ah-ki-ak or Black Hawk, make the same assertion he did to Mr. 
Asbury, namely, that he desired to surrender at the battle of the 
Bad- Axe, but that his white flag was fired on. 

*' Black Hawk and his family, — Moh-ioah-e-quah, his wife, iTaA- 
she-us-kiik and Sam-e-sah^ his sons, and Nan-ne-sah^ his daughter, 



HISTORY OJF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



385 



were remarkable for their high-toned deportment in every partic- 
ular. Nah-she-us-knk, when I first knew him, was witliout excep- 
tion the finest formed man I ever saw; about six feet two inches 
in height, with limbs of most symmetrical mold, he was a striking 
counterpart of the Apollo Belvidere, and his manners were as 
graceful and polished as any courtier's. I have often remarked 
that he was truly one of nature's noblemen. One rare trait he 
possessed, and that was, he never made use of whisky or tobacco, 
" M}' recollections of this Indian family are of the most pleasing 
character, and I shall never forget the kindness and hospitality 
with which I was invariably treated by them. Often has l)een the 
time, that, coming to their lodge hungry and sorely tired, after a 
day's hunt, that 1 have thought the boiled corn and deer meat 
which Moh-wah-e- quail (wolf woman) would set before me, was a 
feast fit for a king; and the soft skins and warm Mackinaw 
blankets that she would spread for my bed, was a couch on which 
had it been eider down my repose could not have been more pro- 
found and undisturbed. And I felt as safe in the rude wik-ke-up 
of the Indian chief in the depths of the forest, surrounded by those 
of his band who remained loyal to him, as if I had been resting in 
the guest chamber of the mansion of the proudest in the land." 




CHAPTER IX. 

HANCOCK NEWSPAPERS. 

If any county in Illinois can count a larger list of unfortunate 
newspaper enterprises than Hancock, we pity the people thereof 
and shed tears in behalf of the projectors and publishers. 

In June, 1S36, now 44 years ago, the writer of this printed at 
Carthage the first newspaper ever issued in the county. It was 
called The Carthagenian^ and was owned by a company of citi- 
zens. After a precarious existence of less than a year, it was pur- 
chased by Dr. Isaac Galland, one of the proprietors, and removed 
to Fort Des Moines, Wisconsin Territory, now Montrose, Iowa, its 
editor-printer going with it. There the new paper was called the 
Western Adventurer. 

A short sketch of the newspaper press at that day will not be 
out of place here. The whole vast region north of Palmyra, Mo., 
and reaching to the Pacific ocean, was without a newspaper, with 
the exception of one at Dubuque and one just commenced at Bur- 
lington. At St. Louis, Chambers & Knapp published the Missouri 
Republican.^ with Nathaniel Paschal for its editor, then the lead- 
ing Whig paper west of the Ohio. There was also the St. Louis 
Argus., a Democratic paper. Elijah P. Lovejoy about that time 
began the Observer., a religious and anti-slavery paper, and for 
which he was killed by a mob at Alton, having removed his press 
to that city. 

Rev. John M. Peck, a stalwart Baptist minister, well known in 
that day as a pioneer and historian, was publishing at Rock Spring 
in this State, and afterward at St. Louis, the Western Watohman. 
At Springfield, Simeon Francis was conducting the Sangamo 
Jo%irnal\; and at Jacksonville was the Illinois Patriot., by James 
G. Edwards, and the Illinois Spectator., by Mr. Brooks, father of 
the late Austin Brooks, of the (^w\wQ.y Herald., and John P. Brooks, 
one of our former State Superintendents of Public Instruction. 
These were soon discontinued or changed. Mr. Brooks removed 
elsewhere, and Mr. Edwards emigrated to Iowa, took the press of 
the Adventurer^ and established the Fort Madison Patriot., which 
he afterward transferred to Burlington and named the Hawkeye. 

About the same date Samuel H. Davis, of the Wheeling (Va.) 
Gazette., came to Peoria and established The Register, which he 
conducted with ability and success until his death. " Long John " 
Wentworth had a year or two before located at Chicago and issued 
The Democrat, though two or three other papers had previously 

(386) 



^^/■'J^'^ 




^ ^' 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 389 

been published in that embryo city. At Quincy, Judge Richard 
M. Young had published the Bounty Land Register^ which was 
about that date suspended or merged into the Quincy Argus^ by 
John H. Petit. Near the same date was also commenced the 
Quincy Whig, by Mr. S. M. Bartlett, or Bartlett & Sullivan. 

There were papers at Vandalia, then the State capital, at Shaw- 
neetown, and a few other points in the south end of the State. 
One at Alton was begun by Judge Baillhache, formerly of Colum- 
bus, Ohio, called the Alton Telegraph, and was long a leading 
Whig paper in that section. Rushville, being an old town, may 
have had a paper, but its title, if so, is not recollected. 

The old cit}'^ of Galena must not be forgotten — that capital of the 
lead mine region — so long on the confines of civilization. Of 
course it had one, if not two papers anterior to the Black Hawk 
war. James G. Clark, Secretary and afterward Governor of Iowa 
Territory, commenced the Wisconsin TerritoHal Gazette, at Bel- 
mont, on the east side of the river; and on the division of the Ter- 
ritory, i-emoved it down to Burlington, and named it Iowa Terri- 
torial Gazette. 

Keokuk was then but just named, still widely known as " The 
Point," and had no paper for years afterward. Des Moines, Iowa 
City, Omaha, Kansas City, Council Bluffs, and all that string of 
cities to the Pacific, were nowhere. San Francisco, at the GoMen 
Gate, from whose port the auriferous stream has of later years been 
pouring to enrich the world, was but an unknown Mexican town. 

From a list of the newspapers in Illinois, compiled from the 
Alton Telegrajjh in 1857, we find that the number was just twenty- 
seven, all told. 

Previous to 1836 the people of the county were chiefly supplied 
with r\Qv,'?r^2i^eY&hy i\\Q Missouri JRepublioan, the Sangamo Jour- 
nal, the Bounty Land Register, and the St. Louis Argus, to which 
may be added the Watohman, which was received in a good many 
Baptist families. 

After the suspension of The Carthagenian the county was with- 
out a paper until the fall of 1839, when the Mormons settled in it, 
and the Times and Seasons was issued at Nauvoo, by Ebenezer 
Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, the youngest brother of the 
prophet. Its first issue was dated Nov., 1839. It was a small 
sixteen-page monthly, and was designed for the organ of the Mor- 
mon Church: terms $1.00 per annum. This paper continued to be 
published (semi-monthly, at $2.00 after the first year) during the 
stay of that people in the county, under several editors and pub- 
lishers, among whom are remembered, besides its originators, the 
prophet himself, Frederic G. Williams, John Taylor, Wilford 
Woodruff, W. W. Phelps, and others. The circulation of this 
paper is unknown, but being a Church organ, it is supposed to have 
gone into the thousands. 

About the year 1842, Patriarch AVilliam Smith, another brother 
to the prophet, established a small weekly paper called The Wasp, 

24 



390 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and continued it for some months, when it was merged into a larger 
and more respectable paper, entitled the Nauvoo IHeiglibor. This 
was conducted, we believe, through the wliole period of its exist- 
ence, in whole or in part, by John Taylor, one of the Twelve. It 
was the secular organ of the Mormon body, and was continued 
till about the time of the exodus to the far West, These three 
were the only Mormon publications issued in the county. They 
were conducted with a great deal of zeal, but carried the marks of 
incompetency and illiteracy on every page. 

In the spring of 1840, Daniel K. White, editor and publisher of 
the Pittsburg Gazette^ at the instance of his brother-ij-law, Daniel 
S. Witter, of the Warsaw steam flouring mill, was induced to bring 
a press there and commence the publication of a paper, which, he 
called the Western World. It was a six-column weekly, at $2.00 
per year. At the end of six months he retired, selling his estab- 
lishment to Thomas C. Sharp, Esq., and James Gamble, a journey- 
man printer. These gentlemen at the end of the first year changed 
its title to Warsaw Signal., a name which continued in Warsaw 
through various tribulations and changes, with short intervals of 
i-est, for a period of about thirteerj years. 

In 1843 the office came into the hands of Messrs. Gregg & Patch, 
(Th. Gregg, Wm. Y. Patch) w^ho for a year or so issued the War- 
saw Message, a Whig paper. Again, in February, 1844, the office 
reverted to Mr. Sharp, who, sometimes alone and sometimes with 
a partner, continued to publish it until the close of the Mormon 
war in 1847, which terminated his connection with the Signal. 
It t])en passed over to Gregg & Miller, and continued in their 
hands till 1850, when it was sold to James McKee, of the ISTauvoo 
Patriot, who established the Warsaw Commercial Journal, a 
Democratic paper. Mr. Gregg afterwards procured an old press 
and material and revived the Signal in Aug., 1851, there being 
then for a time two papers in Warsaw. 

In the fail of 1853, Mr. Sharp again decided to enter the edito- 
rial held ; the Signal office and ])atronage were transferred to him, 
and with a new press and types he began the AVarsaw Express., 
which he issued with fair success, for about flfteen mouths, and 
then sold to Mr. G. G. Galloway, Mr. S. continuing to conduct it 
to the close of the year. Soon after the issue of the Express, Mr. 
McKee also sold out his Commercial Journal concern to Dr. Ran- 
kin, who removed it to La Harpe; and thus originated the first 
newspaper in that ambitious town. The name of this paper was 
the Hancoch Democrat. Just how long the enterprise lasted we 
cannot say; but only a few months, when Weslej^ H. Manier, 
Esq., of Carthage, purchased the materials, and in conjunction 
with Mr. Thaddeus Clarke, issued the Carthage Republican, Jan., 
1854. These gentlemen continued it till October of the same 
year; it being an "independent" paper, price $2.00 per annum. 
Then it passed into the hands of G. M. Child, Esq., by whom it 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 391 

was transformed into an intensely Democratic sheet, and so con- 
ducted by liim for several years. In Aug., 1861, Robert W. 
McClaugliry, Esq., fresh from Monmouth College, with his 
brother-in-law, t)r. A. J. Griffith, purchased the Rejniblican and 
changed its character, supporting ardently the measures of the 
Government in pulling down the Kebellion. 

In Aug., 1862, Mr. McClaughry enlisted in the arm}' and Dr. 
G. sold the Republican to J. M. Davidson, Esq., who, on Oct. 8th, 
1863, issued his initial number, and has since continued as owner 
and editor to supply articles for every issue, with the exception 
perhaps of one or two numbers. Mr. D. is a native of Illinois; 
was born May 22, 1828, near Edwardsville, in Madison county. 
In 1845-6, in company with Charles McDowell, he published the 
Fulton Gazette at Lewistown; in 1855 established the Fulton 
Democrat at Lewistown, running it until 1858; then sold it to his 
brother, Wm. T. Davidson. In 1859-60-61, he published the 
Squatter Sovereign at Havana, in Mason county. During the 
session of the Legislature of 1858-9, Mr. D. was Legislative corre- 
spondent of the St. Louis Hepuhlican and Chicago Times. 

During his more than sixteen years' continuous labor on the 
Rej^ublican (Democratic paper) Mr. D. has been faithfully 
devoted to his party and unremitting in efforts to advance its 
interests; has been energetic and zealous in building up his busi- 
ness; a hard worker, a ready writer; and has succeeded in making 
the Reiniblican one of the best Democratic journals in the Mili- 
tary Tract. 

But we can not follow these many newspaper enterprises and 
changes in the order of their dates; so we fall back upon Mr. 
Sharp, he being the oldest editor and publisher now in the county. 

During the dark days of the Rebellion, in the winter of 1863-4, 
the several Union Leagues in the county, feeling the necessity of 
maintaining a firm Union paper in their midst, induced Mr. Sharp 
to undertake the enterprise. He accordingly purchased back the 
Express office of Mr. McKee (the paper haying been discon- 
tinued and materials sold to him), and issued the Hancock New 
Era in 'April, 1864, which he continued for fifteen months, till 
after the close of the war. Having been elected County Judge in 
November, 1865, he removed to Carthage, where, after his four 
years' term expired, he obtained the Gazette^ which with one year's 
exception has been under his management, as a Republican paper. 

Mr. Sharp's editorial career has extended over a period of more 
than twenty years in all, since he assumed the management of the 
Western World\ and his labors have covered not only the most 
exciting and perilous times in the county's history, but also periods 
most difficult and disastrous to newspaper enterprises. 

Without instituting comparisons, it is no injustice to others to 
say that Mr. Sharp and Mr. Davidson are the strongest and most 
forcible writers of Hancock's editorial fraternity. Occupying as 
they do responsible positions at the county-seat, their papers have 



"392 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

become the acknowledged organs of their respective parties, and 
their influence is felt accordingly. They may be set down as the 
veterans of the press in Hancock. May they acquire a compe- 
tence from their arduous labors, and live long to enjoy it! 

We turn to Nauvoo again: Early in 1846, while the Mormons 
were preparing for their journey into the wilderness, the Hanoook 
Eagle^ a Democratic paper, was established there in the interest of 
the Mormons and their adherents. It was conducted by Dr. Wil- 
liam E. Matlack, a Philadelphian. Dr. M. was a well educated, 
classical scholar, a graduate of Princeton, had traveled extensively 
in Europe and Asia, and had been editorially engaged, with Horace 
Greeley on the New Yorker. This information is obtained from an 
editorial notice of his death in The Eagle., which occurred July 28, 
1846, in the 34:th year of his age. The Eagle was now ofiered for 
sale, and fell into the hands of Samuel Slocum, and a paper entitled 
the New Citizen was the result. During the winter of 1846-7, 
Mr. S. employed Dr. Isaac Gal land as its editor. The Citizen was 
Anti-Mormonish, and, as its name implied, was devoted to the 
interests of the new citizens who were taking the place of the emi- 
grating Mormons. As the Doctor had been one of the prophet's 
baptized adherents and his private secretary and agent, it was 
thought he needed a little watching on the part of Slocum and his 
friends. So, one day, an editorial article appeared in proof sheet, 
which was of such a character as to " bounce " the Doctor from his 
tripod. The paper was then for a period conducted by the foreman, 
John S. Winter, Esq., for several years since manager and editor 
of the Knoxville Journal., and present County Clerk of Knox 
county. 111. We know nothing of the circulation of the Citizen — it 
could not have been large — but we are informed that its exchange 
list was immense for a country paper, amounting to several hun- 
dreds. 

In the fall of 184T, James McKee published in that city the 
Nauvoo Patriot, a Democratic paper. In 1850, he removed to 
Warsaw, and it is believed the Patriot office went into the hands of 
the Icarian Community. About the beginning of 1851, that colony 
began the issue of the Icarian Review, printed half in English and 
half in French. It was under the editorial charge of M. Etienne 
Cabet, their venerable and talented leader. They also published 
the Popular Tribune, under another editor whose name is not now 
remembered. The Community broke up and the paper was discon- 
tinued. 

July 24, 1858, two young men, Gregg & Lambert, started the 
Nauvoo Democratic Press. It remained in their hands but a few 
months, when Messrs. Yates, Chapman, Bauer & Swartz took the 
concern. Finally Mr. Yates took it and employed Mr. Grove, a 
school-teacher, to conduct it. After Mr. G., it was conducted by 
Mr. Abraham Yates, son of the proprietor, until his death in 1860. 

Henceforward until 1873, we believe Nauvoo was without a news- 
paper. On November 14th of that year, Messrs. Kramer and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 393 

Thomas began the publication of the Nauvoo Independent. It 
remained in their hands bat -14: weeks, when it was purchased by 
Hamilton k, I^elson (Dr. K. B. Hamilton and Joseph Nelson), in 
whose hands it remained one year, when Dr. H. retired, and Mr. 
Nelson remained its sole proprietor. It is now in its seventh year 
and still under his care, with a fair prospect of continuance, a use- 
ful "independent," two dollars, 8-column folio. 

Star of Dallas^ was the first newspaper in Dallas City, by Fran- 
cis Ashton, in the spring of 1859. In the fall it was removed to 
La Harpe and back again in two weeks. In the summer of 1860 it 
passed into the hands of Mr. Trueblood, who advocated the election 
of Judge Douglas to the Presidency. It died May, 1861. 

December, 1869, G. M. Child, of the Hancock Democrat^ at Car- 
thage, removed his paper to Dallas, where he continued to issue it 
until his death in 1872. It was a Ycolumn folio, at $1.50 per year. 
At his death it was discontinued for a time, but revived in the 
winter of 1872-3, by Mr. J. F. Taylor, his son-in-law, but it was not 
long lived. Attempts were made to re-establish it; and we find 
that in the winter of 1875-6, Messrs. Mason & Murphy were print- 
ing a paper there — \\\q' Advocate — which in June, 1876, passed into 
the hands of Mr. Walter B. Loring, who had been an apprentice 
and journeyman with Mr. Child.. At a subsequent date, Mr. Penn 
Harris, of Chicago, opened out in Dallas City with an 8-page 64- 
column sheet; but it proved to be too big a boom, and was sus- 
pended after two numbers. It was called the Sucker State^ date 
not remembered. W. C. Brown issued for a few months the Dallas 
City Monitor, which, we believe, was the latest efibrt until April 
6, 1878, Mr. E. H. Thomas, formerly of the Nauvoo Independent, 
started the Dallas City JVews, a 7-column folio. It is still pub- 
lished under the same management, a live paper, and independent 
as to politics, and seems to be enjoying a fair patronage, likely to 
maintain a longer and more prosperous career than most of its pre- 
decessors. 

Augusta has not been without its several newspaper enterprises. 
The first venture of the kind there was made in the summer of 
1856, by L. S. Grove & Son. Mr. G. had been a school-teacher in 
various places in the county, and striking Augusta, concluded to 
try his hand on a newspaper. It was called the Augusta Weekly 
Times. It ran about one year. 

The Augusta Home Banner was started about Dec. 1, 1864, by 
W. P. Campbell, editor and proprietor. He was succeeded in about 
a year b}^ W. R. Carr, who continued the Banner about two years 
probably. Mr Carr is now a Methodist preacher at Rushville, 111. 

The Augusta Herald was begun Aug. 2, 1878, by Mr. Henry E. 
Allen, who emigrated from Knox Co., 111., where he had been 
conducting the Abingdon Knoxonian. The Herald was a good 
local paper, and seemed to be managed with considerable tact and 
skill; yet Mr. Allen left it in about a year, transferring it to Mr, 
Silas Robinson, by whom it was continued till early in 1880. 



394 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

In March, 1880, Mr. R. removed his press to Warsaw, where he 
began and is now publishing the Warsaw Democrat^ an S-page 
Democratic sheet (as its title indicates) at $2 per year. Mr. R. 
also published, for a month in AVarsaw, a little dail}', called the 
Itidependent. The Augusta Mail is just started by Mr. Garrison. 
From Augusta to Plymouth is but five miles by rail, up the C, 
B. & Q. " If Augusta can start a paper and fail, why can not we 
also start one and succeed?" thought the citizens of the rival town. 
So, one day in the spring of 1857, the writer of this, then at Warsaw, 
was invited to come to P. and take an interest in, and charge of, a 
paper the\' were going to issue there. He declined, but offered to 
conduct it for a salary. His offer was accepted, a company formed, 
press purchased, and the Plymouth Locomotive was put upon the 
road. He published it till iS^ovember, then begged to be released, 
when it passed to otlier parties, and finally gave up the ghost the 
next year. The press and materials were sold to a publisher at 
Carthage. 

Plynwuth then remained without a newspaper for about eighteen 
years, when in Jan., 1877, Mr. E. A. Hail, of JNIacomb, brought a 
press there and issued the Plvmouth Advocate. He continued it 
till Aug. 30, 1878, when he sold to Post & Bell (W. A. Post, Jesse 
W. Bell, Jr.). By these gentlemen — Post succeeded by W. S. 
Hendricks, as editor — the Advocate was continued until April 24, 
1879, when it was stopped, and the press transferred to Clayton, 111. 
Again, June 26, 1879, Mr. Charles K. Bassett, of the Abingdon 
HegisteVy brought another press to Plymouth and began the publi- 
cation of the Plymouth Phonograph. It began as a Democratic 
paper, but has changed to neutrality. INLr. B. is the youngest 
editor in the county, having just now reached his majority. Should 
he be able to sustain a paper in Plymouth, which he seems likely 
to do, it can hardly be ascribed to his youth and inexperience. 

Returning again to Warsaw: During the summer of 1844, a 
small paper, called the Hancock Democrat, was printed at the 
Signal office for Mr. E. A. Bedell. Its purpose was to advocate 
the claims of Jacob C. Davis for Congress; but he failing of a 
nomination, the paper was discontinued after four issues. 

In 1853-4 a strong temperance wave swept over Illinois and the 
county of Hancock, and in Jan., 1854, a small monthly sheet was 
begun at the Express oflice by Mr. Gregg, called the Temperance 
Crusader. In a few montlis this paper reached a circulation of 
1,700 copies, mainly through the agency of the Sons of Temper- 
ance. But it came to an untimely end. In an evil hour, an ofier 
to merge with a similar sheet in Chicago was accepted, the united 
paper to be issued from that city. The Crusader subscription list 
was sent on; but for a year nothing could be heard from the paper 
or its publisher, wlien it was learned that- he had gone East and 
abandoned the enterprise. The list was gone, and the paper could 
not be revived. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 395 

About 185G or '7, W. K. Davison, a ])liciiomcii:iI \)v\utG\\hanui(/ 
inoyiey, struck Warsaw in his vvan(ierin<>-8, and conclu(lc<l to settle. 
The Warsaw Bulletin was the result. Mr. D. was not a literary 
man, but he was an industrious editor and ))osse8sed energy and 
business tact, and he made the Bulletin pay better than any paper 
yet published in the county. lie conducted it with (^ood success 
till the second or third year of the war. a portion of the time issu- 
ing a small daily, when he went into the army, leaving the ])aper 
in the care of Mr. John F. Howe, who allowed it to run down. 
Mr. Davison was mustered into the 118th III. Inf., as Quarter- 
Master, and served till the regiment was mustered out, Oct., 
1865. But he was taken sick and tlied, after liis discharge, before 
reaching home. 

After the demise of the New Era^ a ])rinter named Lick issued 
for a time in Warsaw the Puhlic Record. He was succeeded in 
1867 by Mr. Dallam, father of the present editor of the Bulletin. 
Mr. D. was an able and vigorous writer. His ready and sharp wit 
made him a formidable antagonist to those brethren of the quill 
wlio belonged to the other side in politics. The following notice 
of liim we cut from the Bulletin announcing his death, which 
occurred quite suddenly, on March 10, 1808, in Warsaw: 

" Francis Asbury Dallam was born in Hutler county, Kentucky, 
September, 1824. Whilst he was still a child, his father removed 
to the city of St. Louis, Mo., where he was educated and soon 
became a practical ])rinter. He soon took a high rank in his pro- 
fession, and in 1846 became the editor of a newspaper, establishing 
the Miner's Prospect at Potosi, in Missouri, and editing it in con- 
nection with Mr. Philip Ferguson. At St. Louis he was married 
to Miss Anna McKee, of that city. In 1852 he established at 
Oquawka, in this State, the Oquawka Plairidealer, which soon 
became extensively known as one of the ablest advocates of the 
])rinci])les of the old Whig party. This ])aper was a very success- 
ful enterprise, and the reputation which he here acfpiired procured 
him an invitation to Quincy, wliere, in 1856, he edited the Repuh- 
licaii in connection with Mr. il. Y . Sullivan, and in the course of 
a few months united this paper with the W/iig.> in which he was 
associated with Mr. John T. Morton. But in 1859 he returned 
again to Oquawka, and resumed the editorship of the Plaindealer. 
He was, of course, a very decided advocate of Mr. Lincoln's elec- 
tion to the Presidency, and received from him the appointment of 
Postmaster of Oquawka. But at the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
he was the first man in the place of his residence to volunteer in 
the army, where he became Captain of Company D, of the Tenth 
Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with Morgan as its Col- 
onel. Ile-eidisting at the close of the three months' service, he 
was appointed Major of the same (Tenth) Regiment in which he 
made the Kentucky campaign with General McClernand. In 
May, 1862, he became an Adjutant-deneral upon the staff of (Jen- 
eral Ross, but was soon after compelled to resign on account of the 



396 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

state of'his health, remaining as an invalid for some months at his 
home in Oquawka. In 1863 he made an excursion to California, 
and 1864 found him in Nevada, where, besides editing a paper, 
the Carson Independent^ he became a member of the Convention 
which formed the Constitution of that State. The year 1866 found 
him again in Quincy, in this State, as editor of" the Whig and 
Republican^ and in the following year he removed to this place 
and bought the Record^ the title of which he soon changed to that 
of the Warsaw Bulletin^ which he continued to edit until the time 
of his death." 

At Mr. Dallam's death the paper was left in the hands of his 
widow and young son?. These — first Frank M., and latterly " Phil," 
— have conducted the Bulletin ever since with good success. It now 
stands in the front rank among the country papers ; in size, excel- 
lence of workmanship, and character of its editorials, second to but 
few of them. The Bulletin is a pronounced Republican, 9-column 
folio, at $2.00 a year. 

About the beginning of 1877, Mr. J. M. Faris came to Warsaw 
from Pike county, and established a Democratic paper, to which 
he gave the old name of Hancock Democrat. 

Mr. Faris was in bad health the whole period of his stay in the 
county, and he was compelled to give up the business. His estab- 
lishment was purchased by George P. W^alkerand Cortez Maxwell, 
Esqs., and continued (Mr. Walker retiring after a few months) till 
the fall of 1879, when it was discontinued. The Democrat was an 
8-column folio sheet, neatly printed, at $2.00 per annum. 

At La^Harpe, after the demise of Dr. Rankin's Democrat, Mr. 
Henry King, a young son of J. ^Y. King, Esq., with Frank Nash, 
published the Star of the West. This was about 1858 or 1859; 
and afterward, in 1866 or 1867, James L. King published the Home 
I^ews. How long these papers continued we are not advised, but 
only for short periods. In November, 1874, Mr. H. G. Rising 
began to issue the La Harpe Leader, and before the close of a 
volume left it in the hands of L. S. Cogswell, Esq., who changed it 
to the La Harper in October, 1875. In his hands it continued 
over two years, when he transferred it to J. C. Coulson, Esq., who 
issued his first number dated April 5, 1878. Mr. C. is a son of 
Dr. Coulson, an early settler, and we believe is a native of the 
county. He is still at the helm of the La Harper, industriously 
devoting himself to the interests of his pleasant little city, and 
has succeeded in building up a fair patronage. His paper seems 
to be popular with the people; it is decidedly a local journal, and 
is now in its fifth volume. It is a 5-column quarto. 

In the spring of 18§8, after leaving the Plymouth Locomotive^ 
Mr. Gregg established, at Hamilton, the Hamilton Representative^ 
a 6-column folio. This continued two or three years, till it suc- 
cumbed to the hard times of the war. Again, in May, 1873, he 
published the Dollar Monthly, changed to Rural Messenger, Jan- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 397 

nary 1, 1870, and suspended April, 1877. It was a large 16-page 
sheet, and was devoted principally to literary and rural affairs. 

This brings us back to the county-seat, where we began, and 
where the first news sheet was floated upon the prairie breezes of 
Hancock county, 44 years ago. The summer it was issued the 
grass was knee high over the public square, with paths here and 
there across to the few business houses. The wild deer sniffed the 
morning air in the suburbs, and the bowlings and barkings of the 
little prairie coyotes awoke the echoes of the night. The town had 
perhaps 100 inhabitants, all told; the county, say, 3,000. 

After the suspension of the Carthagenian, the place was without 
a paper for ten or twelve years, or more. But to omit none, we 
should mention that in the fall of 1836, a small campaign sheet 
was issued from the office of the Oarthagenian^ called The Echo, 
under the management of Walter Bagley, Esq., intended to advo- 
cate the election of Gen. Harrison to the Presidency. Only a few 
numbers were issued. 

The next venture there, we believe, was made by Mr. Thaddeus 
Clarke, of Macomb; but the date is not recollected, neither can we 
recall the name of the paper, but believe it was I^exos- Letter. This 
must have been a few years before his connection with Mr. Manier 
on the RepubliGan. 

In the spring of 1860 Mr. James K. Magie, from the Oquawka 
Plaindealer, came to Carthage and established the Carthage Tran- 
script. How long this paper continued we have not at hand the 
means of knowing, but it was succeeded by the Carthage Gazette, 
in the hands of Mr. Fowler, afterward associated with Mr. Noble 
L. Prentis, and by them conducted with spirit and tact till about 
1869 or '70, when it passed to its present proprietor. The Gazette 
is now in its 15th year. 

We must not leave out of the list the little college monthly, 
named the Carthaginian (with an t instead of an e in its third 
syllable, which its erudite editors claim is the correct orthography'). 
It is a handsome octavo, issued from the office of the Republican, 
scholarly, spicy, under the management of the Faculty and literary 
societies of Carthage College. 

We have now srone through the list as well as the means at hand 
will permit, but very probably not without some errors, lo enu- 
merate: At Carthage we have had the Carthagenian, Echo, JSfews- 
Letter{?), Transcript, Republican, Democrat, Gazette, Carthagin- 
ian — 8. 

At Nauvoo — Times and Seasons, Wasp, Expositor, Neighbor, 
Eagle, New Citizen, Icarian Review, Popular Tribune, Demo- 
cratic Press, Independent — 10. 

At Warsaw — Western World, Signal, Message, Commercial 
Journal, Democrat, Express, Crusader, New Era, Bulletin, Piib- 
Uc Record, Democrat 2d, Warsaio Democrat and Independent — 13. 



398 HISTOUY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

At La Harpe— The Democrat, Star of the West, Home News, 
Leader, La Harjyer—b. 

At Auii^nsta — Times, LLome Banner, Llerald — 3. 

At Dallas Q'xiy — Star of Dallas, Democrat, Advocate, Sucker 
State, Monitor, News — 6. 

At Plymouth — Locomotive, Advocate, Phonograph — 3. 

At Hamilton — Re^presentative, Dollar Monthly, Rural Messen- 
ger — 3. 

Grand total, 51. 

Ov^er half a hundred; one for every year of the county's exist- 
ence. To enumerate the fortunes made in these enterprises would 
be an easy task. To count the absolute and the partial failures 
would be a little more difficult. There haye been reasons for these 
failures, chief of which has been ambition — ambition of individ- 
uals to be at the ])ead of a press, and ambition of rising villages to 
sport a newspaper. None of these first publications but' were 
begun too soon, before there was sufficient population and business 
to sustain them. And yet, having induced men to embark in these 
enterprises, it was the duty and the interest of the towns to sustain 
them. A newspaper failure in a rising village is a disaster not 
only to the person managing it, but also to the communit}'. 

It has taken a long chapter to tell the story of these newspaper 
ventures, — the births, growths, suspensions, resurrections, failures 
and final flickerings of newspaper life in Hancock during its first 
half century. The budding hopes blasted, the air-castles over- 
turned, little fortunes consumed, debts incurred, mortgages fore- 
closed and Sheriif's writs executed, nobody may know, and nobody 
cares. 

The career of that Cincinnati Franklin Press, the first one 
brought to Warsaw, was a remarkable one, and of itself tells a story 
of newspaper adventure and failure. It has truly been on all sides 
in politics. It first served the Whigs with White and the World; 
next Neutrality with Sharp and the Signal j then again a Whig 
under Gregg & Patch in the Message,' then it breathed fire and 
Anti-Mormonism with Sharp again in the Signal; then with Gregg 
& Miller a Neutral; then with McKee a Democratic organ in the 
CommerclaUoarnnl; then with Rankin at La Harpe, a Democrat, 
then to Manier & Co. at Carthage, an Independent; then to Child, a 
Democrat and an opposer of the war; then to Griffith & McClaughy, 
a War Democrat; and finally, it rests from its wanderings and polit- 
ical labors in a quiet nook in the Republican office, a doer of all 
work, after 40 years of active service; and in all this time it has 
not been out of the county. It may truly be called a Hancock 
institution. 



CHAPTER X. 



WEATHER PHENOMENA. 



The year 1811 is far enough back to go in search of liistorical 
incidents connected with Hancock county; and what we have to 
record of that year, concerns alike the whole Mississippi Valley. 
That was a year long to he remembered. The first steamboat to 
traverse the Ohio and Mississippi rivers — the " New Orleans " — 
was launched at Pittsburg in the summer of that year, and made 
her trip to New Orleans, scaring the aborigines along the rivers 
out of their seven senses. Arrived in the vicinity of New Madrid, 
the terrible earthquake occurred, which rocked the waters of the 
river, sunk large tracts of land, partially destroyed the town and 
came very near putting an end to the first experiment of steam 
navigation in the AVest. To increase the dismay caused by 
the earthquake, a fiery comet was seen coursing through the heav- 
ens, exhibiting an immense and gorgeous length of tail — the sup- 
posed harbinger of disaster to the astonished inhabitants. 

But the earliest date w^e can reach with safety, in regard to 
weather phenomena in Hancock county, is that of the memorable 

DEEP SNOW, 

so well recollected by all living in this region in 1830-31. That win- 
ter marks an epoch in the history of Hancock and all the Military 
Tract and indeed, throughout a large portion of the great North- 
west. What its limits were we are unable to say, but they were 
extensive. To recount the sufterings caused by it would fill vol- 
umes. Those who were caught unprepared — as many always are, 
especially in a new country — were put to great extremes for the 
means of sustaining life till spring. Fire-wood, generally near at 
hand, could be reached by dint of hard labor. I3ut the difficulty 
was in procuring provisions. Wild game and the product of the 
cornfields was the main dependence of the settlers. In most 
instances, the corn had not been gathered. It became a herculean 
labor, first to find it, as it lay imbedded in the snow, and then to 
procure it, and when procured, how was it to be got to the mills 
and returned in meal? Travel, for the greater part of the winter, 
was almost entirely suspended, it being impossible to go but a few 
rods in a day, with the best of teams. A great deal of stock died, 
from suffering in the snow, and from want of food. Game died in 
great numbers in the woods; or if alive, could not be found, and if 
occasionally found, was easily caught, but so poor as to be fre- 
quently unfit for food. 

(399) 



400 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

But the greatest suffering, perhaps, was in those instances where 
people were caught away from home and out in the storm. Some 
of these instances of peril are reported in other portions of this 
book. 

The snow began to fall on the 29th of December, 1830, and 
continued almost incessantly for three days. The average depth 
was about four feet, with drifts in all the ravines and low places, 
sometimes twenty and thirty feet deep. What few fences there 
were had been entirely covered; roads, of which there were but 
few, were obliterated. The New Year of 1831 was ushered in 
upon a canopy of universal whiteness. The snow remained on the 
ground till spring, and as the winter advanced and a crust began 
to form, the difficulties of travel increased. All remember the 
deep snow of 1830-31. 

STORM OF 1836. 

The next to mention is the remarkable storm and " sudden 
freeze " of Dec. 20, 1836. This we describe as experienced at 
Carthage. Other accounts from otlier places somewhat diifer. 

The night had been warm, and in the morning a soft rain was 
falling, which continued till seven or eight o'clock. Then thew^eather 
began to grow colder, a slight wind began to blow from the west 
and afterward from the northwest, every moment increasing in 
violence. The rain ceased, but soon was succeeded by sleet, and 
by ten o'clock there was a continuous and violent gale blowing, 
driving before it a body of line round sleet, as hard as ice, and so 
cutting that it could not be faced. The soft ground was soon 
frozen hard, its uneven spaces filled with the sleet, till it became 
as hard and almost as smooth as ice, making travel very difficult. 
It continued all day and long into the night, the gale and sleet and 
cold unabated, and at times coming with increased violence. How 
low the mercury fell we can not now remember, but there was 
within the twenty hours of the storm a change of not less than 
sixty or seventy degrees of temperature. 

People who were so unfortunate as to be caught out in the storm 
suffered intensely. Frozen ears, frozen feet and hands were 
numerous, and numbers over the country were frozen to death. 
One man was frozen to death between Carthage and Commerce, 
while on his way with an ox team. His comrade barely escaped 
with his life. The Illinois river froze over in an incredibly short 
period of time. 

TORNADO, JUNE, 1838. 

A correspondent in the north gives us the following: In the 
month of June, 1838, a terrible tornado passed over the north part 
of the county. The storm-cloud commenced gathering west of 
the Mississippi, and by one o'clock had assumed a formidable, 
black and angry appearance. Crossing the river near Fort Madi- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 401 

son, it started in an easterly direction. Then the clouds assumed 
the appearance of large inverted funnels, three in number. Clear- 
ing the bluff timber, it struck the earth near the west line of 7-7, 
about midway of the township. Then it presented an appearance 
at once awful, and grand to behold. The weeds and grass of the 
prairie were literally torn up by the roots. Continuing east, with 
a noise like a thousand thunders, it struck the young settlement 
of Pilot Grove. Huge trees were uprooted and broken like pipe- 
stems, and log houses were blown down. In one of the houses an 
old lady by the name of Sears was killed. A new frame-house 
that had just been built, was taken from its foundation, carried 
several rods and set down again, without receiving any material 
injury. Three persons were killed in the vicinity of Pilot Grove. 
Some cattle and horses were killed and missing. 

The tornado continued on througli the timber east of Joseph 
Lionberger's mill, completely destroying every tree and bush in 
its path. It finally spent itself over in the bluffs of the Illinois 
river. For many years afterward, the track of this fearful tornado 
was visible, and the dire effects of its fury to be seen. 

HIGH WATERS. 

We are unable to give all the years in which the Mississippi rose 
to unusual height, but those of 1835, 1844, 1851 and 1853, are 
particularly remembered. In each'of those years the water covered 
the whole valley from bluff to bluff, with slight exceptions, all the 
way from Lake Pepin to St. Louis, making a broad expanse of 
water from two and three to seven miles wide. At "Warsaw, and 
between that and Lima lake, the whole of that rich and valuable 
bottom land, now attempted to be reclaimed, was overflowed to a 
depth of several feet; while on the opposite side it extended to the 
sand ridge five miles away, leaving Alexandria from four to eight 
feet under water. 

The year 1836 — the year of our first acquaintance with the river 
— the water was also high, and there have been several seasons of 
high water since — dates not now remembered. These annual over- 
flows are known as the "June rise," because they occur in June on 
the lower Mississippi; here they generally reach the maximum by 
the middle of May, and are often on the decline before the begin- 
ning of June. 

But it will be observed that the " Father of Waters " is, by slow 
degrees gradually diminishing in volume; these high stages becom- 
ing less frequent, and its low stages in the autumn months more 
marked. 

THE BASCO TORKADO. 

The tornado which passed through Bear Creek township on the 
evening of July 3, 1873, was not only very destructive, but was 
attended with peculiar characteristics. There had been wind and 



402 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

heavy rain all over the middle and southern portions of the countj 
during the day, but the tornado proper began about three miles 
west of Basco, and held an easterly course towards Bentley, where 
it became less violent. It was, without doubt, accompanied by fire, 
as parties who were in it remember a sensation of heat, and some 
say, a smell of sulphur. Those who witnessed it from Basco, rep- 
resent it as sublime and terrible : a smoky, blue-colored cloud, 
rolling forward at great speed, emitting flames at intervals, and 
carrying destruction in its path. Houses, barns, farm imple- 
ments, horses, cattle, trees, fences, and human beings, were carried 
bodily into the air and deposited chiefly outside of the tornado's 
path. The total width of the hurricane was only about a quarter 
of a mile, while the tornado proper was only a few rods wide. It 
so happened that but few residences lay directly in its path, hence 
the destruction of life and propert}'^ was not very great. 

A full account of this terrific tornado, and the destruction it 
occasioned, was published in the Carthage Republican of the 16th, 
from the pen of its editor, J. M. Davidson, Esq. The incidents 
narrated in it are so remarkable, and so well authenticated, that we 
copy almost entire, omitting only the least important portions: 

"Arriving at the village of Basco by the morning train, the 
writer was taken in kindly charge by Esquire Crow, a venerable 
and good citizen of the village, who procured a horse and buggy, 
and, without unnecessary delay, we were on the road to Booz's place, 
where the tornado seems to have made its first appearance in the 
township. 

" Mr. Booz's residence was a log house consisting of a story 
and a half, with a frame lean-to kitchen on the north. Between 
four and five rods to the north of the house was a large, new frame 
barn. East of the house, from 8 to 10 rods, was a fine growth of 
young timber, most of the trees being from 5 to 7 inches in 
diameter. So much for the situation, Mr. Booz was in the house 
when his oldest son, 18 years old, came running in and cried 
out excitedly: 'Father, come out here and see what this is!' Mr. 
Booz ran out and saw a dense cloud that looked like smoke 
rolling furiously toward the house, and the air was very hot 
and smelled like sulphur. He ran into the house, shut the doors 
and got his wife, children and himself into the cellar just in 
time to hear the whole upper part of the house go ofi" with a crash. 
The concussion was so great as to tumble over the milk pans in 
the cellar and shake the cellar walls terribly. He says: 'The whole 
house was lifted about one foot from the foundation on the west 
side, but fell back again.' The storm lasted less than five minutes 
and then he came out of the cellar to witness a scene of destruction 
that fairly paralyzed him. The upper half of his house was gone; 
his kitchen and smoke house nowhere to be seen ; nothing left of 
his fine new stable but a few foundation posts and a pile of manure, 
and the pretty grove of timber twisted and broken into indescrib- 
ably fantastic shapes. In the stable were three horses, a threshing 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 403 

machine, a cultivator and other tools and about live tons of haj. 
A new wagon stood close to the stable. None of these were now 
to be seen: all were swept away. One of tlie horses was carried 
into the timber and fell into the top of a young hickory tree and 
from thence to the ground where it was found dead next morning.. 
Another horse was evidently carried over the house into the road, 
and seemed not to have been badly hurt. The other was carried in an 
opposite direction, and landed in a meadow without injury. The 
broken remnants of Mr. Booz's wagon, cultivator, and parts of the 
barn were found scattered through the timber and beyond. Some 
remnants are not found yet. The most of a heavy iron cultivator 
was found in Sanderson's meadow, 100 rods east! It is stated that 
Mr. Wm. Damron, who was some half mile north of tlie tornado, 
saw Mr. Booz's stable lifted into the air 200 feet, that it whirled 
around rapidly and finally fell to pieces and was blown off into the 
timber. Seventy-live apple-trees were torn out by the roots and 
carried across fields ; posts five feet long on which the barn sat were 
pulled out of the ground in which they had been set nearly four feet! 
Two cows and calves were carried fully 100 yards into an adjoining 
meadow, all more or less injured. 

"We have been more particular in describing the destruction at 
Booz's place bec-ause it will answer for a faithful description in 
general, if not in detail, of the remarkable effects of the tornado 
throughout its entire path. 

"East of Booz's, about a quarter, or a little more, was a hewn 
log house belonging to Mr. W. C. Baldwin and occupied by How- 
land SteiFy and wife as renters. This house, and the barn adjoin- 
ing it, were blown to pieces, the logs carried hundreds of feet into 
an adjoining meadow. The floor only of the house was left. They 
said there had been a stable near by, but we don't believe it! 

" When the tornado approached, Mr. Steffy undertook to secure 
the door, but in an instant he was hurled 50 feet toward the road, 
the house taking another direction. After the storm passed he 
searched for his wife and found her lying composedly behind a 
locust stump in Sanderson's meadow with the logs of their house 
piled all around her! Mr. and Mrs. Steffy were both severely hurt, 
but able to pick their way through fallen timber and accumulated 
rubbish to Mr. Booz's place, and aftersvard to some neighbor's who 
had better accomodations! Sanderson's meadow, immediately east 
of Steffy's, was thickly strewn withdebris, timber, parts of wagons, 
household goods, dead pigs and chickens, wearing apparel, etc. 
The next place struck by the tornado was that of John Sanderson, 
north of east from Steffy's half a mile or more. Here the destruc- 
tion was as complete as if the premises had been rained with gun- 
powder. Not one stick of timber in either house or stable was left 
in its original position ; even the rocks at the corners were thrown 
out of their places, and there was not enough timber of any kind left 
within a hundred yards — either of house or barn — to build a smoke 
house! The house and barn seem to have been carried up into the 



40i HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

air, broken to pieces and scattered about by the wliirlwind,while the 
contents of the dwelling, including Mrs. Sanderson and her two 
smaller children, were blown in a direct line south from 500 to 1000 
feet. Broken bedsteads, tables, chairs, cooking- stoves and other 
furniture, together with remnants of clothing, etc., were blown in 
fragments in a straight line south through the meadow just as if 
the house had been carried up into tlie air, and when the floor fell 
out an under current had driven the family and contents in the 
direction we have named. The fence south of the house, which was 
not wholly blown down, was, on the day of our visit, festooned with 
remnants of wearing appearel, bed clothing, etc. Concerning Mr. 
Sanderson's whereabouts or escape, there seems to be some confu- 
sion. That gentleman told us that when the storm came on him 
he was in the yard west of the house. His oldest child, a little 
girl 8 years old, was with him. They fell down, or were blown 
down, on the ground. When the storm passed over, himself and 
little girl went round and ronnd the fallen rubbish calling for 
mother and the little children, but getting no response, he said he 
thought his wife and children had been blown away olf, and so he 
went over to Mr. John Elder's, three-quarters of a mile distant, to 
get assistance. We learn, however, that Mrs. Elder tirmh' believes 
that Mr. Sanderson and child were blown over half that distance by 
the storm, as he could not have reached her house so quickly other- 
wise after the destruction of his house, which she witnessed. Dr. 
Hill, Mr. Tanner and others, of Basco, who were watching the tor- 
nado, saw Sanderson's house and barn rise in the air and go to 
pieces. The first named gentlemen at once mounted their horses 
and rode at full speed towards the scene of destruction. Others 
followed quickly. Search for the family was immediately insti- 
tuted, and within five minutes Dr. Hill found Mrs. Sanderson 
about TO steps south of the house, lying with her youngest child in 
her arms. Every particle of her clothing except a remnant of an 
under garment was stripped from the poor woman, and that was 
wrapped tightly across her shoulders and under her arms. Dr. 
Hill threw his coat over her until remnants of bed-clothing could 
be picked up to wrap around her. The woman was conscious, and 
begged to have her head raised, which was done. The little 
child in her arms added its pitiful wail to the heart-rending 
scene. Mrs. Sanderson was found to be terribly bruised 
and mangled on every part of her body except on her 
bosom and arms, which were protected by the little 
child. The child was covered with blood, and yet, singularly 
enough, seems not to have been noticeably hurt. Mrs. Sanderson's 
right leg was crushed to a jelly between the knee and ankle. There 
was a deep gash near the small of her back, and one of her hips 
was literally impaled with splinters. Two rods distant her second 
little girl was found dead, with a terrible gash across her forehead. 
Not far ofl' was found the little boy, aged three years, with both 
legs broken, one of them twice. ' The woman and children were 




'^ 







^^^1 1^2^ 




WILCOX T.R 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 407 

conveyed careful!}^ totheBasco House and medical assistance sum- 
moned. Two or tliree days later Mrs. Sanderson was delivered of 
a still-born infant that had evidently been crushed to death in the 
mother's terrible ordeal with the storm. 

" About one-quarter of a mile, or a little less, south and five or six 
rods east of Sanderson's was the two-stor}'' frame dwellinjy owned 
by Doty and Donaldson, and occupied by Robert Donaldson and 
wife. On the approach of the tornado Mr. Donaldson ran out 
into the orchard south of the house, calling to his wife to follow 
him. Mrs. D. preferred, however, to take the risks in the house, 
and tried to close the door. In an instant the house was swept 
away, carrying her with it. She was shortly afterwards found 
some rods to the northeast of the house in the midst of a wi*eck of 
broken joist, timber, boards and pulverized household furniture. 
That she was not killed was a miracle. Her only serious injury 
was a partially fractured ankle. 

" It will be remembered that the Sanderson house, some fifty rods 
or more to the north of Donaldson's, was blown almost directly 
south, while the Donaldson house was blown to the northeast — a 
remarkable evidence of the erratic pranks of the wind. Neverthe- 
less, a large and high pile of stove wood-close to Donaldson's house 
was apparently not in the least disturbed, although the orchard still 
south of it was badly torn up. North of the house a small barn and 
a threshing machine, were torn all to pieces and the remnants scat- 
tered over the fields. 

" North of Donaldson's some distance, the tornado tore through a 
thick hedge fence, taking it out by the roots for several rods. The 
adjacent portions of the hedge were withered and killed as if by a 
flame of fire passing rapidly through it. Further on, Mr. John 
Elder's barn received a gentle hint that it was not in the right 
place; and moving it a few feet and turning it around, the tornado 
passed on to the Hufi" farm. 

" Here was an excellent two-story frame house, and a good barn. 
Mr. Huff" was absent. Mrs. Hufi', her three children, and two 
nieces were in or about the house. Mrs. Huff says her oldest son, 
a lad of 14, first observed the coming storm and its threatening 
character, and advised his mother and the children to get into the 
cellar, which all did at once except Mrs. Huff, who proceeded 
quickly to fasten the doors and windows. This done, she ran partly 
up a stairway on the west side of the house where there was a 
window. She saw the tornado strike the stable which was two or 
three rods distant, and lift it whirling in the air. She then ran 
into the cellar, and in an instant the kitchen and whole upjjer part 
of the house was blown away. The family escaped without injury. 
The wreck at this place was complete. 

" Rohrer's house and barn were next assailed. The house, a brick 
structure, lost one of its gables and was badly wrecked. The barn 
was demolished. Thence taking a northerly course the tornado 
struck Judge Skinner's l)arn, a large structure, which it carried off 

25 



40S HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the foundation and completely demolished, killing two horses and 
a cow, and destroyinj^ a wagon and a number of agricultural imple- 
ments. 

'"John Huri^s house and barn, on the township line, were next 
attacked and blown to pieces. Mrs. Hulf escaped with a painful 
hurt. A description of the devastation at other points will 
answer for the scene here. Nothing hardly was left but kindling 
wood, and that scattered up and down the road and through the 
adjacent lields. 

"'' The tornado next made its appearance, a short distance north 
and east of Bentley, greatly damaging the respective premises of 
Dr. James and Mr. L. Simmons, the particulars of which were 
given in our last issue. 

"At Basco numbers of citizens saw the approach of the tornado 
from the northwest. From its peculiar appearance most of them 
supposed it was a large fire. That notion was quickly dispelled as 
it approached nearer, and when the barn and dwelling of Mr. San- 
derson were seen to rise and whirl high up in air. The same 
spectators saw in a moment afterwards the Donaldson house dis- 
appear as if by magic. The whirlwind looked like a dense cloud 
of purplish-gray smoke, and seemed to be tilled with innumerable 
objects whirling and tossing in every direction. Flames of tire 
were observed by many to shoot through the rolling mass of clond; 
and those who were momentarily within the influence of the rush 
of wind, declare that the air was as hot as a furnace. Some aver 
tliat the air was strongly impregnated with the odor of burning 
brimstone! others that it smelled like scorched rags, and, as 
tending to confirm the impression of extraordinary heat, there 
were found pieces of shingles and boards that were scorched as if 
from sudden exposure to powerful heat. The hedge fence referred 
to elsewhere in tliis article, seems to have been literally roasted 
adjacent to the gap torn out by the storm," 

JULY 4:, IS 73. 

The storm of the next day was also very severe all over the 
county. It occurred about seven and eight in the morning. At 
Carthage it was very disastrous, utterly ruining one wing of the 
public school building, and damaging the structure to the amount 
of 8-^^,000. The roof of the west side of the Carthage College 
building was blown off", and the structure otherwise greatly dam- 
aged. Other buildings were blown down, and not less than 100 
chimneys blown away. 

At Bentley much damage was done, many chimneys demolished, 
and several roofs blown off. 

At Bowen the fine public school edifice was demolished, and 
much injury done to other property. 

At Augusta the steeple of the Presbyterian church was pros- 
trated, and the roof of the building blown off". The steeple of the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 409 

Christian church was also demolished, and the building moved 
from its foundation. Lines of freight cars on the railroad track 
were overturned. 

At Plymouth a freight car was started down the road, afterwards 
followed by an engine and brought back. 

At West Point a large frame house owned by Dr. Cheney was 
blown to pieces, also the grocery store of Funks <fe Howerton ; and 
other damage done. In this vicinity the residence of Mr. Henry 
Garner was blown down, and Mrs. Garner and child and sister 
killed. All over the county, in the south part particularly, much 
damage was done to orchards, fences and groves. 

WINTER OF 1836-7. 

From an old settler in the north part of the county we have the 
following: " The winter of 1836-7 was one of much snow. On 
Dec. 12 the first snow fell to the depth of about sixteen iuches; 
three days afterward it clouded up again and continued snowing 
most of the time, night and day, for nearly four days, and when it 
quit the snow was full three feet deep. The weather moderated, 
the snow settled and the roads got good, and sleighing was very 
fine, the snow lying on till the last of February. Spring opened 
easy and fine." 

Numerous other weather phenomena, such as rain, hail and wind 
storms, thunder and lightning, floods, severe winters, hot summers, 
etc., etc., have occurred worthy of note, but memory will not serve 
us as to dates, and the "oldest inhabitant" has failed to report 
them. 




CHAPTER XL 



THE JUDICIARY. 



Among the Judiciary of the Circuits to which Hancock has 
belonged, have been a number of ableinen, — quite as able, perhaps, 
as have fallen to the lot of other Circuits in the State. 

Richard M. Young — Was the first Judge who occupied the 
Bench (the splint-bottomed,^hair, we should say) in the county of 
Hancock, as well as in perha^^s a dozen other counties in the north- 
western part of the State. K^vas he who first put the wheels of 
justice in motion where now nearly a million of people reside. For 
a more extended notice of this distinguished man, see page 216, 

James H. Ralston. — This gentleman succeeded Judge Young on 
the Circuit by Legislative election in 1S37, but resigned the ensu- 
ing August and removed to Texas. He soon, however, returned to 
Quincy. In 1840 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1846 he 
joined the army to Mexico as Assistant Quartermaster, by appoint- 
ment from President Polk. After the war he settled in California, 
where he died, having been lost in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

Peter Lott. — This gentleman was from New Jersey, was elected 
by the Legislature to succeed Judge Ralston, and held the position 
till 1841. He resided for a short time at Carthage, but removed 
to Quinc3^ After his judgeship he served as Circuit Clerk in 
Adams county for several years. Later he removed to California, 
where he was appointed Superintendent of the U. S. Mint at San 
Francisco. From this position he was removed in 1856 by Presi- 
dent Buchanan. He had served as Captain in the Mexican war, 
and it is stated that he died at Tehnantepec, Mexico, where he was 
holding the position of tJ. S. Consul. 

Judge Lott was a well educated man, had been a class-mate at 
Princeton with Hon. Samuel L. Southard, the eminent New Jersey 
Senator, and studied law in his oflice. He is remembered as jovial, 
witty, companionable and fond of fun, not fond of study, and yet 
a good lawyer. 

Stephen A. Douglas. — The career of this eminent man is so 
well known as to require a mere mention. He was elected Judge 
in 1841, and held the oflice till Aug., 1843, when he resigned to take a 
seat in Congress, Some of his acts while on the Bench here gave 
great offense to the people of this county during the troublous 
days of the Moj-mon period. He found the docket loaded with 
unfinished cases; but his dispatch and ability were such that he 

(410) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 411 

soon cleared it. Of Judge Douglas' career as a statesman, in the 
House of Representatives, in the Senate, as a candidate for the 
Presidency, it is unnecessary to speak. This is all well known to 
the reader. Senator Douglas was a man of the people, over whom 
he possessed an unusual magnetic influence. He became the 
recognized leader of a great party; and when the great Rebellion 
came, he at once took strong Union ground, and prepared to stand 
by the Government as administered by his great compeer. His 
influence and force of character greatly strengthened the hands of 
President Lincoln. His death occurred June 3, 1861, 

Jesse B. Thomas. — Judge T. was a conspicuous man in the his- 
tory of Illinois. He was delegate in Congress as early as 1808, 
while Illinois and Indiana were together as one Territory. From 
Washington he came home with a commission as Federal Judge 
for the new Territory of Illinois, which position he held till it was 
admitted into the Union as a State in 1818. Thomas, with Gov. 
Ninian Edwards was then elected to the U. S. Senate, the first 
Senators from the State. It was while in this position that the 
memorable contest came up in Congress on the admission of 
Missouri; and Senator Thomas stands in history as the reputed 
author of the measure known as the Missouri Compromise, though 
it was taken up and strenuously advocated by Henry Clay. He 
was again elected to the Senate by the Legislature, which passed 
the Convention measure for making Illinois a slave State. 

This first Judge Thomas removed to and settled in Ohio, and 
was still living in that State, when his namesake and nephew^ was 
on the Bench in this Circuit. Judge T., junior, succeeded Douglas 
in 1843 and resigned in 1845. His death occurred not long after- 
ward while Judge in another Circuit. 

Norman H. Purjple — Occupied the Bench on this Circuit from 
1845 for about four years, when he resigned for the alleged reason 
that the salary was insufficient. He was a resident of Peoria. 
Judge P. was regarded as a man of high legal abilities and good 
executive talents. 

Wllliain A. Minshall — Resided at Rushville, and was elected to 
the Circuit in 1849, and held the position till his death, which 
took place Oct., 1861. He was an emigrant from Tennessee in an 
early day; attained to distinction and a good practice as a lawyer, 
and had been a member of the Legislative, and also of the Con- 
stitutional Convention in 1848. 

Onias C . Skinner. — This gentleman resided a number of years 
in this county, coming among us a little previous to the close of 
the Mormon war. He settled first, we believe, in Nauvoo, and after- 
ward resided at Carthage, where he became well known and built 
up a good reputation and practice. He took his seat on the Bench 
in 1851, occupying it till May, 1854, when he resigned and was 
transferred to the State Supreme Court. How long he held this 
position we are not advised. His death occurred at Quincy not 
many years ago. 



412 mSTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Pinckney H. Walker — Succeeded Judge Skinner as Judge in 
this Circuit, and afterward succeeded him on the Supreme Bench. 
He was a Kentuckian — emigrated in his youth to McDonough 
county. His present residence is Rushville. 

Joseph Sibley — Held the position of Judge in this Circuit for a 
longer period than any other — in all over twenty years. He was 
an attorney at law for several years in the county previous to 
his election, and resided here several years afterward. He resides 
at present in Quincy. 

Chauncey L. Higbee — Is a resident of Pittsfield, in Pike county, 
where he has been many years in the practice of law. He will be 
remembered by the old citizens of the county as one of the mem- 
bers of the Mormon fraternity of Nauvoo, and owners of the Expos- 
itor newspaper, which was destroyed in the street of that city 
in 1844. 

S. P. Shope — Of Fulton county, and 

John R. Williams — Of Adams, with Judge Higbee, are the 
present Judges of the Sixth Judicial District of Hlinois. 




CHAPTER XII. 

THE HANCOCK BAR. 

Among the members of the Bar of Hancock county may be 
•counted a number who have acquired a wide and even national 
reputation. Not all of them have made the county their homes; 
but many, while residing in adjacent counties, have x)racticed more 
or less in our Courts, and are therefore justly entitled to notice in 
these pages. Probably most conspicuous among them have been 
those from the older counties of Adams and Schuyler. Indeed, in 
the earlier days of our legal history, the Rushville and Quincy Bars 
supplied the only legal talent we had, Ave believe, with one excep- 
tion, Robert R. Williams. If we mistake not, the county was 
without another attorney until 1834 or '35, when Mr. Little located 
at Carthage. 

In 1836, when the writer of this first knew the county, there 
were three attorneys at the county-seat, viz: Sidne}^ H. Little, 
James W. Woods, and John T. Richardson; and about that time 
Messrs. Calvin A. Warren and Isaac IST. Morris were locating at 
Warsaw. We begin, then, with those who are gone from among us: 

Rohert R. Williams — A native of Kentucky, and brother to 
Wesley Williams, the first County Clerk, and to Hon. Archibald 
Williams, of Quincy. But little is known of Mr. Williams; he 
died at an early day, and consequently his acquaintance with the 
people was limited. He settled in the county about the date of 
organization. 

Sidney H. Little — AVas a Tennesseeau by birth. But little is 
known of his early life. He came to Carthage about 1834 or '35, 
and began the practice of law, and soon took rank among the able 
young attorneys who frequented this Bar from abroad. Mr. L. was 
a man of decided talent, a good speaker, a clear reasoner and affable 
and urbane in his intercourse with the people. In a word, he was 
popular, and in the election of 1838 was chosen by the Whigs and 
elected to the State Senate. In this body he took a leading position 
as an active working member. With Secretary Douglas, he took 
a leading part in obtaining for the Mormons their celebrated char- 
ters in the Legislature — charters which, gotten up in haste and 
without due consideration, contained powers and conferred privi- 
leges the application and use of which could never have been antici- 
pated by him. Mr. Little's tragic death, by being thrown from 
his buggy by a runaway horse, occurred on the 10th of July, 1841. 

James W. Woods. — This gentleman remained in the county 
only a year or so — long enough to acquire citizenship and run for 



414 HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the Legislature in 1S36, and, although so confident of election as 
to bet freely on it, came out hindmost of four candidates, with a 
score of IS votes! This result disgusted him with the county and 
he left it for Iowa Territory-, where in time he became a lawyer of 
some prominence. 

John T. Richardson — Only remained one summer in the county 
— that of 1S30 — when he went further west. He was a genial, good 
sort of a fellow, with no special talent for the law. Of his nativity 
or after career, we know nothing. 

Isaac J^ewton Jloi^ris — This gentleman's death was recent — at 
Quincy, October 29. 1S79. The press notices thereof furnish the 
following: ''He was the son of Hon. Thomas Morris, of Ohio, long 
a Free-Soil Senator in Congress; was born in Clermont Co., O., Jan. 
22, 1S12, came to Hlinois'iu ISoo and settled in "Warsaw in 1S36. 
A few years afterward, having married a Miss Robbins, of Quincy, 
he removed to that city, where he continued to reside till his death, 
engaged chietly in the practice uf the law. Mr. M. was a strong 
Democrat in politics, was twice elected to Congress in this district, 
in 1S56 and in 1S5S. and always made an industrious and active 
member." He held other offices of honor and trust, both under 
State and national authority. The Carthage Gazette says of him: 
" Col. Morris was a man of strong character. He possessed fine 
natural ability, was a good speaker, was full of vim, a warm friend, 
and a bitter, unrelenting enemy." 

Lou>3 Masquerier — We had almost forgotten the learned, the 
eccentric, communistic Masqiierier. French in his origin, he had 
imbibed the theories of the French philosophy, and came West to 
disseminate them, and practice law. In this last he met with 
indiJferent success; in the other, had he lived on another planet 
where human nature was not in the ascendant (if there be such an 
one) he might have succeeded better. He was a theorist only; 
had no practical ability with which to buffet the world's selfishness. 
He had resided in Quincy; in 1S36 he was in Carthage, but soon 
went back to New York. 

Thomas Foixi — ^Of Gov. Ford we have so much to say in other 
chapters that little must suffice here. He was a Prosecuting 
Attorney for the Circuit in the early years of the county. As such 
there are few who remember him. He attended Court here only a 
few times, often enough, as he states in his History of Illinois, to 
conclude that the people here were a "hard set." Mr. Asbnry, of 
Quincy, speaks of him thus kindly: " All agree that Tom Ford was 
a bright, conscientious and just man. In 1S33, when the cholera 
was raging in Quincy, he was here and stood his ground and helped 
the sick, like a man." 

Win. A. Richardson. — Why he was always called "Dick" Rich- 
ardson we never knew. He resided at Rushville, and had consid- 
erable practice in this county. Like his friend Douglas, Col. 
Richardson was best known as a politician. He was at one time 
Prosecutinor Attornev for this Circuit. He was not distinguished as 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 415 

a mere lawyer, though his sturdy, hard sense and experience, rather 
than study, made him successful. As an officer in the Mexican 
war he was brave and acquired distinction. After his return home 
it was that he became famous, not only in his district but in the 
House of Representatives and the Senate at Washington, as a poli- 
tician. He was born in Kentucky, and died in Qnincy on Dec. 27, 
1875. 

Archibald 'Williams. — This " Xestor of the Bar " in the Military 
Tract was a Kentuckian, and settled in Quincy as early as 1825 or 
'26, where he continued to reside and practice his profession many 
years, acquiring a very high reputation. He had not an extensive 
practice in this county, but was often called to take part in cases 
of great magnitude; and his management was always such as to 
gain him a wider and more enduring fame. He was not an orator, 
in tiie common acceptation of the term; but his direct, plain and 
earnest reasoning always made an impression on a court or jury. 
He talked to convince; never aimed at rhetoric, or descended to vul- 
garity or abuse. He served for a short period as U. S. Attorney 
for the District of Illinois, and was appointed by his friend Presi- 
dent Lincoln, Judge of the U. S. District Court in Kansas. He died 
Sept. 21, 1863 (we believe in Kansas), and his remains sleep in 
Woodland cemetery, in the city he had so long made his home, and 
where he had established an enduring fame. 

Charles Gilman. — Mr. Oilman was better known as a law- 
reporter than as a lawyer, had a good education, line literary taste 
and acquirements, and industrious habits. His reports have become 
standard publications. His practice was limited in this county, 
but as a partner with Mr. Sharp, for a period, he became somewhat 
known to our citizens. He was from Maine, resided, and died in 
Quincy, of cholera, about the year 1848. 

Edward D. Baker — A resident of Springfield and a compatriot 
with Murray McConnell, John C. Calhoun, the Edwardses, Abraham 
Lincoln and others, and possessed finally of a national fame, " JNed 
Baker," may be classed as belonging to our Bar. His appearance 
at our Courts was not frequent; yet when he did appear, the occa- 
sion was sure to be an important one. Mr. Baker may justly be 
ranked as among the finest orators the country has produced. His 
speeches made in the Carthage court-house have been among the 
ablest and most impressive ever made there. He possessed all the 
natural gifts of an orator, an easy flow of language, a good imagi- 
nation, an attractive and graceful manner and an earnest honesty of 
purpose. He went in command of a regiment to the Mexican war, and 
achieved distinction at Cerro Gordo, removed thence to the Pacific 
coast, wiiere he became a U. S. Senator from Oregon. In the Sen- 
ate he stood high as a statesman and an orator. He resigned to 
take a position in the Union army, and laid down his life for his 
adopted country at Ball's Bluff". Oen. Baker was by birth an Eng- 
lishman, and was raised in Adams countv, Illinois. 



416 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Nehemidh Bushnell. — Of the many attorneys who have practiced 
at the Hancock Bar, no one has gone to the Bar beyond, leaving a 
brighter fame and a purer reputation, perhaps, than Neheraiah 
Bushnelh To Mr. Henry Asburj's '' Sketches of Bench and Bar," 
reference to which has been heretofore made, are we indebted for a 
portion of what follows, in regard to Mr, Bushnell. He came to 
Quincy in 1887, and entered into a law partnership with Mr. 
Browning, whicli was only terminated by the death of the former. 
He was a New Englander, a graduate of Yale College and a 
highly educated and finished gentleman. Mr. B. was fond of books, 
was one of the best read men' in the State and had accumulated 
a most valuable library. " Perhaps Illinois never held a more 
modest and unassuming really great man than Bushnell; and per- 
haps few, if any, really intellectually stronger men than he." Mr. 
B. was a very pleasant speaker, though not what the world calls an 
orator. His manner was graceful, dignified and earnest. " It has 
been alleged that he was too exhaustive and difi'use in argument, 
and in the production of his authorities." This is true, and it was 
nearly the only fault that could be found with the matter or manner 
of his addresses to Court or jury. " Perhaps no two lawyers ever 
lived better suited as law partners than Browning and Bushnell;" 
and we state but a well-known fact when we add that, perhaps, no 
partner was ever remembered with a kindlier feeling. Mr. Bush- 
nell was an active worker in behalf of the Quincy & Galesburg 
railroad, the city of Bushnell, on said road, being named in his 
honor. 

Gyrus Walker. — For ability as a lawyer, and for persistence and 
force in the prosecution of a case, there were no superiors at the 
Hancock Bar to Cyrus Walker. He had been a successful practi- 
tioner in Kentucky, and was a man of middle age when he settled 
at Macomb. He had a good deal of practice in the " hard " cases, 
not only in this, but in other counties in the Circuit and out of it. 
"He was very strong in criminal cases, both on the side of the 
people, and in the defense. When Cyrus Walker was thoroughly 
aroused, and in dead earnest, with a determination to win the 
verdict from the jury, he was as terrible as an army with banners." 
William Elliott — Was a citizen of Fulton county, and was Pros- 
ecuting Attorney here for some eight years, embracing the period of 
our Mormon difficulties. He was regarded as a lawyer of medium 
ability, but not an eloquent orator. In the celebrated trials growing 
out of Mormon affairs, he usually had associated with him in the 
prosecution lawj'ers of more decided reputation. He afterward 
served as Quarter-Master in a volunteer regiment in the Mexican 
war, and died at home soon after the war was over. 

George G. Dixon — Was a Quincy lawyer who sometimes — not 
often— practiced at our Court. He was from New York, where he 
had previously practiced; was a well-educated and well-read lawyer, 
and withal a good speaker, though he never became popular with 
our people. He removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he died some 
Tears affo. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 417 

Robert S. Blackwell. — Genial "Bob Blackwell," admired and 
esteemed by all who knew him. Residing- in Rushville, he was a 
frequent practitioner at our Bar. Urbane, companionable, witty, 
lively, generous, he soon gained a position among our lawyers, and 
might have made — did make — a shining light in our midst. Some 
of his speeches, while Prosecuting Attorney, it is remembered, were 
among the ablest ever made in our Court, and compared favorably 
with those of his opponents, among whom we may name Browning, 
AValker and others. Mr. Blackwell was evidently a rising man 
when he left our Courts and 'settled in Chicago, in a broader field 
of usefulness, where he died several years ago. Mr. B. had a most 
remarkable memory, was always ready with his authorities, quot- 
ing book and page with the greatest facility. 

Jackson Grimshaw — Of Pike, afterward of Qnincy, was for 
many years well known in our county and had considerable prac- 
tice at our bar. He was always regarded as a strong lawyer and 
able to cope with the best. Mr. Asbury says of him: ''Mr. Grim- 
shaw possessed an active, perceptive and vigorous mind, was well 
grounded in the law, and was pre-eminently strong before a jury 
in any and every case where an analysis of the testimony and 
motives of witnesses might be brought into view. A prevaricating 
witness or a mean defendant had to suffer from his terrible denuncia- 
tions. Mr. G. w^ould not pander to a mean prejudice in Court or 
jury, and his most scathing comments and denunciations only fell 
where he felt that the right, the lienor and the virtue of the case 
was on the side he represented." But Mr. Grimshaw was, perhaps, 
best known to our people as a stump orator, having been on several 
occasions before the people of the District in that capacity, either 
as a candidate or a volunteer in aid of his party. 

Almeron Wheat — Was a Quincy attorney, an able lawyer, who 
years ago had considerable practice in this county. "Whether still 
living we are unable to state. The same may be said of 

N. Johnson — Excepting that he died a number of years ago. 
Mr. J. was an active meinber of the " Peace Committee of 100 " 
from Quincy, during the last Mormon troubles, and through his 
influence and skill probably the destruction of much life and 
property was averted. 

William IT. Roosevelt — Was a scion of a rich family in -New 
York city. He settled in Warsaw^ about 1836 or 'Y, and acquired 
large interests there. His practice at the Bar was merely nominal, 
being better known as a politician, a trader and land speculator. 
He was intimately identified with the interests of Warsaw, and 
labored hard to advance her prosperity. He was genial, good- 
natured, high-minded and held many honorable positions. He 
was several times a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected 
to that position in 1858. His death occurred soon after the com- 
mencement of the Rebellion, , 

Malcolm McGregor — Was a New Yorker, who came to Warsaw 
about the same time with Mr. Roosevelt; was also a Democratic 



41 S HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

politician ; was a candidate for the Legislature in 1S40, but 
defeated by Dr. Charles. In 1839 he had been elected to the office 
of Probate Judge; was afterward appointed by the County Com- 
missioners to the responsible position of School Commissioner, 
and died while holding the office. 

Thomas Mor^i'ison. — This gentleman was 'a Tennesseean, and 
settled in Warsaw about the year IS 42 or 1S43 ; afterward resided 
in Carthage. He was a good lawyer, though he never obtained a 
large practice. He was a politician of the Whig school, and was 
elected to the Legislature in 1846. His death occurred not long 
afterward. 

Messrs. Roosevelt, McGregor and Morrison were brothers-in-law 
— married to the Misses Wells, sisters of James M. Wells, one of 
the Warsaw proprietors. 

Henry Stephens — Was a New Yorker, and is said to have read 
law in the otfice of Millard Fillmore. He settled in Warsaw about 
1S40, and arose to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Militia. 
Gen. S. was not an able lawyer, neither was he an orator, yet by 
his industry, energy and methodical habits, he attained to con- 
siderable practice. 

Sterling P. Delaiio — Was raised in Hancock county in the 
vicinity of AVarsaw. He studied with Browning and Bushnell, of 
Quincy, and entered into practice in that city with Messrs. Buckley 
and Macy. He enli>^ted in the army, and was elected Captain of a 
company of cavalry. He was unfortunately wounded by a pistol 
ball accidentally discharged in the hands of his First Lieutenant, 
Catlin, which lodged in the spine and proved mortal. He died 
at his home in Quincy after mouths of extreme suflerinof. Mr. 
Delano's career as a lawyer was short but honorable. He was 
greatly esteemed by the members of the Bar, and died regretted. 
We are not aware that he had practice at the Hancock Bar. but as 
a Hancock boy this notice is due to his memory. 

Of the Hancock attorneys now living away, we can recall the 
names of Jason H. Sherman, Jacob C. Davis, William C. Wagley, 
N. AV. Bliss, George W. Batchelder. and Robt. W. McKinney. 

Of old attorneys, non-residents of the county, and who formerly 
practiced at this Bar, we mention Hon. Orville H. Browning, Hon. 
James W. Singleton and Calvin A. Warren, Esq., all of Quincy, 
and all now venerable in age. And we must not omit to mention 
the younger attorney, who though a Quincy man and a citizen 
there, is a native of Hancock county— Gen. Elisha B. Hamilton. 

PRESENT BAK. 

Of the present members of the bar in Hancock county, it does 
not become us to speak, only to name them. A number are elderly 
men of established legal reputations, who have long been in prac- 
tice among us and are growing gray in the service. Perhaps a 
majority are young men, who have yet, in a great degree, their 
reputations and fortunes to make. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 419 

Residents at the county-seat are: Bryant T. Scofield, Thomas C. 
Sharp, Wesley H. Manier, Bryant F. Peterson, John M. Ferris, 
John B. Risse, Wni. E. Mason, Wm. Baird, George J. Rogers, T. 
J. Scofield, Apollos W. O'llara, T. C. Griffitts, George Edmnnds, 
David Maok, Henry W. Draper, Wra. C. Hooker, Hiram G. Ferris, 
O. F. Berry, John D. Miller, M. P. Berry, Charles J. Scofield, J. 
J. Williams, Samuel H. Benson, W. B. Mclntyre, Mr. Shinn. 

At Warsaw: John W. Marsh, John H, Finley, Edward E. Lane, 
George P. Walker, Wm. N. Grover, Benj. F. Marsh, P. W. Plantz, 
Cortez Maxwell, R. L. McDou^al. 

At Augusta: W. H. Mead, Nelson Comfort, B. P. Hewitt, Joab 
Green. 

At La Harpe: Cornelius C. Preston, S. W. King, J. H. Hungate. 

At Nauvoo: Milton M. Morrill, Adam Swartz,"William D. Hib- 
bard. 

At Plymouth: L. G. Reid. 

At Dallas City: B. F. Newton. 

At Hamilton : Thomas Ruggles. 




CHAPTEK XIII 

ANECDOTAL. 



In this chapter we collect together numerous incidents, anec- 
dotes and occurrences, without reference to the order of their dates. 
Some of them were overlooked in the regular course, and some have 
come to light as we have progressed with our work. 



When Sheriff Deming was in Warsaw looking for the defendants 
in the Smith murder cases, he was treated very shabbily. He put 
up for the night, and when he started to leave in the morning, he 
found that some ruffian had shaved his horse's mane and tail. He 
mounted him, however, and started to leave. Coming to where 
some citizens were standing, he halted, and remarked: "My horse 
got into bad company last night." " Most generally is, I reckon," 
retorted one of the by-standers. The General rode on, thinking it 
unnecessary to parley with such a crowd. 



Here is a story told of a certain Rushville attorney. We don't 
give his name because we really have forgotten it, but no matter. 
He practiced at the Hancock Bar, or at any rate attended Courts 
here for that purpose. But, if the truth must be told — and there 
is where the joke comes in — he practiced also at the bar of Charley 
Main's grocery. It was in the early days, when Courts were held 
in the log cabin south of the square. But early as it was, there 
had been a circus perambulating the country, and one had exhib- 
ited a few days before on the square, and left its ring in the soil. 
So one night after a parcel of attorneys and others had been 
" indulging " at Main's, our Rushville friend started to go to his 
hotel alone. Coming to the circus ring, he took the track and fol- 
lowed it round and round for some time, till others coming along, 
asked what he was doing. "Doing!" replied he; "I'm going 
home; but I didn't know this town was so big. I've been half an 
hour on my way, and I've passed ever so many houses just like 
that over there," The next day the story got out, and the lawyers 
had a high time over it. We believe it was Sidney Little's sugges- 
tion that he was going to be candidate for Judge, and loas only 
■practicing how to run the circuit. 



Christopher E. Yates tells us this story — and it must be true — 
that " once upon a time," about 1834; during Court, a certain jury 

(430) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 421 

got " hung " under a cottonwood tree not far from the court-house 
which liad been appropriated for a jury room. Mr. Constable Duff 
had been deputed to watch them, and make them hang together. 
But the case was a knotty one, and they couldn't agree. One of 
them, becoming tired and saucy, said he was going home, and 
started. Duff told him he could not go without first whipping 
him. At it they went, and Duff whipped him into obedience. 
But still they could not agree upon a verdict. Again the refrac- 
tory man began to rebel, and go home he would. Duff' was again 
under the necessity of whipping him in; and thus kept him until a 
verdict was rendered. 



Jesse B. Winn, a citizen of Carthage, had a mule that strangely 
enough died a natural death, during the session of one of these 
early Courts. Tlie fact caused great comment among the lawyers. 
Among them was one from Quinc}^ a native of Kentucky^ who had 
no business at the town; but his associates started the story that 
he came to attend the mule case; that it was good law in Kentucky 
that a mule never died, and their associate came especially to 
investigate the reason why the law was not equally good in Illinois. 
The attorney decided that the mule in qustion had lost his hray^ 
and consequently had to give up the g-gho-o-st! 



J. H. Lawton, of Plymouth, tells a story of this same Winn mule, 
and his mate. Traveling once from Warsaw to Carthage, and near 
where Elvaston now stands, he found these mules hitched to a 
wagon load of corn, stuck fast in the mud, and no owner to be seen. 
He had stalled, and had gone off to town for help. An idea seized 
Lawton ; truth was, the mules had not been well fed. So he took 
an armful of corn from the load and laid it on the ground a little 
way from the mud-hole, before the mules, when they quietly walked 
out with the load, up to the corn, and he left them eating. 



The morning after the murder of the Smiths, Gen. Deming gave 
Mr. Joshua C. Hobert authority to collect all the men he could 
find in town and guard the place. Tie did so, and at breakfast time 
had mustered thirteen men, all told. Among the countrymen who 
came in during the day was Mark Phelps — everybody knows Mark. 
He was mustered into the company, a musket put into his hands, 
and ordered to guard in a certain district. This he did to perfec- 
tion. Another countryman, Mr. Thomas M., came along, and was 
about to start for home. This Mark forbid ; he couldn't go until 
he had first obtained a pass from Gen. Deming. Plobert came 
along and found them in a high state of excitement. "Shall I 
shoot him?" exclaimed Mark, ready to execute military orders. 



422 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

H. told him he had better not, but succeeded in persuading the 
refractory Tom to go and get a pass from the General. 



At Fountain Green, at the store of C. C. Tyler, we were shown 
the journal belonging to the firm of Tyler & McClaughey (Stephen 
H. Tyler and Matthew McClaughey) doing business as merchants 
in 1844, in that place — both now deceased. In it is a memorandum 
in the hand-writing of 0. 0. Tyler's father, then the bookkeeper, 
in the following words: 

" This night, at five o'clock P. M., Joseph Smith and Hyrum 
Smith, his brother, were mobbed and shot at Carthage, 111." Dated 
June 27, 1844. 



Whose was the boot with a foot in it, found in the woods a mile 
or two from the village of St. Mary's, a quarter of a century or so 
ago? Or, rather, whose foot was in it? — not so much matter about 
the boot. That is one of the questions which has never been solved 
to the satisfaction of the people in that vicinity. There was likely 
a dark deed committed in connection with that boot and foot, which 
" somebody " could explain. Many were the guesses and surmises; 
but that is all. They were said to have been found in the vicinity 
of the Northern Cross R. R. track, which was then building, or had 
just been built. Who was that "somebody "? 



Several glass beads attached to a ribbon or piece of cloth were, 
in the early days, found up in the forks of a tree, in St. Mary's 
township, by hunters. How did those beads get there, and 
what were they there for? are questions the people frequently ask. 
Two theories are suggested; one, that they were ornaments about 
some Indian, who died or was killed near there, and that the beads 
were carried into the tree by bird or beast, in devouring the dead 
body. Another is, that after his death, his remains were suspended 
up in the tree, after an Indian custom of disposing of dead bodies, 
sometimes practiced by them. 



The old settlers about Carthage used to tell the following good 
one on a certain young mail-carrier in the olden time. An old 
gentleman in the county, well known, and who has held many 
honorable positions, had the contract for carrying the mail east 
from Carthage to Rushville. On the route, distant from any post- 
office, resided a farmer to whom the nearest P. M. had been in the 
habit of sending his papers by the hand of the carrier, outside of 
the mail. One day the contractor being sick, his son was put on 
to go the trip. As he passed the house of the farmer alluded to, he 




sf/'> 



^J^c-^^^ZJ^ ^ i^^^>^^^r^lZrtfC^ 



Durham Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT!'. 425 

was hailed — " Say, have you brought my papers to-day?" " 1 don't 
know; I'll see," replied the sagacious youth; and jumping from 
his horse, he took the mail bag and began to fumble at the lock; 
then feeling in his pockets, he exclaimed, "Blame that Postmaster! 
he's forgot to give me the key!" 



NEAR NEIGHBORS. 

Allen Melton, of Plymouth, tells the following: 
"Soon after the arrival of his company to settle, they had occa- 
sion to use a crops-cut saw and a frow, to make clap-boards for a 
cabin. Hearing that Mr. Phillips, a few miles below, had the 
articles, he was called on by them and asked if he could lend the 
articles. He replied that he could; but at present another neigh- 
bor had them, Mr. Ebenezer Kand, who resided at Camp Point, 25 
miles away. Mr. E.. was accordingly interviewed and the tools 
obtained." 



A military muster and election in the early days of Carthage, is 
thus described by one who was there: There was to be an election 
of officers'and a parade and drill that day, and all the warlike people 
were in town, and the groceries had plenty of whisky on hand for 
the occasion. The crowd had been brought together on the public 
square — a goodly number — and the electioneering began. The two 
principal candidates for Captain were a Mr. Howard and a Mr. 
Perkins. The respective merits of the two men were being dis- 
cussed, when Howard called out, "All who wish to belong to 
Captain Howard's company come over to the grocery and take a 
drink! " Nearly all started. Perkins tried the same experiment, 
but he was too late; the boys were already drinking Howard's 
whisky. " No use, boys," said he to the few around him; " let's 
go over and make it unanimous." And they went. So, through 
the list, the crowd each time drinking at the successful man's 
expense. Perkins, failing of the Captaincy, was, by way of soothing 
his feelings, chosen First Lieutenant. After election, they went out 
on the square and tried to drill. But it was poor work. "Shoulder 
arms!" they could not, for they had none to shoulder. "Right 
about face! " always turned them the wrong way. But when the 
oflBcer, giving it up in despair, shouted, " All who belong to Capt. 
Howard's company come and drink; forward, march !" they 
reached the grocery with alacrity, if not in good order. And tlie 
election and muster were over. 



It is not generally known that the township of St. Mary's — four 
north, five west — has no military bounty land in it. The reason 
for this is said to have been, that when the grant was made to the 

26 



426 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

soldiers the survey of that township had not been completed, or 
was in some way defective, and hence was excluded from the grant. 
The survey was finished at a later day. Hence all the settlers in 
that township came into possession of their homesteads through 
entry at the Qnincy Land-oflSce, and there are fewer controverted 
titles there than in other parts of the county. 



Mr. Yalincourt Van Ausdal, of the "Point," though never a 
citizen on this side, was often at Fort Edwards, and had much inter- 
course with our people. He sa.js, he came to the Point with his 
brother-in-law, Stillwell, to trade with the Indians, and had permits 
from Government, At the time of the Black Hawk war, during 
the scare, the women and children were taken down to the fort, 
while the men remained on guard. The American Fur Company 
then had a station at the Point. Mr. V. assisted often to ferry 
people across the river. In answer as to how they got wagons and 
teams across m those days, he replied: "They were taken across on 
two ' duo--outs,' lashed together just near enough for two wheels to 
stand in each; and the horses were swam across at another trip, 
the men in the canoes guiding them." In that way, wagon, horses, 
family and " plunder" were got across in safety. Mr, V. remem- 
bers the following steamboats on the river before the Black Hawk 
war: Indiana, Mexico, William Wallace, Josephine, and Warrior. 



Bear stories are always in order; so here is one of the Carthage 
bear: "A bar! a bar! take the children in! a bar! " rang out one 
afternoon in the fall of ISoo, from the stentorian lungs of Mr. 

, a North Carolinian, as he sprang down from a building on 

which he was at work, and ran toward his home on the south side. 
And sure enough there was a large bear, pursued by a couple of 
horsemen and a lot of dogs, who" had chased it from the Big- 
Meadow, a few miles south of town. Of course the sight of a 
bear in the street was an occasion for alarm, and " a bear! a bear! " 
was re-echoed from house to house through the village. The 
animal had been chased so long that he was quite tired, and now 
being closely pressed he made for a pond of water that stood in the 
ravine southeast of the public square. Here he lay for some time 
in the water, while men and boys were gathered around pelting 
him with clubs and stones, and wUli all the dogs in town snarling 
and barking around him. Xow and then a luckless cur, encouraged 
by the men, would approach too near, and get a hug and a clawing 
for his temerity, that would send him off limping and howling. 
At length Bruiii spied a cottonwood tree that stood a short distance 
away, and running to it, climbed it up to a fork, where he found a 
good resting place. In the meantime a gun had been brought, 
but it took several shots from the excited crowd to bring him 
down. As he fell tumbling and crashing through the dead 
branches, the forty-seven dogs aronnd conchided that their time 
had come, and ran yelping and howling from the scene. And so 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 427 

the trophy was won. As all had had a hand iii the slaughter, or 
had at least been spectators, it was decided. that the carcass should 
be divided, giving all a taste of bear meat. And the Carthage 
bear story is told even unto this day. 



And here is another — a bear that was not a bear: In dividing up 
the aforesaid bear, among others, Mr. John H. Lawton, then in his 
teens, obtained one of the paws. This he kept about as a relic for 
some months. In the early spring he had occasion to pass on foot 
from Montebello to Fort Edwards, along the river road. In doing 
so he was surprised and alarmed at discovering a bear track in the 
snow, at a point near where the Hamilton depot now stands. He 
hurried on to the fort and informed Mr. James Gregg, then resid- 
ing there, of his discovery, " But are you sure it was a bear track?" 
inquired Mr. Gregg. " Of course I am. Haven't I had one of the 
paws of the Carthage bear at our house all winter? and I reckon I 
know a bear track by this time." Well, a bear hunt was just the 
sport for Gregg, and procuring a companion and trusty riiies, with 
Lawton for a guide, they started for the chase. A walk of five 
miles or so brought them to the place where the bear tracks had 
been seen. Lawton triumphantly pointed them out, and said, 
"There! isn't that a bear track?" Gregg looked, examined it 
more closely, and " Humph! Squaw! " with a laugh that made the 
woods resound, was the answer he gave. 



The early settlers of Hancock and adjoining counties were much 
subject to the prevalent diseases of fever and ague ; and during the 
fall months, and often far into the winter, many of the citizens of 
all ages would take their turn at the " shakes," as the disease was 
called. Sometimes whole families would be stricken down with it; 
yet a death very seldom occurred. A doctor relates that on one 
occasion he visited a large cabin, the residence of an early settler, 
on business. He wrapped at the door for admission, and receiving 
no answer, he pushed it open, and on looking about, counted ten 
persons, old and young, big and little, some on beds and some 
on the floor — all shaking with the ague. On inquiring of them if 
they needed anything, the old man replied, between shakes, that he 
g-g-g-uessed t-t-t-hat if they h-li-ad s-s-ome q-q-q-ui-nine, and the 
h-house w-wouldn't f-f-fall down, they w-would g-get along," It is 
needless to add that the kind doctor furnished the needed remedy, 
and got them on their feet again. 



Hon. Thomas H. Owen was a man well remembered by old citi- 
zens of the county. Besides being a minister of the gos])el, he was 
a strong politician, and a popular one at that, for he was several 



-428 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

times elected to the Legislature. His friends tell the following good 
joke on him; and if they tell it, there is no harm in recording it 
here. Once/' when traveling in the north part of the county on an 
electioneering tour, he saw a man as he supposed some half mile 
away in a field; and not wishing to pass any one without giving 
his views, he hitched his horse to the fence and struck out on foot 
to speak to him. He had quite nearly approached the object, before 
he discovered it to be a " scare-crow," placed there to frighten the 
birds away. He didn't secure a vote on that occasion, but he 
thought the joke too good to keep. 



Samuel Gordon, Esq., of Montebello, tells the following: "In 
the month of May, 1832, on one pleasant afternoon, while the 
inhabitants of Montebello were quietly pusruing their usual voca- 
tions, some one happened to look across the river and spied a large 
fleet of canoes quietly floating down the current, and not a person 
to be seen. It was at once surmised that the fleet was loaded with 
hostile Indians, intending to land below town, and on the return of 
darkness destroy the settlement. The alarm was quickly spread, 
and a council convened to determine upon the best plan to be pur- 
sued. It was soon decided to fortify the court-house, as a place 
of safety for the women and children of the neighborhood. All 
hands went energetically to work, and by dark the windows and 
doors of the court room, which was about 20 feet square, were 
secured by thick oak shutters, and the women, children and other 
valuables were gathered into the fort. 

The veterans of the war of 1812, and of the Indian wars subse- 
quent thereto, collected and organized to defend their homes and 
little ones from the dreaded attack of a savage foe. They were 
armed with a great variety of weapons known to a knew country. 
Guards were stationed, and the small force at hand was posted to 
the best advantage, to ward ofi" the expected assault. 

The hours of the night came to an end at last, when it was ascer- 
tained that the supposed savages were only a lot of half-breeds on 
their way down to the Point (now known as Keokuk) on a trading 
expedition. 

Among the pioneers who participated in the heroic defense of 
the town may be mentioned Major Bedell, as General-in-chief; 
Capt. A. P. Cochran, Samuel Steele, Cyrus Felt, John Gordon, 
William Yance, John Waggonner, John Cochran, Sr., John Coch- 
ran, Jr., and perhaps others. 



To our old friend, Elisha Worrell, Esq., of Chili, we are indebted 
for the following incident, illustrating the neighborly kindness 
that prevailed among the pioneers of an early day. The deep snow 
which fell in 1S30-'31 caught some of the settlers with a scant sup- 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



429 



ply of provisions; indeed, abont all of them were in that predica- 
ment. One, however, had plenty — John Harding, who was one of 
the first settlers in the neighborhood, and whose name appears on 
the first jury list. He had a number of fat hogs, one of which he 
would kill at a time, and hitching his horse to it would mount and 
make the circuit of the neighborhood, di'aggingit through the snow 
and allowing each family to cut off according to their necessities. 
"Was not that obeying the divine injunction under difficulties? 



%^ ^1; A^ 




CHAPTER XIY 



U. tr. R. R., 



Which in the anti-slaverj vernacnhir means the Under -Ground 
Bail Boad. As Hancock county lies in a direct line between the 
South and Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, one or more lines 
of this road was early established through it, on which considerable 
transportation of sable freight was effected. Conductors resided 
all along the line from the Mississippi to Detroit; and several had 
homes in this county, chieli}' about Augusta, Round Prairie, and 
other eastern neighborhoods. 

These conductors wore no insignia of office, but knew each other 
as if by intuition. They were generally intelligent and sharp- 
witted men, could tell a white sheep from a black one on the 
darkest night, and would make their way through a dense forest 
or trackles's prairie, with no better guide than the north star or the 
moss on the sides of trees. 

Xow that the days of slavery are over, and they can do so with 
perfect safety, these men love to rehearse the stories of their ex- 
ploits on those U. G. trains. And they do so with as much gusto 
as if they had not been engaged in breaking the Constitution of 
their country all to flinders. It is of no use now to argue with 
them; they are as incorrigible as they were before secretive and 
adventurous. So we just tell their stories as told to us, leaving 
the matter with their consciences. 

One. of these conductors wh».> resided, and yet does, in a south- 
eastern township, furnishes us with the following, as part of his 
experience in that kind of railroading, which we give as nearly as 
we can in his own words: 

" In the winter of 1843-4 I commenced my first experience in 
this country, having previously acted as conductor in Xorthern 

Ohio for ten years, I met father I in the winter of '43-'4, 

in town. He asked me to come up to his house after dinner, 
which I did. Went to the barn, and climbed up over the girt- 
beam, and found two colored men. I asked them if they were 
steering for Canada. They said, * Yes, Sahl' I told them it was 
acold, desolate country. The oldest one replied that he knew it, 
as this was his seventh trip from Missouri there as pilot. This 
time he came back for his wife. He said, ' I could not get her, so 
I have brought my youngest brother.' 

" I was interested in his case at once, and forwarded them to the 
next station. To show that he ffot through all right, I was in 

(430y 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 431 

Detroit in November of 1S48, and stepped into a barber's shop to 
get shaved. I asked the barber if he knew anything about Ben- 
jamin and James Penne}'. He said ' No,' I saw by their looks 
that they did. So I said, ' Boys, you needn't be afraid of me; I 
am an old stager; I helped those boys along on their trip.' The 
barber then told me that Benjamin, the eldest one, caught a severe 
cold while on that trip, and died of consumption the next summer; 
the younger, James, is at school in Chatham, getting a good edu- 
cation. Hearing this, I felt fully paid for my trouble in helping 
them to escape from slavery. 

"'The next December I was wakened by a rap on the door about 
two o'clock at night. I opened it, and found three snuare-built 
black men, with a friend of mine from Adams county, i took them 
in, and while my wife was preparing breakfast, they showed me 
their passes to go where they chose from Christmas till New 
Years. I asked the boys if they were not taking a rather enlarged 
view of those passes. They thought perhaps they were. Before 
sunrise they were guided on to the next station in safety. The next 
I heard of them they were in Farmington, Fulton county, at 

Deacon B 's. The deacon took a copy of their passes in a 

memorandum book. Within a week, three slave-hunters came 
along. They inquired of a drayman if he had heard of any runa- 
way slaves. He told them he had not seen any, but if any had been 

there, Deacon B would probably know about them. They 

went over to the deacon's, and. inquired of him. He told them: 
'Yes, there were three boys stayed here a few nights ago.' By re- 
ferring to the memorandum it was proven that they were the owners 
of the runaways, their names being on the passes. 

" This happened about dark, and the deacon kindly invited them 
to stay all night with him, which two of them did, the other one 
returning to the hotel. During the evening, the three daughters 
of the deacon entertained the strangers with songs and music on 
the melodeon. One of the girls was quite fleshy. The evening 
passed very pleasantly, and in the morning the strangers ofl:ered to 
pay for their lodging, which the deacon refused, saying that the 
black boys stayed without paying, and they were welcome to do the 
same, adding, that should they return that way, he would like them 
to* stop and tell him what luck they had. On their way to town 
they met the third gentleman, who had spent the night in town. 
They, of course, stopped to talk of how they had been entertained, 
not thinking they were overheard by the deacon's hired man, who 
happened to be behind the hedge. The two said to the one, 'If 
these are the kind of men that are helping our boys to escape, there 
is no use in hunting them any more, and I feel rather ashamed of 
the business, anyway. I Ijelieve if I should meet Jerry on the 
street, I should tell him to go ahead.' They all started back to 
Missouri. 

" At that time there were slaves at every house, in every kitchen, 
dining room, and barn, about home. These men, of course, often 



432 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

told of their experience in hunting the slaves in Illinois, and were 
as often overheard, until, by their own story, they described the 
country so well, even to the deacon's daughters, that many of the 
blacks determined to undertake the trip for themselves. Some time 
after this, there came a rap on the deacon's window one night, and 
on getting up he found several colored men, and one of them asked, 
' Is dis de place where de fat gal plays on de 'lodeon?' He replied 
that it was, and took them in, fed them, and saw them to the next 
station. From Farmington it was considered quite safe to travel 
on by daylight. 

" At another time I was going to Quincy with a load of cheese, 
probably in 1S52. Between Bear creek and Mendou, I met a 
covered carriage with the curtains down. As it passed me I recog- 
nized the near horse as having stayed at my place but a short time 
before, and suspected what might be inside. I said, 'Hold on; 
I want to see what you have got.' The driver never saw me in the 
day-time but knew my voice and stopped. His passengers were 
badly scared. He said he was steering for my house, but now 
should go to Rev, K's. I told him K. had gone to Galesburg. So 
he struck for Round Prairie and stopped, rart of the load was a 
colored woman with a little boy, two years old. Before the next 
morning she gave birth to another boy. Physicians in that country 
were all pro-slavery; but there were mothers in Israel willing to 
minister to her wants. She remained there a few days and then 
moved on to Canada. 

'' These are but a few of the many instances in which we lent our 
aid to the U. G. R. R., and which we never regretted." 



^--^^ 




CHAPTER XV. 



RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 



The difficulty of obtaining reliable data in regard to religious 
work and Church organization among the new settlers of a country, 
will at once be seen to be very great. Many of the older pioneers 
who were most engaged in this work, have passed away, and 
people are not apt to keep a record of these things. Hence, from 
what we have been able to gather, we are indebted, first, to citi- 
zens in the various neighborhoods who have responded to our 
inquiries as well as their memories served them ; and, secondly, to 
a few ministers, and otiicers of Churches, who have kindly given us 
statements from official records. But there has been great want 
of interest in this matter over the county. I^umerous applications 
to officers and leading members of the various denominations have 
elicited no response; and thereby we have been compelled to rely 
alone upon such meager sources of information as we could other- 
wise control. If, then, some portions of the county should seem to 
be overlooked, or some denominations neglected, they may know 
where the blame belongs, and ask themselves, Have toe done our 
own duty in this matter? 

At this day it may be impossible to state the date of the first 
religious services in the county. There having been settlers about 
the fort and along the river as early as 1824 and 1825, it might be 
supposed that religious observances were begun near those dates. 
"We can hear of none, however, until two or three years after organi- 
zation of the county. Peter Williams, who seems to have been a 
very early settler along the river, we have heard mentioned as a 
" preacher on his own hook;" and that we take to mean that he 
was subordinate to no Church or religious organization, and that 
he preached when he felt like it. At how early a date this feeling 
influenced him is not known. It is fair to presume, too, that most 
of the earlier preachers and exhorters were similarly circumstanced 
with Mr. Williams in that regard, being remote from Church 
organizations and authorities. Social worship was a matter of 
spontaneous work. The exhorter would send word around a given 
neighborhood that he would preach on such a day (usually Sunday 
afternoon) at a certain point; and the few who were so fortunate 
as to have received the notice would attend. These meetings were 
first held in some grove or shady nook, perhajis on the bank of the 
river; and there, standing around or sitting on the grass, the hardy 
and sun-browned pioneer, with wife and children, would listen to 
the unpretentious, but often impassioned and eloquent, sermon, and 

(433) 



4r34 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COU^'TY. 

sing the liymns given out with earnest, if not melodious, voices. 
And from these groves doubtless there ascended to heaven as accept- 
able worsliip as ever went up from the costliest and most splendid 
temple in tlie land. The groves were practically the first temples 
among the pioneers. 

The groves were God's fii-st temples. Ere man learned 

To hew the shaft and lay the architrave, 

And spread the roof ahoVe them ; ere he framed 

The lofty vault to gather and roll back 

The sound of anthems; iu the darkling wood, 

Amid the cool and silence, he knelt down 

And otiered to the Mightiest solemn thanks 

And supplication. 

No deep-toned bell sounded to call the worshipers together; 
no stately carriage drew them to the place; no rustling silks or 
shining jewels, or "love of a bonnet," or six-buttoned gloves, or 
patent-leather boots, or soft beaver, adorned the persons of the 
wealthiest in the congregation. An ox-wagon, perhaps a cart 
drawn by one pony; or on horseback, with wife on pillion be- 
hind, — or more frequently on foot, and often barefoot, — was the 
common way of ''going to church"' in those primitive da3-s. And 
the minister's salary — ah ! he had nowhere but to heaven to look 
for his reward. 

After these grove meetings, and frequently coeval with them, 
came the services at the log cabins of the pioneers. Still later, 
services were held and Sabbath-schools instituted, in rude log- 
cabin scli.ool-houses, that gradually appeared here and there in the 
more populous settlements. Later still, a plain building without 
cupola or spire or bell would be erected, sometimes to be used by 
two or three denominations, but oftener exclusively for the use of 
one. To-day every town and village has its one, two or more 
handsome church edifices, and almost every neighborhood in every 
township, its frame or brick house of worship for the various 
Christian denominations, many of them with settled pastors, reg- 
ular worship and well-appointed Sunday-schools, 

Besides ]\Ir. Williams, the earliest of these ministers and elders 
we can mention as being engaged in religious work in various 
parts of the county, are the following: Rev. Charles Robison, 
residing on the rapids; Elders Joseph Hatchett and Samuel Knox, 
at Green Plains; Rev. TVm. McCoy, Rev. Peter Boven, Revs. 
Yan Horn and Ralston, Rev. Henry Summers and the famous Pe- 
ter Cartwright, in the southeast; and Elders John Logan, Thos. H. 
Owen and Bradley, along the east line. About 1S33, Rev, John 
Lawton, of New Hampshire, a Congregational minister, was sent 
out to Carthage by the Home Missionary Society, and he preached 
and assisted in organizing Churches in difterent parts of the 
county. 

Further particulars of local religious work will be noticed under 
the head of townships. 



CHAPTER XYI. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

lu a new country* and among pioneers, is not the place where 
prosperous colleges and seminaries, or even higli schools, are usually 
found. Hence common schools, and, in many instances, very "com- 
mon" ones at that, were the best means of education in Hancock 
county in the early days. These, so far as we have been able to 
report them, will be mentioned in another chapter under the head 
of Township Histories. 

"We shall here group together notices of a few efforts made in the 
direction of higher education begun in the county, — only the last 
mentioned of which has been attended with much success. 

CARTHAGE FEMALE SEMINARY. 

The first educational enterprise begun in Hancock county was 
that known as the " Carthage Female High School and Teachers' 
Seminary." AVith Rev. Thomas H. Owen in the Senate and Mark 
Aldrich in the House of Representatives, a charter was passed 
through the Legislature, and approved Feb. 15, 1837, incorporating 
an institution under the above name, and to be located 'within one 
mile of Carthage. Rev. John Lawtou was mainly instrumental in 
getting up and perfecting the bill. By the charter the institution 
was to be made open to the pupils of all denominations, and no pro- 
fession of religious faith was to be required. Liberty was also given 
the Board of Trustees to introduce a system of manual labor, when- 
ever they deemed it best. 

The following named citizens of the county were the corporators 
mentioned in the charter: Sidney H. Little, David W. Mathews, 
Samuel Marshall, Benjamin F. Marsh, Thomas H. Owen, Mark 
Aldrich, John Lawton, Samuel M. Newhall, Walter Bagby, Thomas 
Gregg, Ellis Hughes, Homer Brown, E. D. Vandervoort, David 
Greenleaf, Michael Rickard, Valentine Wilson, Wesley Williams, 
Julius A. Reed, Ero Chandler and Cyrus Felt. 

These twenty corporators were carefully selected from the various 
sects and shades of religious opinion. !No action was taken under 
the charter till 1841. In August of that year, a meeting of the 
trustees was held at Warsaw, at which an organization was effected, 
with Mr. Marsh as president, and Mr. Gregg, secretary. Rev. 
Lawton, then in New Hampshire, was appointed a general agent to 
solicit funds. Robert Miller and Rev. B. F. Morris were elected 
to fill vacancies occasioned by the deaths of Mr. Little and Mr. 

(435) 



436 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Kewhall. At a subsequent meeting, held also at Warsaw, on Sept. 
1, 1842, a letter was presented announcing the death of Mr. Lawton, 
at Hillsborough, ]^. H., and that he had obtained in money, notes, 
books, etc., donations to the amount of about $1,100. These sub- 
scriptions were afterward returned to the donors by his adminis- 
trator. At this meeting George Kockwell, John D. Mellen and 
Geo. A. Chittenden were elected trustees, in place of Dr. Marshall, 
resigned, and Messrs. Yandervoort and Eeed, removed from the 
county. 

No subsequent action was ever taken. 

At this writing but four of the twenty-five corporators named in 
the bill are now living; viz., Chandler, Greenleaf, Rockwell and 
Gregg. 

WARSAW UNIVERSITY. 

In the summer of 1840, we believe, under a charter from the 
State, an institution of learning was attempted at Warsaw, which 
was also to contain a medical department. Rev. Gideon B. Perry, 
D. D., was chosen its president, and a quasi preparatory depart- 
ment was set in motion in connection with the common school, 
while one or two protessors stood ready to act whenever the way 
was opened and the pupils appeared. 

A commencement day was appointed, and President Perry de- 
livered an inaugural address; but commencement proved also to be 
its ending, and the Warsaw University ceased to exist. 

LA HARPE SEMINARY. 

We come down now to a much later period. In or about 1876, 
the Protestant Methodist Church Conference conceived the plan 
of establishing a seminary of learning somewhere within its bounds. 
Consultations were held with the citizens of La Harpe, and it was 
finally agreed that if the citizens would raise the necessary funds 
for the ground and the building, the Conference would endow the 
institution. The citizens, with commendable pride and zeal, went 
to work and raised the sum of $15,000, and put up a neat and com- 
modious edifice; but the Conference had counted too fast; the 
endowment money could not be raised, and the project fell through. 
The citizens now found themselves with the building on their 
hands, covered by a mechanic's lien to the extent of about $5,000. 
Thus matters stood till some time last year, when James Gittings, 
Esq., a wealthy farmer in the township, redeemed the building, and 
through the exertions of the citizens established a private school, 
under charge of Prof. Cassell, of Adrian College, Michigan. The 
school bids fair to become a success. 

It was opened Sept, 3, 1879, under the following instructors: 
Literary Department, I. W. Cassell and Edgar Hurdle; Department 
of Music, Miss E. Beal; Department of Painting and Drawing, 
Miss Ada Shriver. 




CARTHAGE COLLEGE, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 439 

The seminary building is laro-e and commodious, being one of 
the best buildings for school purposes in the State. It has an at- 
tendance of 75 scholars, and the facilities for instruction are amply 
provided for, and the corps of teachers sufficiently large to supply 
all the requirements of the several departments. 

CARTHAGE COLLEGE. ' 

It had long been felt that an institution of learning of high 
grade was necessary to the best interests of the rapidly growing 
Lutheran Church in the West. Several efforts had been made to 
establish such an institution, but without permanent success. The 
different Lutheran Synods in Illinois, and the one in Iowa, in con- 
nection with the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in the United States, assured of the need of union and 
co-operation in the work of establishing n college, called an Edu- 
cational Convention to meet at Dixon, Illinois, August 31, 1869. 
There were represented at that convention the Evangelical Lu- 
theran Synod of Northern Illinois, of Central Illinois, of Southern 
Illinois and of Iowa. The meeting was characterized by great har- 
mony of sentiment and earnestness of purpose. 

It was resolved to secure a location, and to proceed at once to 
establish a college of high grade. To carry this resolution into 
eftect, a committee, consisting of three persons from each synod 
represented, was appointed. On the 29th of the following Decem- 
ber this Commission met at Carthage to deliberate and to receive 
bids for the proposed college. Numerous competing towns pre- 
sented inducements, but the fairest and most liberal offer was 
made by Carthage and Hancock county. They agreed to erect 
suitable buildings, on the condition that the Lutheran Church 
would provide the endowment. A local Board of Trustees was 
immediately constituted, of which James M. Randolph, M. D., 
was elected President, and David E. Head, Esq., was made Secre- 
tary. Prominent in this movement were 11. W. Draper, B. F. 
Scofield, R. W. McClaughry, A. J. Griffith, Boyd Braden, and 
other well-known citizens of Carthage and Hancock county. 

In the summer of 1870 the local Board began the erection of 
the fine college building situated in the northeastern margin of the 
town, on a beautiful plat of ground containing seven acres. The 
corner-stone was laid on "Wednesday, May 10, 1871, in presence 
of an immense assemblage of people, drawn together from the 
neighboring counties. The building, 85x65 feet, and four stories 
high, was completed in the autumn of 1872, at a cost of nearly 
thirty-five thousand dollars. Since that time eight acres of land 
have been added to the campus, and the whole ornamented with 
trees and shrubbery. Two large dormitories were erected in 1873, 
and a president's house was purchased in 1874. The cost of the 
buildings and grounds was nearly fifty thousand dollars. 

The educational work of the institution was begun September 



440 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

5, 18T0, in a rented hall in town, bj Prof. L. F. M. Easterday, 
A.M., who had been Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in 
the Illinois State University. In the autumn of 1871, the school 
was transferred to the college building. During the first two years 
Prof. Easterday was assisted by Rev. C. Kuhl, who taught German. 
The school increased so rapidly in numbers in the second year, 
that it was deemed wise to provide a larger corps of instructors 
for the immediate future. This was done on the third day of 
April, 1872, by the election of Rev. D. L. Tressler, A.M.", of 
Lena, Illinois, as Professor of Ancient languages, and of Rev. J. 
D. Severinghaus, A.M., as Professor of the German language and 
other branches of study. Mr. Tressler accepted the position and 
began his work the following September; but Mr. Severinghaus 
having declined the call. Rev. 0. Kuhl was continued as instructor 
in German, and Mr. G. W. Fraser was made tutor in the Prepara- 
tory Department. The school still rapidly increasing in numbers, 
it became necessar}^ to organize a college Faculty. Accordingly, 
on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1873, Prof. D. L. Tressler, 
A.M., was elected President; Prof. L.F. M. Easterday, A.M., was 
continued as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy; Rev. J. 
W. Richard, A.M., of Empire, Illinois, was called to the chair of 
the Latin language and of Historj^, and Mr. F. R. Feitshans, A.M., 
was elected to the chair of the Greek and German languages. 
Mr. Feitshans having declined the position, Mr. E. S. Breiden- 
baugh, who had passed through a course of scientific study at 
Yale College, was called to the chair of the Physical and Natural 
Sciences. Prof. Breidenbaugh withdrew about the first of January, 
1874, on account of failing health. 

The Faculty, as first constituted, consisted of Rev. D. L. Tressler, 
A.M., President; L. F. M. Easterday, A.M., Professer of Mathe- 
matics and Astronomy; Rev. J. "W. Richard, A.M., Professor of 
the Latin language and of History; E. S. Breidenbaugh, A.M., 
Professor of the Physical and Natural Sciences, with Mr. W. S. 
Cress as tutor, and Mr. J. M. Helfrich, teacher of Music and 
instructor in German. 

--' In May, 1874, Mr. E. F. Bartholomew, A.M., was called to fill 
the chair vacated by the resignation of Prof Breidenbaugh. Dur- 
ing the summer of 1875, Rev. E. F. Giese, A.M., was called to the 
chair of the Greek and German languages. In 1876, Rev. John 
Brubaker, A.M., was made Professor of the English language and 
Literature. 

It is proper also to state that Mr. P. M. Fasold served from 
1875 to 1880 as tutor, and Mr. E. C. Hughes in the same capacity 
during the academic year of 1879-'80. 

On the 20th of February, 1880, the College was called to mourn 
the loss of Rev. D. L. Tressler, Pli. D., who for seven years had 
filled the office of President. He died at Carthage after a brief 
illness, lamented by a large circle of friends who esteemed him for 
his many excellent qualities of head and heart. 




•^SVGeoE.Pennc:; i,!'^^ 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 443 

The Faculty of Carthage College is now (May, 1880) constituted 
as follows : 

Rev. H. L. Wiles, D. D., President elect, and Professor of Mental and Moral 
Philosophy. 

L. F. M. Easterday, A. M., Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. 

Rev. J. W. Richard, A. M., Professor of the Latin Language and of Histor3\ 

Rev. E. F. Bartholomew, A. M., Professor of the Physical and Natural 
Sciences. 

Rev. E. F. Giese, A. M., Professor of the Greek and German Languages. 

Rev. John Brubaker, A. M., Professor of the English Language and Literature. 

P. M. Fasold, A. M., Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Latin. 

The institution has had connected with it, from the opening of 
the preparatory school in September, 1870, to the first of May, 
1880, eight hundred and sixty-four students. Of this number, 
sixty-four have been graduated, the majority of whom have either 
entered the learned professions or are engaged in teaching. The career 
of the College has been one of great prosperity. By dint of liard labor 
and persevering effort on the part of the Faculty, and through the 
devotion of its friends, Carthage College has attained a high posi- 
tion among the educational institutions of the State, and may 
justly be regarded as the pride and ornament of Hancock county. 




27 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE POOR. 

The care and maintenance of the poor — the most sacred duty 
that can devolve on human government, next to that of providing 
that there shall be no poor — has cost Hancock county large sums 
annually. This has been owing not so much to the great number 
requiring aid, as to the want of system in applying it. In the ear- 
lier history of the county this duty was performed in an imperfect 
and slovenlj' manner, by donations from the public funds ; and 
while many were allowed to suffer others not so much in need were 
too freely supplied. 

At length a farm was purchased and a plain frame building put 
up for the accommodation of the county's paupers; and the system 
adopted of letting the farm and the keeping and maintenance of 
the poor to the lowest bidder. This system in its very nature offered a 
premium to injustice; and it is not saying too much to assert that 
under it these unfortunates never have received and never will re- 
ceive that kind care and attention their condition requires. As a 
rule, perhaps, their keepers liave been ordinarily kind and humane; 
but human nature will assert itself, and self-interest thwart men's 
best intentions and instincts. 

In May, 1859, a committee of the Board of Supervisors reported 
the cost of the poor farm and house, to date, as follows: house, 
$3,000; barn, $800; fencing, $500; breaking ground, $250; inci- 
dentals, $ 350; total, $1,900; claims and allowances for the past 
nine years, $11,000; total cost, $15,900. The farm consists of 114 
acres, with a small timber tract north of town. 

At a little later date, the poor-house committee of the Board 
recommended an order to submit to the vote of the people the 
question of selling out the concern, and remanding the keeping of 
the poor back to the townships. The recommendation was not 
acted on, but the fact shows that the business was conducted in an 
unsatisfactory manner. 

As the number of paupers increased, it became more and more 
manifest that the building was too small and too poorly arranged, 
and the means at command of the keeper too limited, for their 
proper accommodation. Much dissatisfaction was felt among the 
people; and at length. May 6, 1873, the committee declared the 
poor-house a " disgrace to the county, and unfit for the purpose.'^ 
The Board took measures at once to prepare for the erection of an 
additional building. The chief cause of complaint was in the use 

(444) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 445 

of a small building known as the " Mad House," in which the 
idiotic and insane were conlined, and which was declared to be ill- 
ventilated and in every wa^' unlit for the purpose. 

The new '' Mad House," or Insane Asylum, was built in 1874, 
and together with the original frame structure, furnishes ample 
accommodations for the unfortunates of all classes, and for the 
family of the superintendent. 

An Act of the General Assembly, approved March 23, 1874, revis- 
ing the pauper laws, conferred on the county Boards power to 
prescribe rules and regulations for the care of the poor, which have 
had very beneficial effects in sj'stematizing the work. At the next 
May special session of the Board of Supervisors, a well-digested 
set of rules was presented by Mr. W. H. Manier, and adopted. 
These rules are important, and a synopsis of them is given below, 
to show the present methods and workings of the system: 

1. All poor persons, who from infirmity, idiocy, lunacy, or other 
unavoidable cause are unable to earn a living, may become a 
county charge. 

2. Six months' actual residence in the county requisite, next pre- 
ceding the application. 

3. The following exceptions provided for: partial abilit}- to earn 
a livelihood or assistance from other sources, temporary inabil- 
ity, extreme danger of removal, contagious disease; in such cases 
the parties may receive aid in their respective townships, under 
charge of the overseer of the poor. 

4. A non-resident may be supported for the time being, or sent 
to the count}^ where he belongs. 

5. Overseers of the poor in the townships to keep full and accu- 
rate accounts of their doings, and make annual report to the Board 
of Supervisors; otherwise no bill allowed. 

6. Physicians' bills and bills for supplies to be allowed only on 
properly authorized conditions. 

7. Providing for enforcement of penalties. 

8. The keeper to receive no person without a written order from 
the overseer of the township, giving name, age, nativity, and 
cause, properl}' authenticated. 

This law, with the regulations adopted by the Board, together 
with the ample accommodations provided and careful contracts 
w^ith superintendents, have resulted in the more humane treat- 
ment of the insane, idiotic and poor people committed to our 
charge, and more economical and systematic administration of 
pauper affairs; and it is believed that the pauper management in 
the county is giving reasonal)le satisfaction to the people. 

Still, there is doubtless great room for improvement. The first 
and great aim in the care and management of paupers, should be to 
restore them to health and to the society of home and friends; to 
make them healthy, hajipy and self-supporting members of the 
body politic. And the surest and safest way to bring about such 
results is to give them wholesome food, proper clothing and such 



446 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

healthful employment as they are capable of. Many of them be- 
come objects of public charge from a lack of proper physical and 
moral training, and these should be among the first remedies ap- 
plied. Hence it is not every man that is fit for a superintendent of 
the poor. 

And in the management of the farm, too, care should be taken 
that suitable occupations should be provided for those able to work. 
And we know of no more suitable employments among out-door 
labors, than that of growing and caring for the varieties of small 
fruits. The county poor-farm, should, therefore, have not only a 
well-kept orchard of apple, peach and pear, but an ample supply of 
raspberry, blackberry, curi'ant, gooseberry, grape and strawberry 
plants, and the product of these would not only furnish to the 
keeper's family and those under his charge an abundance of the 
best health-preserving food, but would add a large item on the 
right side of the account current. To this out-door work some 
light mechanical employments might be added to advantage, for 
in-door employment of those physically unfit for out-door labors. 

We believe this suggestion as to the growing and use of orchard 
and garden fruits on the poor-farm, is one of much more impor- 
tance than is generally supposed. There is no doubt but their free 
production and use would materially les&en the doctor bills of the 
institution; and their moral influence would be worthy of consid- 
eration. 




CHAPTER XYIII. 

OFFICIAL VOTES OF HANCOCK COUNTY FROM ORGANIZATION TO 
JAN. 1, 1880. 



FIRST ELECTION 

HELD AT FOKT EDWAKDS, ON MONDAY, 
AUGUST 3, 1829. 

For County Commissioners. 
George Y. Cutler had (votes). . .50 

Henry Nichols 37 

James Wliite 31 

Morrill Marston 30 

Peter Williams 10 

Hazen Bedell 9 

For Sheriff. 

Edson Whitney 31 9 

Alexander White 23 

For Coroner. 

Robert Wallace 35 

ELECTION 1880. 
Oovernor. 

John Reynolds 49 1 

William Kinnej'^ 48 

Lieut. Qo.ernor. 

Rigdon B. Slocombe 40 3 

Zauoc Casey 37 

Representative. 

Joel Wrisht 29 

Benjamin V. Teal 61 32 

Darius Vanderventer 5 

ELECTION 1831. 
Congress. 

Joseph Duncan 47 23 

Sidney Breese 24 

James Turney 16 

Edward Coles 7 

Alexander P. Field 1 



At this Election the county was 
vided into five voting districts. 

No. 1 gave votes 21 

" 16 

, " 27 

, " 19 

, " 12 



No. 2 gave. 

No. 3 gave 

Crooked Creek gave. 
Bear Creek gave 



di- 



No record found of any other returns. 



ELECTION 1832. 
Congress. 

Joseph Duncan 150 110 

Jonathan H. Pugh 40 

County Commissioners. 

John Johnson 50 

Thomas H. Owen 45 

Mark Alcbich 35 

James Lincoln 30 

James White 27 

Leonard L. Abney 22 

Sheriff. 

Edson Whitney 85 1 

Alexander White 84 

Coroner. 

Davidson Hibbard 84 65 

John Cochran 19 

Presidential Electors. 

Andrew Jackson 42 3 

Henry Clay -39 

ELECTION 1833. 

[No returns on file.] 

ELECTION 1834. 
Oovernor. 

Joseph Duncan 289 244 

William Kinney 45 

Ilobt. IMcLaughlin 22 

Lieut. Oovernor. 

Wm. B. Archer 101 

James Evans 163 62 

A. W. Jenkins 35 

Congress. 

Benjamin Mills 175 1 

William L. May 174 

Representative. 

Wm. Ross 174 

Thomas H. Owen 128 

Wm. G. Flood 66 

James H. Ralston. . . 60 

Isaac Galland 204 30 

John Kirkpatrick 19 



(447) 



44:8 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Sheriff. 

Edson Whitney 199 101 

Jacob Grewell 98 

John Inghram 40 

Coroner. 

Alexander Kirk 97 10 

Rodolphus Townley 87 

Jesse HacUey 48 

Charles G. Woodworth 51 

ELECTION 1835. 

Recorder. 

Wesley Williams 202 78 

Walter Bagby 124 

Cyrus Felt 109 

Surveyor. 

James W. Brattle 151 20 

Beuj. Edringtou 131 

Adolphus Allen 53 

ELECTION 1836. 
Congress. 

William L.May 316 ^ 

John T. Stuart 290 

Senator. 

Thomas. H. Owen 390 270 

Wm. P. Richards 78 

Isaac Gallaud 120 

Representative. 

Mark Aldrich 279 3 

David W. Mathews 276 

Valentine Wilson 36 

James W. Woods 18 

Sheriff. 

Edson Wliitney 387 171 

Jacob Grewell -v 216 

Coroner. 

Daniel A. Fullerton 369 214 

Alexander Kirk 155 

County Commissioners. 

Michael Rickard 341 

Richard Cannon 301 

Henry Nichols 285 

John Dedman 284 

Nathl. Frampton 144 

Edward Bryant 123 

David Greenleaf 97 

Austin Pennock 52 

Jabez A. Beebe 36 

JoelCatlin 30 

Laliord Totten 5 

ELECTION 1837. 
County Clerk. 

Sidney H. Little 560 476 

Homer Brown 84 

Probate Judge. 

Elam S. Freeman 464 294 

Daniel Prentis 170 



Treasurer. 

Edward F. Chittenden 379 118 

Walter Bagby 261 

ELECTION 1838. 

Governor. 

Cyi-us Edwards 633 197 

Thomas Carlin 436 

Lieut. Governor. 

Wm. H. Davidson 630 247 

Stinson Anderson 383 

Congress. 

John T. Stuart 629 171 

Stephen A. Douglas 458 

Senator. 

Sidney H. Little 699 312 

Thomas H. Owen 387 

Representative. 

Mark Aldrich 578 234 

Wm. H. Roosevelt 344 

8amuel Lee 93 

Sheriff'. 

Daniel A. Fullerton 393 103 

Edson Whitney 120 

Harmon T. Wilson 290 

John D. Callison 119 

Erastus H. Derby 41 

Lemuel Mussetter 87 

Coroner. 

John Ratliff 184 

John R. Nichols 243 

Geo. W. Thatcher 251 8 

Nathaniel Frampton 114 

County Clerk. 

Samuel Marshall 472 9 

Malcolm 3IcGregor 463 

Charles Robison 109 

County Commissioners. 

George Coulson 380 

JolnrMcAuley 579 

Elisha Worrell 279 

William Hunter 354 

Austin Pennock 256 

Artois Hamilton 205 

Treasurer. 

Sylvester Thompson 626 62S 

John Haggard 4 

ELECTION 1839. 
County Commissioners. 

JohnMcAuley 583 294 

Abram I. Chittenden 289 

Recorder. 

Chauncey Robison 425 141 

Wesley WiUiams 284 

John F. Charles 271 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



449 



Survei/or. 
John Wilson Williams 711 

Probate Judge. 

Malcolm McGregor 651 639 

Charles Turner 12 

Treasurer. 

Sylvester Thompson 545 186 

Geo. W. Thatcher 359 

County Clerk. 
Samuel Marshall 745 

ELECTION 1840. 
Itepresentatice. 

John F. Charles 1042 373 

Malcolm jMcGregor 669 

Sheriff. 

Wm. D. Abernethy 995 272 

Edmund G. Haggard 723 

County Commissioner. 

Samuel Comer 1155 597 

Joel Weston 558 

Coroner. 

Harmon T. Wilson 1057 431 

Geo. W. Stigall 626 

President. 

W. H. Harrison 1352 728 

Martin Van Buren 624 

[The name of Abraham Lincoln, a 
Harrison Elector, was di-opped by about 
200 Mormon voters, and that of James 
H. Ralston, his opponent, substituted. 
With that exception, the Mormons gen- 
erally voted the Whig ticket.] 

ELECTION 1841. 
Congress. 

Jolm T. Stuart 1201 678 

James H. Ralston 523 

County Commissioner. 

Robert Miller 800 24 

Jolm T. Barnett 776 

EUsha Worrell 30 

School Commissioner. 

Richard Wilton 852 4 

Walter Bagby 848 

ELECTION 1842. 
Oovernor. 

Thomas Ford 1748 1037 

Joseph Duncan 711 

Lieut. Governor. 

John Moore 1742 1055 

Wm. H. Henderson 687 

Senator. 

Jacob C. Davis 1530 910 

Wm. H. Roosevelt 620 

Jolm F Charles 167 



Representatives. 

Thomas H. Owen 1603 

William Smith (Patriarch). . .1459 

Wesley Williams 502 

Edson Whitney 540 

David W. Mathews.-. 258 

William Darnell 190 

Sheriff\ 

Wm. H. Backenstos 1493 604 

Stephen H. Tvler 789 

George A. Chittenden 120 

School Commissioner. 

Franklin J. Bartlett 1596 791 

Wm. D. Abernethy 805 

County Commissioner. 

John T. Barnett 1540 973 

John J. Brent 567 

James Porter 167 

Coroner. 

Geo. W. Stigall 1595 1314 

James A. McCause 281 

Benjamin Avise 231 

ELECTION 1843. 
Congress. 

Joseph P. Hoge 2088 1355 

Cyrus Walker 733 

County Clerk. 

Geo. W. Thatcher 1522 600 

Sylvester Enimans 922 

Franklin J. Bartlett 86 

Recorder. 

Chauncey Robison 1430 214 

Jolm A. Forgeus 1216 

School Commissioner. 

Robert D. Foster 1553 688 

Benjamin Avise 865 

rrobate Judge. 

James Adams 1604 575 

Ebenezer Rand 1029 

County Commissioner. 

Andrew H. Perkins 1641 1111 

Artois Hamilton 530 

Charles C. Main 425 

Treasurer. 

John P. Haggard 2114 1493 

James W. Brattle 622 

Surveyor. 

John Wilson Williams 2007 1365 

Alanson Ripley 642 

Mr. Adams, Probate Judge elect, died 
soon after election, and a special election 
to fill vacancy was held in September, 
with the following result : 

David Greenleaf 945 598 

Ebenezer Rand 347 



450 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



ELECTION 1844. 
Congi-ess. 

Joseph P. Hose 3251 1549 

Martin P. Sweet 703 

Representatives. 

Jacob B. Backenstos 1809 

Almou "\V. Babbitt 1773 

Onias C. Skinner 1080 

JoelCatlin 886 

Edward A. BedeU 73 

County Commissioner. 

Georse Coulson 1830 998 

Franklin J. Bartlett 833 

Sherif. 

Mnor R. Deniing 1911 1040 

Edson Whitney 871 

Coroner. 

Daniel H. Wells 1838 971 

David R. Green 867 

President. 

James K. Polk 3399 1653 

Henry Clay 747 

ELECTION 1845. 
County Commissioner. 

George Walker 2336 2104 

Scattering — No opp 133 

School Commissioner. 

Chaimcey Robison 2353 2317 

Scattering — No opp 35 

Treasurer. 

Ethil B. Rose 3333 2180 

Scattering — No opp 53 

Two weeks later a special election was 
held to fill vacancy in office of Sheriff, 
occasioned by death of Minor R. Deni- 
ine, as follows : 

Jacob B. Backenstos 3334 1584 

John Scott 750 

ELECTION 1846. 
Governor. 

Aueustus C. French 1448 629 

Thos. M. Kilpatrick 819 

Lieut Governor. 

Joseph B. Wells 1417 597 

Katnaniel G. Wilcox 830 

Congress. 

Thomas J. Turner 1466 673 

James Knox 793 

Senator. 

Jacob C. Davis 1304 347 

Wm. H. Roosevelt 957 

Representaticts. 

Thomas Morrison 1298 

James Stark 1283 

Wm. Darnell 891 

Samuel W. Brown 873 



Sheriff. 

Melgar Couchman 1278 39 1 

Mark Aldrich 887 

Samuel Fleming 78 

Coroner. 

Wm. S Moore 1333 448 

David Bell 875 

Treasurer and Assessor. 

James W. Brattle 1292 418 

John P. Haggard 874 

County Commissioners. 

Frederic Walton 1331 

Dimiel N. Bainter 1332 

James M. Renshaw 1348 

Uriah Dodd 878 

Jonathan Lamb 873 

Nathan Prentice 871 

To Amend Constitution. 

For Convention 1804 1319 

Against " 485 

SPECIAL ELECTION, OCT., 1846. 
Recorder. 

Robt. F. Smith 276 63 

John Carlin 157 

Thomas C. Sharp 313 

SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL, 1847. 
Delegates to Const. Convention. 

Charles Choate 1129 

Robert Miller 871 

Thomas C Sharp 767 

Thomas Geddes 723 

Wm. S. Moore 710 

Stephen H. Tvler 673 

Hurlburt P. Griswold 653 

Jacob C. Davis 544 

Joseph Siblev 590 

Joseph Hatchett 38 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1847. 
County Comtnissioner. 

James M. Renshaw 1491 

Probate Judge. 

David Greenleaf 843 285 

Jonathan Berry 5-57 

Recorder. 

John Carlin 832 137 

Robt. F. Smith 68-5 

Clerk of Cotnmissioners'' Court. 

Geo. W. Thatcher 832 

Chas. C. Stevens 277 

Adolphus Cherrill 163 

Henrv- R. Chittenden 98 

Wm. D. Abernethy 57 

Claiborne Winston 73 

School Commissioner. 

Michael Eickard 986 738 

Jason H. Sherman 248 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



451 



Treasurer. 

Wm. G. Yetter 788 123 

James W. Brattle 665 

Surveyor. 

John Wilson Williams 1257 

SPECIAL ELECTION 1848. 
New Constitution. 

For Adoption 1157 874 

Rejection 224 

For Art. in relation to Colored 

Persons 1101 851 

Against do 250 

For Art. in relation to Two- 
Mill Tax 769 195 

Against do 574 

GENERAL ELECTION 1848. 
Governor. 

Aug. C. French 1195 256 

Pierre Menard 939 

Chas. V.Dyer 6 

Lieut. Governor. 

Wm. McMurtry 1177 231 

J. L. D. Morrison 946 

Henry H. Snow 10 

Secretary of State. 

Horace G. Cooley 1178 1172 

L. C. Paine Frier 6 

Auditor of State. 

Thomas H Campbell 1191 1185 

Benj.E. Viel 6 

State Treasurer. 

Milton Carpenter 1187 1181 

Moses Pettingill ^ 6 

Congress. * 

Joseph B. Wells 1134 124 

Edward D. Baker 1010 

Jos. B. Call 9 

Senator. 

Azro Patterson 1158 247 

William Gittings 911 

Hepresentatives. 

Stephen H. Tyler 1166 

George Walker 1106 

Benjamin Bacon 1003 

John J. Brent 855 

Sheriff. 

Wm. A. Patterson 1024 

WillardGay 1098 74 

Coroner. 

John W. Owen 776 

John R. Williams 1103 327 

County Commissioners. 

Warren Miller 1068 

Calvin Cole 1253 

V. E. Remington 801 

John Harris 989 



President. 

Taylor and Filmore 1087 7 

Cass and Butler 1074 

Van Buren (Free Soil) 67 

SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL, 1849. 

[For Sheriff, to fill vacancy, vice Wil- 
lard Gay, deceased.] 

Melgar Couchman 995 560 

John R. Williams 435 

GENERAL ELECTION 1849. 

UNDER NEW CONSTITUTION. 

County Judge. 

ISIelgar Couchman 1107 255 

David Greenleaf 852 

Associate Justices. 

Robert Miller 1092 

Milton M. Morrill 863 

Joseph W. Nudd 831 

Calvin Cole 816 

County Clerk. 

Wm. W. Steele 868 274 

Geo. W. Thatcher 594 

Thos. S. Brockman 499 

Treasurer and Assessor. 

Adolphus Cherrill 926 47 

Robt. F. Smith 879 

Michael Barnes 127 

School Commissioner. 

Michael Rickard 1059 139 

David Mack 920 

Sheriff. 

JohnCarlin 999 14 

Alex. W. Stevenson. 985 

Surveyor. 

John G. Fonda 1991 

For Township Organization . .1247 765 
Against " " .. 482 

For removal Co. Seat to Warsaw 561 
Against " " " 1167 606 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1850. 
Congress. 

IMartiii P. Sweet 552 

Thompson Campbell 729 277 

Senator. 

Henry Stephens 507 

Jacob C.Davis 682 175 

Representative. 

Benjamin Bacon 557 

Leonard T. Ferris 555 

John Carlin 663 

Joseph Sibley 689 

Sheriff. 

Wm. A. Patterson 758 257 

Jeremiah Smith 501 



452 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Goronev. 

John S. Johnson 542 

William Houck 710 168 

State Treasurer. 

John Knox 633 

John S. Moore 733 200 

ELECTION MA\^ 1851. 

Judge. 
Fifteenth Judicial District. 
Onias C. Skinner 782 

Prosending Attorney. 

James H. Stewart 290 

Milton M. Jlorrill 292 2 

William C. Wagley ' 169 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1851. 

Treaaurer. 

Adolphus Cherrill 507 112 

Kobt. F. Smith 395 

School Commissioner. 

John M. Ferris 462 86 

Ebenezer Rand 376 

S. W. King 49 

Surrcyor- 

John G.Fonda 892 

Coroner. 

Byrum Ballard 431 69 

John S. Johnson 362 

B. Whitfield 45 

For the Bank Law 486 81 

Against " " 405 

SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL, 1852. 

For Township Organization . . . 542 
Against " " ...606 64 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1852. 

President. 

Franklin Pierce 1466 180 

Winfield Scott 1286 

Free Soil 34 

Governor. 

Joel A. IMattison 1472 184 

Edwin B. Webb . 1288 

D. A. Knowltou 18 

Lieutenant Governor. 

Gustavus P. Koerner 1470 180 

J. L. D. jMorrison 1290 

Philo Carpenter 18 

State Auditor. 

Thomas H. Campbell 1471 180 

Charles Betts 1291 

E.J.Smith 18 



Secretary of State. 

Alexander Starne 1461 . 172 

Buckner S. IMorris 1289 ' 

Erastus Wright 18 

State Treasurer. 

John Moore ,..1462 163 

Francis Arenz 1299 

Wm. Pettingell 2 

Congress. 

Wm. A. Richardson 1466 143 

Orville H. Browning 1323 

Eepresentatives. 

David Gochenor 1500 92 

Joseph Sibley 1408 

Wm. N. Grover 1296 

William Smith 1301 

State's Attorney. 

.Calvin A. Warren 1555 352 

James H. Stewart 1203 

Circuit Clerk 

David E. Head 1514 309 

Thomas C. Sharp 1205 

SJierijf. 

James Irwin 1330 

Benjamin J. Welch 1411 81 

Coroner. 

John B. Robbius 1343 36 1 

Wm. B. Hanson 1183 

Amendment to Constitiition. 

Adopt 730 

Reject 795 65 

SPECIAL EJ^ECTION, MARCH, 1853- 

For township organization . . . .1077 718 
Against " " 359 

SPECIAL ELECTION, MAY, 1853. 

For subscription of $60,000 to 
capital stock of Mississippi 
& Wabash R. R 1454 

For sub. of #30,000 to War- 
saw & Rockford R.R 1406 

For sub. flO, 000 to Warsaw and 
Aug. Plank Road Co 944 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1853. 

County Judge. 

John M. Ferris 1559 1494 

William Smith 65 

Associate Justices. 

Wm. S. Moore 1138 

Jesse Duffield 1125 

Wm. S. DuflHeld 624 

David Crow 599 

John Bauer 64 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



453 



County Clerk. 

Claiborne Winston 998 283 

C. C. Sympson 716 

John Wilson 183 

Treasurer. 

Wm. A. Patterson 1326 979 

Adolphus C'herrill 347 

School Commintiioner. 

John S. Spangler 1599 

Surveyor. 

Warren Miller 1780 

Coroner. 

J. E. Roberts 1126 540 

H. C. Brj^ant 586 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1854. 

State Treasurer. 

John Moore. ... 1392 89 

James 3Iiller 1303 

Congress. 

Wm. A. Richardson 1349 1003 

Archibald Williams 347 

Senate. 

Jacob C. Davis 1311 48 

Allen Persinger 1363 

Representative. 

George Walker 1381 314 

Amos H. Worthen 1167 

Sheriff. 

Squire R. Davis 1665 664 

Jonathan Simmons 1001 

ELECTION, JUNE, 1855. 
Circuit Jvdge. 

Joseph Sibley 1076 

George Edmunds 815 

John^W. Marsh 1330 154 

Supreme Judge. 

Onias C. Skinner 1802 383 

Stephen T. Logan 1419 

Cleric Supreme Court. 

Wm. A. Tumey 1796 429 

Stephen A. Comeau 1367 

For prohibition 1135 

Against 1957 822 

ELECTION, SEPT., 1855— R.R. ST'K. 

Proposition to Subscribe ^200,000 in 

M. & W. and W. & W. Railroads— 

$100,000 in each. 

For subscription 1975 422 

Against .... 553 



Toicnship Vote on Above. 
Toicnship. For. Aga'st. 

Augusta 173^ 

St. Mary's 8 101 

Ft. Green 217 9 

La Ilarpe H 129 

Dm-liam 36 22. 

Pontoosuc 116 26 

Appanoose 69 3 

Nauvoo 259 

Sonora 54 11 

Montebcllo 44 IS 

Wjthe 97 

Walker, 44 

St. Albans 30 14 

Chili 21 

Harmony 9 38- 

Carthage 244 1 

Pilot Grove 80 

Prairie 37 

Bear Creek 71 2. 

Warsaw 516 

Rocky Run 43 

Totals 1975 55a 

REGULAR ELECTION, NOV., 1855. 
School Commissioner. 

John S. Spangler 449 37 

John S. Johnson 413 

Surveyor. 
WarrenMiller 830 

Treasttrer. 

Wm. A. Patterson 531 187 

Robert Lincoln 344 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1856. 
President. 

James Buchanan 2011 891 

John C. Fremont 1120 

Millard Fillmore 998 

Governor. 

Wm. A. Richardson 2018 635 

Wm. H. Bissell 1383 

Buckner S. Morris 786 

Lieutenant Governor. 

Richard J. Hamilton 2015 685 

John Wood 1330 

Parmenas Boiid 718 

Secretary of State. 

Wm. II. Snyder 2008 72a 

O. M. Hatch 1285 

Wm. H. Young 807 

State Auditor. 

Sam'l K. Casey 2008 71& 

Jesse K. DuBois 1292 

Hiram Barber 804 

State Treasurer. 

John Moore 2011 

James Miller 2091 80 



454 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Supt. Public Instruction. 

John H. St. Mathews 2015 725 

Wm. H. PoweU 1290 

Ezra Jenkins 806 

Congress — Long Teiin. 

Isaac N. Morris 1980 263 

Jackson Grimshaw 1717 

Congress — To Ml vacancy. 

Jacob C. Davis 2047 662 

ThomasC. Sharp 1385 

Jas. B. Kyle 630 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Calvin A. Warren 2078 516 

Sterling P. Delano 1562 

Senator. 

Hiram Rose 2070 786 

Wm. D. Henderson 1284 

David Ellis 678 

Representative. 

Wm. Tyler 2106 848 

Oeorge M. Berry 1258 

Thomas McLellan 675 

Clerk Circuit Court. 

Squire R. Davis .2095 674 

Coleman C. Sympson 1421 

Oiles C. Hawley 562 

Sheriff. 

Benj. Y. N. Clarkson 2034 764 

William Shaffer 1270 

Thomas D. Crumpton 737 

Coroner. 

Henry Mull 1991 719 

Thomas Duff 1272 

Wm. S. Garthwalte 780 

For Convention 439 9 

Against " 430 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1857. 
County Judge. 

John M. Ferris 1031 630 

Robt. W. McKinney 401 

County Clerk. 

Francis M. Corby 1140 861 

John S. Johnson 279 

Treasurer. 

Wm. A. Patterson 1100 811 

Alouzo P. Blair 289 

A.J.Blair 49 

Surveyor. 

Warren Miller 1004 594 

Piuckney D. Simmons 410 

School Commissioner. 

AsaN. Hawley 1865 675 

Thomas Gregg 390 



ELECTION, JUNE, 1858. 
Justice Supreme Court. 

Pincknev H. Walker 339 292 

Chas. H: Constable. 47 

Scattering 30 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1858. 
State Treasurer. 

Wm. B. Fondey 2385 353 

James Miller 2032 

John Dougherty 52 

Supt. Public Instruction. 

Aug. C. French 2386 357 

Newton Bateman 2029 

John Reynolds 55 

Congress. 

Isaac N. ]\Iorris 2234 180 

Jackson Grimshaw 2054 

Jacob C. Davis 172 

Senator. 

John P. Richmond 2340 309 

John C. Bagby 2031 

Wm. C. Wagley 101 

Representative. 

Wm. H.Roosevelt 2389 357 

George Rockwell 2032 

Wm. F. Frazee 44 

Sheriff'. 

Wm. R. Hamihon 2309 254 

Thomas Logan 2055 

John S. Cox 62 

Corotier. 

NeillO. McKay 2383 361 

John K. Allen 2022 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1859. 
County Treasurer. 

Claiborne Winston 1082 

C. Homer Mellen 1377 295 

School Commissioner. 

Asa N. Hawley 1224 

George W. Batchelder 1240 16 

Surveyor. 

George T. Beers 1162 

Mathew Waldenmej-er 1272 110 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1860. 

President. 

Douglas and Johnson 3063 389 

Lincoln and Hamlin 2674 

Bell and Everett 121 

Breckemidge and Lane 31 

Governor. 

James C. Allen 3082 363 

Richard Yates 2719 

John W. Chickering 21 

Thos. H.Hope 28 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



455 



Lieutenant Ooternor. 

Lewis W. Ross 3058 362 

Francis \. Hoffman 2696 

Henry C. Blackburn 109 

Thomas Snell 27 

Secretary of State. 

Georcre H. CampbeU 3056 358 

Ozias M. Hatch 2098 

James 3Iunroe ^ . 108 

B. F. Burk 27 

Stdte Auditor. 

Bernard ^Vmtzen 3056 358 

Jesse K. Dubois 2698 

James D. Smith 108 

Harry H.Smith 27 

Trea»urer. 

Hugh :Maher 3060 368 

Wm. Butler 2692 

Jonathan Stamper 105 

Wm. H. Gather 27 

Supt. Public Instruction. 

Edward R. Roe 3055 a53 

Newton Bateman 2702 

J. D. Snow 106 

John H.Dennis 27 

Congress. 

Wm. A. Richardson 3109 372 

Benjamin M. Prentiss 2737 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Calvin A. Warren 3070 315 

Benjamin F. Marsh 2755 

Representatite. 

Wm. H. Rollosson 3099 367 

Samuel Mourning 2732 

Clerk Circuit Court. 

Squire R. Davis 3149 435 

John Warren 2714 

Sheriff. 

Melanctou S. Carey 3139 411 

Robert Lincoln 2728 

Coroner. 

Wm. L. Bennett 3101 397 

James H. Moore 2704 

For Convention 2229 265 

Against " 1964 

For Instruction 1079 144 

Against " 935 

ELECTION, JUNE, 1861. 
Circuit JuiJfje. 

Joseph Sibley 1002 

Judfje Supreme Court. 
Wm. A.Tumey 1013 



REGULAR ELECTION, NOV., 1861. 
Delegate to Convention. 

Milton M. Morrill 2112 301 

Marsena M. Hooten 1 1811 

County Judge. 

Dennis Smith 2048 317 

David Greenleaf 1831 

County Clerk. 

Francis M. Corby 2129 299 

Peter Baker 1830 

Treasurer. 

Benjamin Warren 2111 277 

William Bray 1834 

Scfujol Commissioner. 

WUUam Scott 2020 114 

George W. Batchelder 1906 

SurteyoT. 

Jacob Rich 2080 264 

Warren Miller 1816 

For the Banking Law 366 

Against " " 3183 2817 

ELECTION, JU'NE, 1862. 
Constitution and Articles. 

For Adoption 2842 833 

Against " 2009 

Art. "Banks and Currency:' 

For 2817 976 

Against 1841 

Sec. 1, of Art. ''Negroes arul Mulottoes." 

For 3704 2938 

Against 766 

Sec. 2d of Art. " N. and if." 

For 4515 4476 

Asrainst 39 

Sec. 3d of Art. "iV. and AC 

For 4202 4049 

Against 153 

Congressional Apportionment. 

For 2870 1085 

Against 1785 

GENT:RAL ELECTION, NOV., 1862. 
State Treasurer. 

Alexander Stame 2844 1324 

Wm. Butler 1520 

Supt. Public Instruction. 

John P. Brooks 2844 1324 

Newton Bateman 1520 

Congress — State at Large. 

James C. Allen 2846 1330 

E. C. Ingersoll 1516 

Congress — Foixrth District. 

Charles M. Harris 28-54 1342 

Charles B. Lawrence 1512 



456 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Senate. 

Brj-ant T. Scofield 2815 1301 

Harrison Dills 1514 

Representative. 

Milton M. Morrill 2842 1340 

Elisha Worrell 1502 

Sheriff. 

Robert Incrhram 2842 1322 

James BrDodge 1520 

Coroner. 

James Booth 2828 1331 

D. J. Beebe 1497 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1863. 
County Treasurer. 

B. Y. N. Clarkson 2275 

■George W. Miller 2321 46 

School Commisnion-er. 

William Scott 2285 

Oeorge W. Batchelder 2312 27 

Surveyor. ' 

Jacob Rich 2290 

Joshua C. Berry 2303 13 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1864. 

Prestiddnt. 

Lincoln and Johnson 2654 

McClellan and Pendleton 2929 275 

Governor. 

Richard J. Oulesby 2671 

James C. Robinson 2932 261 

Lieutenant Governor. 

William Bross 2670 

.«. Corning Judd 2932 262 

Secretary of State. 

Sharon Tyndale 2670 

William Jf. Tumey 2932 262 

Auditor. 

O. H. Minor 2670 

John Hise : 2932 262 

Treasui'er. 

James H. Beveridge 2670 

Alexander Starne 2933 263 

Slept. Public Instruction. 

Newton Bateman 2673 

John P. Brooks 2932 259 

Congress — State at Large. 

S. W. Moulton 2672 

James C Allen 2931 259 

Congress — District 

Abner C. Harding 2671 

Charles M. Harris 2935 264 

Representative. 

David Mack 2669 

M. M. Morrill 2933 264 



Prosecuting Attorney. 

Edward E. Lane 2657 

Bryant F. Peterson 2939 282 

Sheriff. 

John H. Allen ". 2665 

Wm. C. Cason 2905 260 

Coroner. 

Caleb Saunders 2664 

John Dornseif 2929 265 

Clerk Circuit Court- 

Robt. W. McClaughry 2643 

Melancton S. Carey 2957 314 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1865. 
County Judge. 

Thomas C. Sharp 2601 283 

Dennis Smith 2408 

County Clerk. 

Robt. W. McClauffhry 2659 201 

Francis M. Corbj-^ 2458 

Treasurer. 

John Gibbs 2691 258 

James M. Bro^vning 2433 

School Commissioner. 

George W. Batchelder 2716 323 

John R. McGinnis 2393 

Surveyor. 

Samuel Mourning '. 2695 281 

Jacob D. Stroup 2414 

For Township Organization. .3507 2526 
Against " " . . 981 

For Appropriation to Capt. 

Miller's Company 158 

Against 4269 4111 

Congress — State at Large. 

John A. Logan 32ST 56 

T. Lyle Dickey 3231 

Congress — District. 

Abner C. Harding 32S8 56 

John S. Thompson 3232 

State Treasurer. 

Geo. W. Smith 3291 59 

Jesse J. Phillips 3232 

Sup)t. Pub. Instruction. 

Newton Bateman 3297 66 

JohnM.Crebs 3231 

Senator. 

Thomas G. Black 3292 56 

Sam'l R. Chittenden 3236 

Representative. 

John G. Fonda 3268 27 

George Edmunds 3241 

Sheriff. 

Jeptha S. Dillon ,. .3290 74 

Wm. L. Simons 3216 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 



457 



Coroner. 

Daniel Glasuer 8312 95 

Martin Heise 3317 

ELECTION, JUNE, 1867. 
Judge Fifteenth Jud. Circuit. 

Joseph Sibley 1785 119 

John W. Marsh 16G6 

Judge Supreme Court. 

Pincknoy H. Walter 1775 95 

Charles Emerson 1680 

CUrk Supreme Court. 

Wm. A. Tnruey 1771 89 

John M. Snj'der 1682 

GENERAL ELECTION 1867. 
County Treasurer. 

John Gibbs 2677 

James M. Browning 3044 367 

Surveyor. 

Samuel Mourning 2699 

Henry D. Fonda 3002 303 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1868. 

President. 

H. Seymour 3687 91 

U. S. Grant 3596 

Goveimoi'. 

John R. Eden 3697 104 

John M. Palmer 3593 

Lieut. Governor. 

Wm. H. Van Epps 3696 103 

John Dougherty 3593 

Secretary of State. 
Oustavus Van Hoorebeke . . . .3696 105 
Edward Rummel 3591 

Auditor. 

John R. Shannon 3696 106 

Chas. E. Lippincott 3590 

Treasurer. 

Jesse J. Phillips 3696 104 

Erastus N. Bates 3592 

Attorney General. 

Robert E. Williams 3696 105 

Washington Bushnell 3591 

Penitentiary Comriiissioners. 

John W. Connctt 3696 

Wm. ]\I. Garrard 3696 

Calnsh Zarley 3696 

Robt. E. Logan 3591 

Andrew Shuman 3591 

John Reid 3591 

Congress — State at Large. 

Wm. W. O'Brien 3693 108 

John A. Logan 3585 

<Jo ngresK — District . 

James W. Sin;.deton 3693 106 

Jolm B. Ilawley 3587 



Prosecuting Attorney. 

William G. Ewing ..3694 103 

L. E. Emmons 3591 

State Board of Equalization. 

A. L. Forsythe 3694 103 

John M. Ferris 3591 

Representative. 

Andrew J. Bradshaw 3711 139 

James Stark 3572 

Circuit Clerk. 

Melancton S. Carey 3682 94 

Peter W. Risser 3588 

Sheriff. 

David W. Browning." 3693 103 

Isaiah F. Kelley , . .3590 

Coroner. 

Alfred C. Crauey 3697 115 

Benj. G. Anderson 3582 

For the Constitution 3488 

Against " 3596 108 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1869. 
Member of Convention. 

Benjamin F. Marsh 2983 

David Ellis 3220 237 

County Judge. 

Thomas C. Shar]> 2984 

John B. Risse 3230 246 

County Clerk. 

Robt. W. McClaughry 3074 

George J. Rogers 3353 279 

County Treasurer. 

John H. Finley 2932 

James M. Browning 3278 346 

Superintendent of Schools. 

Geo. W. Batchelder 2841 

William Griffin 3286 445 

Surveyor. 

M. Waldenmeyer 2997 

JohnG. Fonda 3175 178 

SPECIAL ELECTION, JULY, 1870. 

For Adoption Constitution . . . 1716 402 
Against " ...1314 

For Railroad Section 2259 1487 

Against " 772 

For Art. Entitled "Counties " . 2235 1440 
Against " " ... 795 

For Art. "Warehouses " 2299 1565 

Against " 734 

For Three-Fifths Vote to re- 
move County Seat 2123 1219 

Against 904 

For Section Relating to 

Illinois Central R.R 2666 2300 

Airainst " 366 



458 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



For Sec. "Minority Rep.".. .1924 816 
Against " " ...1108 
For Section relating to Muni- 
cipal Subscription to Rail- 
roads or Private Corpora- 
tions 2252 1473 

Against 779 

For Sec. relating to Canal. ..2296 1588 
Against " "... 708 

GENERAL ELECTIO^^, 1870. 
Congress at Large. 

Wm. B. Anderson 2860 295 

John A. Logan .2565 

State Treasurer. 

Charles Ridgeley 2866 304 

Erastus N. Bates 2562 

Superintendent Public Instruction. 

Charles Feinse 2870 313 

Newton Bateman 2557 

Penitentiary Commissioners. — Long 
Term. 

Francis T. Sherman 2866 300 

Elmer Washburn 2566 

Short Term. 

Thomas Redmond 2864 297 

Caspar Butz 2567 

Congress. 

P. L. Cable 2888 370 

John B. Hawley 2518 

Senators. 

Jesse C. Williams. '. 2876 339 

Wm. H. Mead 2537 

Jas. H. Richardson 2865 302 

Rezin H. Downing 2563 

Representatives. 

Lemuel Mussetter 2904 

Milton M. Morrill 2843 

L. Smith Cogswell 2521 

Ebenezer Huse 2500 

Sheriff. 

John D. Stevens 2817 212 

Jeptha S. Dillon 2605 

Coroner. 

Benjamin F. Duvall 2859 300 

James E. Morrison 2559 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1871. 

Congress at Large. 

Samuel S. Hays 2636 598 

John L. Beveridge 2038 

County Treasurer. 

James M. Browning 2801 913 

Wm. A. Patterson 1888 

Surveyor. 

John J. WooUey 2665 638 

Joshua C. Berry 2027 



GENERAL ELECTION, 1872. 
Presideritial. 

Horace Greeley 3328 187 

U. S. Grant 3141 

Chas. O'Conor 59 

Governor. 

Richard J. Oglesby 3099 

Gustavus Koerner 3584 485 

Benjamin G. Wright 25 

Sidney Breese 8 

Lieut. Governor. 

John L. Beveridge 3141 

John C. Black 3557 41G 

D. S. Starr 33 

Secretary of State. 

George H. Harlow 3143 

Edward Rummel 3549 406 

Ethan Sutton 33 

Auditor. 

Chas. E. Lippincott 3145 

Daniel O'Hara 3550 405 

O. H. Westerman 33 

Attorney General. 

James K. Edsall 3147 

John V. Eustice 3550 403 

George A. Meech 33 

Treasurer. 

Edward Rutz 3144 

Chas. H. Lanphier 3546 403 

Henry West 33 

Congress. 

Wm. H.Ray 3116 

Wm. H. Neece 3622 506 

Board of Equalization. 

D. D. Parry 3126 

Asaph C. Hammond 3496 370 

Clerk Supreme Court. 

Emanuel C. Hamberger 3154 

David A. Brown 3539 385 

Senator. 

Cornelius C. Preston 3111 

Benj amin Warren 3607 496 

Representatives. ■ 

Edward E. Lane 5180 

David Rankin 4398 

James Stark 5115 

Wm. Scott 5432 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

Robert W. McKinney 3261 

Bryant F. Peterson 3428 167 

Circuit Clerk. 

John D. Hamilton 3074 

Andrew J. Davis 3649 575 

Sheriff. 

Aquilla Dougherty. 3230 

John D. Stevens 3435 205 



rV 4^w"' ^K^' 



\ ■•a 




j#^' 



•^^^^ 




LA H AR P E TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



461 



Coroner. 

James W. Madison 3137 

Harrison H. Barnes 3540 403 

Domestic Animals Running at Large. 

For 3902 

Against 1471 431 

ELECTION, JUNE, 1873. 

Circuit Judge. 

Joseph Siblev ...1287 

John H. Williams 1610 323 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1873. 
County Judge. 

John B. Risse 2974 1205 

Thomas Ruggles 1709 

County Clerk. 

George J. Rogers 3029 1317 

Charles C. Tyler 1712 

Superintendent of Schools. 

William Griffin 2989 1483 

Mrs. E. E. Mayall 1506 

Treasurer. 

Peter Frey 2542 403 

Peter Kaiser 2139 

For Township Organization. 2952 1902 
Against " " ..1050 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1874. 
State Treasurer. 

Thos. S. Ridseway 1848 

Charles Carroll 2399 551 

David Gore 204 

Superintendent Public Instruction. 

Wm. B. Powell 1853 

S. M. Elter 1930 77 

Samuel Etter 629 

Congress. 

Henderson Ritchie 1837 

John C. Bagby 2398 561 

Hepi'esentatives. 

Edward E. Lane 3294 

David Rankin 2847 

Wellington Janney 4323 

Paul D. Salter 2081 

Dennis Smith 864 

Sheriff. 

Caleb C. Cochran 1576 

Cornelius T. Cannon 2652 1076 

John Jackson 223 

Coroner. 

Jesse B. Qiiinby 1732 

Benj. F. Duvall 2394 662 

J.R.Miller 269 

GENERAL ELECTION 1875. 
. County Treasurer. 

Peter Frey 1694 679 

John Martin 1015 

28 



Surveyor. 

J. R. McGinnis 1198 

John G. Fonda 1501 303 

ELECTION, JUNE, 1876. 
Judge Supreme Court. 

Pinckney H. Walker 829 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1876. 
President. 

Hayes and Wheeler 3496 

Tilden and Hendricks 4207 711 

Governor. 

Shelby M. Cullora 3521 

Lewis Steward 4227 706 

Lieut. Governor. 

Andrew Shuman 3504 

Archibald A. Glenn 4269 765 

Jas. H. Pickrell 38 

Secretary of State. 

George H. Harlow 3504 

Stephen Y. Thornton 4209 705 

Massena M. Hooten 38 

Auditor. 

Thos. B. Needles 3504 

John Hise 4246 742 

State Treasurer. 

Edward Rutz 3505 

George Gundlack 4210 705 

Henry Toctspen 36 

Attorney General. 

Jas. K. Edsall 3505 

Edmund Lynch 4210 705 

Winfield S. Coy 35 

Congress. 

Benjamin F. Marsh 3497 

John H. Hungate 4176 679 

Board of Equalization. 

James S. Boice. 3507 

Robt. J. Cabeen- 4242 735 

Senator. 

Thomas J. Maxwell 3516 

William Scott 4169 653 

Representatives. 

Edward E. Lane 5216 

Charles F. Gill ,5314 

George P. Walker ; . . .6669 

John J. Reaburn 5880 

Prosecuting Attorney. 

William Baird 3623 

William E. Mason. o. 4097 474 

»^ Circuit Clerk. 

Thomas C. Sharp 3519 

Andrew J. Davis 4196 677 

Sheriff'. 

John Helfrich 3760 

Cornelius T. Cannon 3926 160 



462 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Coroner- 

William Bnnser 3o'2G 

Beuj. F. Duvall 4191 665 

SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL 1877. 

For Sheep, Goats and Swine 

runniiia: at lartre 2029 

Against.:.. .. ': 2141 112 

ELECTION, AUGUST, 1877. 

Judge Si.rth Judicial District. 

Simeon P. Sbope 880 778 

Geoi-ffe Edmunds 102 

Willfam Monk 40 

"Wesley H. 3Iauier 38 

Scattering 30 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1877. 
Cou/iti/ Judge. 

John B. Risse 4970 

Caunti/ Clerk. 

John R. Newton 2805 413 

L.S. Cogswell 2392 

Superiittendent of Schools. 

Samuel W. Layton 2637 110 

Frank C Crane 2537 

Treasurer. 

Joseph Hartman 2559 11 

John Fletcher 2548 

Coronet'. 

B Fordham 2774 360 

John Bray 2414 

For $531,712.18 Appropriation 
to New State House 1004 

Against 3122 2058 

For Horses, Mules, Asses and 

Cattle running at large 1311 122 

Against 1 189 

SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL 1878. 

For Domestic Animals runnins: 

at lar-re 2440 1227 

Against 1219 

For paving "Witness fees in 
Criminal Cases 2880 2587 

Against 493 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1878. 

State Treasurer. 

John C. Smith 2786 

Edward L. Conkrite 3420 640 

E. N. Bates 045 



Sujyennteitdent Public Instruction. 

James P. Slade... 2779 

Samuel M. Etter 3439 660 

F.M.Hall 645 

Clerk Supreme Court. 

Mervin B. Converse 2801 

Ethan A. Sniveley 3412 611 

T. "W. S. Kidd 641 

Clerk Appellate Cotirt. 

MontravilleM. Duncan 2777 

Georse W. Jones 3429 652 

C. E.^Schotl" 044 

Congress. 

Benjamin F. Mixrsh 2880 

Delbs P. Phelps 3302 482 

A. J. Streeter 014 

Representatives. 

Charles F. Gill 3918 

Brooks R. Hamilton 45973^ 

John J. Reaburu 5044 

Thomas B. Brumback 50164 

George F. Cotton 1969 

Sheriff. 

Robert ^L Duffy 2858 

"Wm. P. Damrou 3354 496 

Albertine Huckins 586 

Coroner. 

Eli W. Bennett 2763 

Ernest D. Morrill 3430 667 

Joseph C. Knott 621 

Surveyor. 

Joshua C. Berry 2784 

John I. Spence 3403 619 

John H. H. Horney 627 

For xVmendment Sec. 31, Art. 

4, Constitution 5890 5405 

Against 491 

ELECTION JUNE, 1879. 
Judge 6th Judicial District. 

Joseph C. Thompson 1098 

Chauncev L. Higbee 2121 

Simeon P. Shope 2046 

John H. "Williams 1385 

GENERAL ELECTION, 1879. 
County Treasurer. 

Joseph Hartm;m 2182 

James Corbin 2209 27 

"William Bray 226 

Surveyor. 

John I. Spence 3166 3 

Joshua C. Berry 2164 

Edward A. Gilchrist 255 



CHAPTER XIX. 



PIONEERS' ASSOCIATION. 



After discussion and consultation among the old settlers of Han- 
cock county during the winter and spring of 1869, it was resolved 
to hold a meeting at the county seat for the purpose of effecting an 
organization of the pioneers of the county. A call was accordingly 
issued in all the county papers, signed by a number of old settlers, 
asking their fellow pioneers to meet in convention at the court- 
house in Carthage, on the 15th day of June next (1869). 

Accordingly a large meeting was held, and organized by electing 
Judge David Greenleaf to the chair, with a number of vice presi- 
dents and secretaries. 

On taking the chair the president introduced Hon. Orville H. 
Browning, of Quincy, w^ho had been invited to address the meeting. 
Mr. Browning's remarks were so apposite to the occasion, and in- 
teresting, as illustrating early times in the county, that we make 
no apolog}" for quoting them freely in this place. We copy from 
a report made for the Carthage Gazette^ by Mr. Noble Prentis, one 
of its editors. Mr. B. said: 

" He was reluctant to call himself an old man, but was certain he 
was an old citizen. He attended the first Court in the county held 
at Montebello, when there were but two villages within the limits 
of the county, one of them Montebello, the other Yen us, on the 
present site of Nauvoo. He remembered that at that session 
Venus was a contestant for the county seat. Of the lawyers he 
met at that Court every one had passed away from earth, and of 
the officers of the Court, his venerable friend, Wesley Williams 
(here present), was the sole survivor. At that time he himself was 
a young lawyer, having left his native State of Kentucky two weeks 
after the completion of his legal studies, and removed to Quincy, 
the only place he had ever called home, amid a people to 
whom he was indebted for all the prosperity he had enjoyed in 
life. When he first travelled the road from Quincy to Montebello, 
there were no houses or anything apjiroaching a settlement, save 
at Whitney's Grove and Fort Edwards. No Carthage, no La 
Harpe, no Fountain Green, no Warsaw then. Between Montebello 
and Crooked creek, on the road to McDonongh county, there were 
no houses. The country, though uninhabited, was not a wilder- 
ness or a desert; it was the green, billowy, sunlit, beautiful prairie, 
left solitary because the people at that day believed the o|)en 
country would never be settled. The northern half of the State 
was almost uninhabited; the flourishing cities of Quincy, Galena, 

(4G3) 



464: HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and Chicago — that miracle of a citj — were all included in one 
Judicial Circuit, presided over bj one Judge who had less than halt 
the business brought before Judge Siblej in his Circuit of two 
counties. 

"Mr. Browning gave a graphic description of the lawyers of that 
day riding the Circuit on horseback with the inevitable saddle-bags, 
containing the 'other' shirt, a meager supply of corn dodgers, and 
occasionally (perhaps frequently) a bottle of Bourbon. Sometimes 
these legal pilgrims found shelter in the cabin of some friendly 
Indian, or spread their blankets on the prairie and slept with the 
clouds for a covering, or the stars for a canopy. 

"He remembered attending the first Court held at Cathagfe. 
The temple of justice at that day was a log cabin of limited dimen- 
sions roofed with clapboards. The Bench and Bar boarded with a 
family at the edge of the timber, near the subsequent residence of 
Mr. JBaldwin. The ' hotel ' of Carthage was a sort of rail pen 
twelve feet square, tlie provisions and M'hisky being dealt out through 
the cracks to the outsiders. The site of the present court-house was a 
frog-pond, and \'et this unpromising beginning had culminated in 
the present city of Carthage, one of the neatest and pleasantest vil- 
lages he had ever visited." 

A touching scene was enacted during this meeting. The pres- 
entation of a beautiful bouquet prepared by the ladies of Carthage, 
was made by the hand of Major R. AV. McClaughry to the vener- 
able Wesley Williams, the first County Clerk. Mr. W. was taken 
by surprise, rose to his feet and attempted a reply, but was so over- 
come with emotion that he could only utter his simple thanks. 

A constitution was adopted, providing for a permanent organiza- 
tion, with David Green leaf for President, a Yice President for each 
township, David E. Head, Treasurer, and Thomas Gregg and Wm. 
F. Barnes, Secretaries. 

Subsequent meetings were held annually, as follows: 

At Carthage, Aug. 1, ISTO. David .Greeiileaf presiding; Thomas 
Gregg, Secretary. Mr. Sharp delivered the annual address. 

At Warsaw, Sept. 7, 1S71 Mr. Greenleaf in the chair; Thomas 
Gregg, Secretary. Wm. X. Grover, Esq., of Warsaw, delivered the 
annual address. 

At Carthage, Aug 8, 1ST2. President, David Greenleaf; Secre- 
tary, Thomas Gregg. Dr. William Booze, of Hancock township, 
delivered the annual address, and Miss Mary Saflbrd, of Hamilton, 
recited a lengthy poem. 

At Carthage,' Sept. 4, 1ST3, Ebeuezer Rand, Esq., of Carthage, 
presiding; Thomas Gregg, Secretary. Annual address delivered 
by Hiram G. Ferris, Esq., of Carthage. 

At Dallas City, Sept. 10, 1874. President, Judge John M. Fer- 
ris, of Carthage; Thomas Gregg, Secretary. Annual address deliv- 
ered by Hon. Augustus C. Dodge, of Burlington. 

At Hamilton, Sept. 23 and 24, 1875. Hiram G. Ferris, Esq., of 
Carthage, President the 23d; John Harris, Esq., of Walker, on the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 465 

24t]i; ThoHias Gregg, Secretary. President Ferris delivered tlie 
amiiial address. Mrs. Pollard, of Keokuk (Kate Harrington), reci- 
ted an original poem. 

At Warsaw, July 4, 1S76, John S. Joluison, E6(|., Vice President, 
presiding; George D. Gates. Secretary'. A failure; adjourned to 
Se])teniber and another failure. 

1877 and 1878 no annual meetings held. 

At Warsaw, Aug. 5, 1879. Col. John M. Ferris, presiding; 
Lemuel Mussetter, Esq., of Warsaw, Secretary. Hon. O. II. Brown- 
ing, of Quincy, and Maj. Robert W. McUlaughry, of Joliet, deliv- 
ered annual addresses. 

A number of the annual addresses were reported by the editors 
of the Carthage papers, and recorded by the Secretary among the 
proceedings of the Association. All of them were worthy of a 
place here, but want of space forbids. We will, however, quote 
extracts from two of those addresses; the lirst for the suggestion it 
contains, from the address of Mr. Sharp in 1870. He said: 

" But, friends, these reunions can be made soyrces of knowledge 
as well as of social enjoyment; and I now suggest that we to-day 
amend the title of the association. Let it be hereafter known as 
the 'Hancock Count)^ Pioneers' Association and Historical Soci- 
ety.' Hancock county lias a history worth writing and worth 
preserving. Enough of its early settlers still survive to furnish the 
necessar}' facts concerning the early settlements. Here, at the 
annual reunions, let these facts be gathered and recorded in the 
archives of the society. Let the files of all the newspapers pub- 
lished in the county, that can be obtained, be preserved. Let the 
society obtain, if possible, from the county, a room for the deposit 
of all documents which pertain to or throw light upon the history 
of the county, and let our Pioneers' Association and Historical 
Society preserve and transmit these to posterity. Now is the time 
to act in the matter. The period is fast approaching when death, 
which in the last year has materially thinned the ranks of the early 
settlers, will have called the last one to his long home. This should 
urge us to act promptly in this matter, AYhile many yet live, 
from whose memories important historical data in reference to the 
earliest settlements of the county can be obtained, we should make 
a record of the interesting events that occurred in the days of our 
pioneer settlement." 

Mr. Sharp's suggestion was not acted upon. From Mr. Grover's 
address at the September meeting, 1871, we also make an extract, 
principally because of its description of Warsaw and the county 
as late as 1837. Mr. G rover said: 

" When the Black Hawk war broke out, the population of the 
county was still ver}' small and thinly scattered; and many of the 
settlers left the county for awhile. There were no actual depreda- 
tions here by the Indians; l>ut there was, perhaps, just reason for 
a])prehensions of danger. Fort Edwards was then standing upon 
that point, within a hundred yards of this square. It had been 



466 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

abandoned some years before, as a military post, but the buildings 
were then in possession of Col. Farnhara, an agent of the Govern- 
ment, and by his permission a number of men and a few families 
concluded to take shelter and protect themselves, if necessary. 
Among these were Col. Farnham himself, Mark Aldrich and his 
wife, Isham Cochrane and his wife, and, I think, James M. Wells. 
Other names 1 have not been able to learn. Among them was an 
Indian woman who was married to a white man; and it is stated 
that she stood in more fear of an attack from Indians than any of 
the pale-faced women in the fort. 

" At the close of this war, Mr. Cochrane saw Gen. Scott with his 
troops pass down the river with Black Hawk and other prisoners in 
irons. Most of the scattered settlers soon came back, but some 
never returned. From this date population flowed in more rapidly 
for a few years. Villages began to spring up, and settlements 
became quite numerous in the skirts of the timber; but even as 
late as my first coming to the county, there were very few settle- 
ments in our large prairies. I have a distinct recollection of the 
appearance of the country from Carthage to Warsaw in 1837. 
Coming west from Carthage, the first house reached was then 
owned by Wm. A. Patterson. It was a small one, and, I think, 
was unfinished and unoccupied. It was five miles from Carthage. 
There was a small field enclosed, then sown to buckwheat, and in 
full blossom. The next was the Chapman place, now known as 
the Comer place. There was an unfinished house and small enclos- 
ure. The next places improved were the farms of Benjamin F. 
Marsh and Gotham Clark, side by side. This brought us to the 
edge of what was then generally called the ' Warsaw timber.' 
From thence to Warsaw we passed Truman Hosford's, Bartholo- 
mew Slattery 's, the Yinj^ard farm (the latter now a part of Warsaw) 
and Mark Aldrich's, and from thence down a winding road through 
small timber and hazel bush, to Andrew Monroe's (where Elliott's 
store now stands). At this point we got upon Main street, and 
passed a little frame building they used as a meeting house, and 
three other one-story frame houses of a single room each, on the 
south side, one used by James Chittenden as a saddler shop, one 
by Samuel W. Brown and Wm. Mcllhenny, as a tailor shop, the 
other by Smith Robbins, as a sort of fancy grocery. On the other 
side of the street was a two-story frame house, unfinished, erected 
by R. L. Robertson. This brought us to the ' Warsaw House,' 
then kept by mine host, 'Old man Newberry,' as the boarders 
irreverently called him ; and here I slept my first night in a house 
after five months' railroad exploration. I do not think there were 
then in all our large prairies a hundred improvements a mile distant 
from timber. The few roads across the prairies followed the most 
favorable ground for settlement, regardless of section lines; and in 
some directions you might travel for hours without seeing a house 
or enclosure. If the direction of the beaten road did not suit, you 
had full liberty of taking short and direct cuts to your journey's 
end." 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 467 

The record kept by the Secretary contains the names of perhaps 
a thousand pioneers of the county, with nativity and date of emi- 
gration. We subjoin a few of the earlier ones: 

1831— John Atchison, Ireland. 1831— Frederic Loring, N. II. 

1829— David Ayres, Ireland. 1826— A. A. Perkins, Tenn. 

1830— James W. Brattle, Mass. 1832— Wm. Pike and sous, Ky. 

1831— Jabez A. Beebe, Conn. 1829 — Chauncey Robison, N. Y- 

1829— Joseph Caldwell, Ky. 1830— A. G. Rose, Ind. 

1830 — Isham Cochran, Ky. 1830 — Benjamin Royse. 

1828 — Theophilus Crenshaw, Illinois. 1831 — Alexander Saylors, 111. 

1831— Charles L. Cochran, Maine. 1824 — Isaac N. Waggonner, Ohio. 

1826— Amzi Doolittle, N. Y. 1827— James Wilson, Ky. 

1830- Cyrus Felt, N. H. 1829— Wesley Williams, Ky. 

1831— Samuel Gordon, N. H. 1831— Robt. W. White, Va. 
1832 — Constantine Kremer, Prussia. 




CHAPTER XX. 

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS. 

MARRIAGE LICENSES. 

First marriage license issued Sept. 25, 1829, James Miller to 
Yerdilia Harper; cereinony performed Sept. 28, by Rev. Charles. 
Robison. 

Below are dates of a few others, with names of a few parties: 

2d. Benjamin T. Tungate (one of the first jurors) to Deborah 
Flint, Oct. 17; joined by Rev. C. Robison. 

6th. Thomas Bremer to Nancy Smith, July 22, 1830, by James 
Miller, Esq. 

9th. Isaac R. Campbell (first County Treasurer) to Emily Davis, 
by Luther Whitney, Esq. 

11th. Wesley Williams, Esq. (County Clerk, etc.), to Ruth 
Scobe}^ by James Miller, Esq. 

13tli. Baptista Blondeau to Spawsey Grandbois, by Hazen 
Bedell, Esq., Aug., 1831. 

lOtli. Joshua Palen to Archange St. Jean Laperchere, by Wesley 
Williams, Judge of Probate, July 19, 1832. 

Amos Van JSTorsdall to Louise Muir (daughter of Dr. Muir, of 
Fort Edwards, whose wife was a half-breed), April 4, 1833, by 
Leonard L. Abney, Esq. 

Isaac Newton Waggonner to Mary White, Dec, 1835, by David- 
son Hibbard, Esq. 

Number of licenses issued to Jan., 1830 3 

To Jan., 1835 „ 56 

To Jan., 1840 342 

To Jan. 1850 1519 

To Jan., 1860 3624 

Total No. to Jan., 1880 10082 

Of course the above do not include the numerous " Gretna Green " 
marriages of Hancock citizens; nor yet that indefinite number 
solemnized under city ordinance at Nauvoo in Mormon times, in 
which license was not required and returns were directed to be 
made to the City Recorder. 

(468j 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 469 

EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS. 

To Samuel "W. Layton, Esq., Siiperiutendent of Schools for 
Hancock county, we are indebted for the following: 
No. of school districts in the county January 1, 1880. . 190 

No. of school-houses 185 

No. of teachers employed, about 250 

Proportion males in winter, about 75 per cent 

Females in summer, about 75 per cent 

No. of children between ages of 6 and 21 years, in 1879 13,421 

Total receipts for the year ending June 30, 1879 $91,876 94 

Total Expenditures . . .' 70,813 16 

Sixteenth Section School Lands in all the townships sold. 

SIXTH CENSUS. 

The only census returns to be found of record in the County 
Clerk's office is the printed volume containing the U. S. census for 
1840. We make some extracts to show the difference between 
Hancock county forty years ago and now. The one item of silk 
cocoons will hardly be reported in the census of 1880. 

In Hancock comity — White males 5135 

White females 4762 

Colored persons 15 

Total 9912 

No. of Persons Agricultural Products 

Engaged in Agriculture 1791 Bushels Oats 120768 

Commerce 15 Bushels Rye 394 

Manufactures and Trades 380 Bushels Buckwheat 1812 

Navigation 4 Bushels Corn 2598 .'») 

Learned Professions and Engineers 34 Pounds Wool 8890 

Revolutionary Pensioners 2 Bushels Potatoes 28984 

Deaf and Dumb 7 Tons Hay 2845 

Blind 5 Pounds Tobacco 1910 

Insane 2 Pounds Cocoons 36 

Can not read and write — over 20 . . 205 Products of Dairy sold $455 

Agricultural Products. Products of Orchard sold $855 

Horses and Mules 1761 No. of Grist Mills 7 

Neat Cattle 4717 No. of Saw Mills 12 

Sheep 2451 No. of Oil Mills 1 

Swine 10671 Gallons Wine 8 

Bushels Wheat 10675 Printing Offices 2 

PLACES OF HOLDING COURTS IN HANCOCK COUNTY SINCE ORGANIZATION. 

Aug., 1829 — Special at Fort Edwards. 

Dec, 1829 — At house of James "White. 

Mar., 1880— Same place. 

June, 1830 — At Clerk's office in Yenus. 

Dec, 1830 and March and June, 1831— At James White's, 

Sept., 1831— At Clerk's office at llazen Bedell's. 

Dec, 1831— At Montebello. 

Mar., 1832— At Bedell's. 



470 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



June, 1832 — At "court-house" in Montebello.* 

Sept., 1832— Same place. 

Dec, 1832— At H. Bedell's. 

Mar., 1833— At Luther Whitney's, in Montebello. 

April, 1833 — At house of Thomas Brewer, in Carthage. 

Sept., 1833 — At log-cabin court-house in Carthage. 

♦The term "court-house," used above, we take to mean simply the building in 
which the courts were held. There was no building erected for that purpose at 
Montebello. 




CHAPTER XXI. 

TOWNyniP ORGANIZATION. 

The Township Organization Act, entitled " An Act to Provide 
for Township and County Organization," under which any county 
may organize whenever a majority of the votes of such county at 
any general election shall so determine, was passed by the Legis- 
lature and approved Feb. 12, 1849. Accordingly the question of 
" Township Organization" or '' No Organization" was submitted 
at the annual election, on the 6th of Nov. 1849, and return made 
to George W. Thatcher, County Clerk, and by him canvassed on 
the 7th, in conjunction with Michael Rickard and David Greenleaf, 
Justices of the Peace. We give the vote by precincts in full, as 
matter for future reference: 

Precincts For Against 

Aus;usta 65 29 

St. llary's 121 15 

Fountain Green 123 62 

Camp Creek 92 4 

Appanoose 51 2 

Pilot Grove Rejected 

Nauvoo 121 4 

Montebello 29 8 

Commerce 94 41 

LaHarpe 149 

Warsaw 90 133 

Green Plains 95 11 

Rocky Run 55 4 

Bear Creek 74 7 

Chili 42 42 

Carthage 48 120 

Totals 1247 482 

The County Court appointed Mathew McClaughry, John G. 
Fonda and George Edmunds as commissioners to lay off and divide 
said county into townships, in accordance with law; and on the 26tli 
day of Febrnary, 1850, they filed their report as follows: 

1. Augusta township, to embrace townsltip 3 north, 5 west. 

2. S*t. Mary's — 4 north, 5 west, and south half of 5-5. 

3. Fountain Green — 6 north, 5 west, and north half of 5-5. 

4. La Ilarpe — Y north, 5 west. 

5. Chili — 3 north, 6 west, and south half of 4-6. 

6. Carthage — 5 north, 6 west, north half of 4-6 and east 
half of 5-7. 

. 7. Pilot Grove — 6 nortli, 6 west, and east half of 6-7. 

8. Durham — 7 north, 6 west. 

9. St. Albans — 3 north, 7 west. 
10. Bear Creek — 4 north, 7 west. 

(471) 



472 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

11. Pontoosuc — 7 north, 7 west. 

12. "Walker — 3 north, 8 west. 
18. AYythe— J: north, 8 west. 

14. Montebello — 5 north, 8 west, fraction 5-9 and west 
half of 5-7. 

15. Sonora — 6 north, 8 west, and west half of 6-7. 

16. Appanoose — 7 north, 8 west. 

17. Rocky Run — 3 north, 9 west, and fraction 3-10. 

18. Warsaw — i north, 9 w^est. 

19. IMauvoo — 6 north, 9 west, and 7-9. 

On the first Tuesday in April, 1850, the election for township 
oflBcers was held, and County Clerk Win. W. Steele called a 
meeting of the Board of Supervisors to be held at Carthage on 
Monday, Aug. 12, 1850. Board met, and the following members 
answered to their names: 

Augusta — James Stark, Bear Creek — Almore Thompson, 

St. Maiy's— Wm. Darnell, Wythe — Slocum Woolley, 

Chili— Gilmore Callison, Montebello — Robt. F. Smith, 

Carthage —James A.Winston, Appanoose — Jas. A. McCanee, 

Pilot Grove — Saml. Richey, Nauvoo — James Irving, 

St. Albans— Alex. McDonald, Sonora— J. J. Gardner.. 

Bill of Commissioners to lay ofi" the townships, at $5.00 each, 
and $3.50 to Mr. Fonda, additional, for making plat of the county, 
presented. Board voted members an allowance of $1.50 per day 
each for services. 

At next session in November, the following additional members 
elect appeared and took their seats: Lemuel Mussetter, Warsaw; 
John Banks, Rocky Run; Joseph Kidson, Pontoosuc; and Stephen 
H. Tyler, Fountain Green. 

On September 12, 1854, Prairie township was set oflT from 
Carthage and Montebello, embracing the whole of township 5 
north, 7 west. And at the same time Harmony was set off from 
Chili and Carthage, embracing the whole of 4 north and 6 west. 
On April 27, 1855, Hancock township was established from St. 
Mary's and Fountain Green, embracing the whole of 5 north, 5 
west; and Rock Creek was established from Pilot Grove and 
Sonora, embracing the whole of 6 north 7 west. Nov. 15, 1855, 
Wilcox townsiiip was established, embracing all of Warsaw town- 
ship, 4 north 9 west, excepting the city of Warsaw, which is !na(ie 
a separate township. In 1860 Dallas was set ofi' from Pontoosuc, 
and at a later date, March, 1876, on petition of residents, that 
portion of Prairie township embraced in sections 13 and 24, the 
south half of section 12 and the north half of section 25 — three 
sections in all — was detatched and annexed to Carthage township. 
This includes the two depots and all that population in their 
vicinitv. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
OLD LAND-MARKS. 

Tlie old is continually passing away. Among the old land-marks 
and old things that have passed and are passing away may be 
mentioned the following: 

Head of the Rapids. — This cannot be said to be passing awa}^; 
but the term as a designation of a settlement is now seldom used, 
though once very common as a name for that early settlement in 
the county now occupied by Nauvoo. 

Foot of the Rapids — Embraced all that country opposite ''The 
Point," from Fort Edwards to Chaney creek, or the Montebello 
House. 

Fort Johnson — The remains of an old stockade fort, on the 
high bluff south of Albers' mill, in Warsaw. 

Fort Edioards — A fort that was still standing and occupied by 
settlers as late as 1845. For history of these forts see chapter 
YII. 

Yenus — Was a postoffice only, and the first established in the 
county. It was at the head of the rapids, in the midst of the 
oldest settlement in the county, excepting Fort Edwards. Who 
WHS its first postmaster we have not learned. 

Montehello. — This was the name of the oldest town in the county. 
It was laid out in 1832, by Luther Whitney and William Yance. 
It for many years was the business center for the settlers along the 
rapids, and a place where many goods have been sold. As a town 
or place of business, it is now unknown, and its name has been 
transferred to the township in which it lies. 

Green Plains — Was once quite a famous locality in the county, 
now unknown. It embraced parts of what are now Wythe, 
Walker, AYilcox and Rocky Run townships, the postoffice for 
which was at Col. Levi Williams'. 

Golden''s Point — Was a point of timber projecting into the 
prairie on the borders of Lary's creek, in Sonora township, 
named from Abram Golden, a settler there at an early day. 

Spillman'e Landing — The point on the river in the north part 
of the county, near the residence of Mr. Hezekiah Spillman, and 
where he kept a ferry, and a woodyard for steamboats. He was a 
settler of 1825. 

Round Prairie — A designation by which a rich prairie settle- 
ment was known in the early days, lying partly in Hancock and 
partly in Schuyler and McDonough counties. It was bounded 
noi-th, east, and west by the waters of Crooked creek and 

(473) 



474 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

branches, and South by Williams' creek, and had Plymouth for its 
business center. 

Oliver's Settlement — Was that early settlement in the southeast 
of the county around Pnlaski, and had its name from Alexander 
Oliver, its earliest settler. 

FmnTclin — Was the name of the postoffice and settlement about 
La Ilarpe until 1836, when William Smith and Marvin Trjon laid 
out the town, and gave it the name of the French adventurer. 

Joe Duncan — Was a town laid out in the years of town mania 
by Robert Miller, David W. Mathews and Isaac N. Morris. It 
was near the southeast corner of Fountain Green township. It 
soon died a natural death. Ex-Gov. Duncan was at that time a 
speculator in town lots, and it is stated that it received its name, 
Joe Duncan, because he refused to take stock in it. Mathews and 
Miller sold goods there for a short period. 

Cutler''s Orouve — At Commerce, the place where George Y. Cut- 
ler, one of the first county Commissioners, was buried, enclosed by 
a stone wall, still standing. 

Half-way House — A little frame building erected about 1834, and 
occupied by one Chapman, at the place now owned and occupied 
by Mrs. Samuel Comer, just west ofElvaston, and on the War- 
saw and Carthage road. 

Prerdis' Shanty — A shanty built near the line of the Warsaw 
& Peoria Railroad, soon after the State entered upon its magnifi- 
cent scheme of internal improvements, Mr. Daniel Prentis, now 
of Fountain Green, had a contract for grading, and to accommo- 
date his hands erected a shanty there. The shanty remained there 
many years, and was a point well known to travellers. 

Kock Island Trail — An old road that led from Quincy and 
beyond to Rock Island and Galena lead mines, from point to 
point in the prairie. In this county it ran from Green Plains to 
Golden's Point, thence to othei- points north. It crossed the W. 
& P. Railroad at Prentis' shanty, two or three miles east of Ham- 
ilton. 

Commerce — A town at the head of the rapids, laid out in 1834 
by Joseph B. Teas and Alexander White. It, with its successor, 

Commerce City — Laid out in 1836, and designed to be the town 
of the West, was finally swallowed by the Mormon city of 
Nauvoo. 

Des Moines City — Laid out in 1837, by Dr. Adolphus Allen, 
on the Mississippi, about two miles above Montebello. It died a 
natural death in its infancy. 

Hartford — Was laid out in 1837, by James M. Campbell, on 
section 5, 7 n., 7 w., in the north part of the county. It also died 
in infanc3\ 

Mechanicsville — As its name indicates, was designed for a man- 
ufacturing village, and for a time bid fair to realize the expecta- 
tions of its proprietor. It was laid out in 1842 by Alanson Lyon, 
near the northwest corner of Augusta township. The manufacture 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 475 

of wagons, carriages, and agricultural implements was entered into 
and carried on for a time; but for some cause the enterprise 
failed, and the town exists only in name. 

Ramus — Was a Mormon town, laid out in 1840 by Wm. 
"Wightman, and settled largely by the Mormons, having at one 
time 400 or 500 inhabitants. It was sometimes called Macedonia. 
It is now AVebster. 

Yelrome — Was the name given by its proprietor, Isaac Morley 
{as attorney for Joseph Smith), to the Mormon town, in the town- 
ship of Walker, laid out in 1844. It generally was known by the 
name ot Morley-Town. It was principally burnt out during the 
trouble in 1845. It is now Tiosra. 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

HANCOCK IN THE REBELLION. 

The news of Sumter aroused the people of Hancock as well as 
the rest of the State and the Union. All — no, not all — for there 
were a few traitors, and rebel sympathizers, even in Hancock 
county; but a large majority of the bone and sinew of the county, 
felt that the Flag of the Union must be sustained. And in 
response to the various calls of President Lincoln for troops, the 
county sent more than two thousand men to the field, out of a 
population of about 27,000 in 1860. The exact number it is 
impossible to tell. Even the Adjutant-General's reports, while 
giving the names of all the officers and men mustered into the 
several regiments, fail in many instances to credit the place ot 
their residence. Besides, many volunteered and served in organi- 
zations belonging to other States; while many drafted and bounty 
men were scattered widely through the arm}', as the convenience 
and necessities of the service required. As will be shown here- 
after, about 1,800 are known and accounted for; and the inference 
is fair that the unknown would number into the hundreds. 

Taking the regiments "in the order of their number, we begin 
with 

THE 16th infantry. 

This was principally recruited in the counties of Hancock, 
Adams and McDonough; organized at Quincy, May 24, 1861. 
Robert F. Smith, of Hamilton, was elected Colonel; at the close of 
his term re-enlisted as veteran, and was promoted Brev. Brig.- 
Gen. March 13, 1865. Lieut.-Colonel, James B. Cahill, Carthage; 
term expired Dec. 25, 1861-. Adjutant, Charles D. Kerr, Hamil- 
ton; term expired April 5, 1865; re-enlisted, and promoted Colo- 
nel July 3, 1865, and not mustered. Adjutant, John S. Schenck, 
Fountani Green, May 29, 1865; mustered July 8, 1865. Quarter- 
master L. L. King, La Harpe, June 30, 1862; mustered out June 
29, 1865. First Asst. Surgeon, A. L. Ritchey, Hamilton; pro- 
moted to Surgeon of 10th Regt. Nov. 20,.1864. Second Asst. Sur- 
geon, Jacob Thrush, Dallas City; resigned Sept. 30, 1864. 

Company Officers— Co. D. — Capt., James B. Cahill, Carthage, 
May 4, 1861; promoted Lt.-Col. Isaac Davis, Carthage, Sept. 3, 
1862; term expired Dec. 31, 1864. Wm. Sommerville, Carthage, 
Dec. 31, 1864; honorably discharged May 9, 1865. First Lieut., 
Jas. B. Cahill, May 4, 1861; promoted. Wesley Clowse, Carthage, 
May 14, 1861; resigned Dec. 7, 1861. Isaac Davis, Carthage, 

(476) 



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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 479 

Dec. 7, 1S61; promoted. Wm. Sominerville, Carthage, Sept. 3, 
1S62; promoted. John T. Welcli, Hamilton, May 27, 1865. Second 
Lieut., Wesley Clowse, Carthao-e, May 24,1861; promoted. Benj. 
r. Marsh, Warsaw, May 24, 1861; resigned Aug. 8, 1861. Isaac 
Davis, Carthage, Oct. 13, 1861; promoted. Wm. Sommerville, 
Carthage, Dec. 7,1861; promoted. Wm. Conyers, Warsaw, Sept. 3, 
1862; honorably discharged May 15, 1865. James M. Welch, 
Carthage, July 3, 1865; not mustered. 

Co. I. — Captain, Smith Johnson, Dallas City, May 9, 1861; 
term expired Nov. 11, 1864. First Lieut., Stedman Hatch, Pon- 
toosuc. May 9, 1861; promoted Captain of Co. G. Wm. A. How- 
ard, Dallas* April 12, 1864; killed in battle May 10, 1864. Daniel 
Glassner, Dallas, May 19, 1864; promoted Captain, Morrison 
Walliner, Nov, 11, 1864. Second Lieut., Robert Pattison, Dallas, 
May 9, 1861; promoted to Co, of Subs. July 6, 1864. 

This county furnished for the 16th Regiment, 200 men of the 
rank and file, mostly in Companies D and L 

HISTORY OF THP: SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 

The 16th luft. Ills. Yols. was mustered into the service at Quincy 
under the Ten Regiment Act, May 24, 1861, by Captain T. G. 
Pitcher, U. S. A. 

June 12, 1861, moved to Grand river as railroad guard; July 10, 
force was attacked by 1,600 mounted rebels, but held position until 
arrival of reinforcements, when the enemy fled. On 16th lost two 
men killed and two wounded at Caldwell's Station. August 20, 
moved under Gen. Hurlburt to Kirksville, and in pursuit of Gen. 
Green, arriving at Honeywell Sept. 1. Sept. 10, ordered to St. Joe; 
on the 14th, together with the 3d Iowa, had a skirmish at Platte 
City; 17th, returned to St, Joe. 

Jan, 27, 1862, ordered to Bird's Point, Mo. March 3, ordered to 
New Madrid, where they were attached to the army of the Missis- 
sippi, 2d Brigade, Col. James D, Morgan; First Div. Brig.-Gen., 
A, E. Paine. Evening of the 12th of March, the 10th and 16th 
Ills, were thrown forward and erected a line of earthworks, mount- 
ing four heavy guns within half a mile of the enemy's w'orks. 
March 13, the battle of New Madrid was fought, the 16tli support- 
ing the siege ornns. 

April 7tli, were landed on the opposite side of the river with the 
10th Ills., and followed the retreating enemy to Tipton ville, Tenn., 
where it captured 5,000 ])risoners and a large amount of artillery, 
small arms and ammunition. April 9, returned to New Madrid; 
13th, embarked for Osceola, Ark.; 17th, embarked for Hamburg, 
Tenn., where it arrived on the 22d. Participated in the siege of 
Corinth. After evacuation ]nirsued the retreating enemy to Boon- 
ville; June 12, returned and encamped at Big Spring. July 20, 
moved to Tuscumbia; 29tli, crossed the Tenn. at Florence, Ala. 
Sept. 15, arrived at Nashville, after a 17 days' march, with continual 

29 



480 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

guerrilla fighting. Our loss, one killed and five wounded, includ- 
ing Capt. Rowe. 

In Dec, 1863, the regiment veteranized, and on the opening of 
the campaign of 1864 was ordered to the vicinity of Atlanta, Ga., 
where it participated in the siege andjcapture of that strong-hold, 
Col. Smith commanding a brigade. After the reduction of Atlanta, 
and Sherman had cut loose from the Army of the Tennessee, the 
16th joined in the celebrated March to the Sea, arriving at Savan- 
nah about Christmas. Upon the occupation of Savannah, Col. 
Smith was made Military Governor. In the spring of 1865, the 
16th continued its march through the Carolinas and Virginia, par- 
ticipating in all the important battles, and arrived at Washington, 
D. C, in time to take part in the Grand Review. Mustered out 
at Louisville, Ky., July 8, 1865; arrived at Camp Butler July 10, 
for final payment and discharge. 

28th. — Co. D of the 28th had 21 privates, mostly from Augusta, 
St. Mary's and La Harpe. 

32d. — Co. B, Wm. J. Pierce, of Carthage, Captain, Sept. 4, 1861; 
resigned Aug. 31, 1862. Second Lieut. Christian G. Long, Car- 
thage, April 25, 1865; promoted to First Lieut. Aug. 2, 1865. 
About 28 privates from Montebello and Carthage. 

34th. — Five privates from Montebello. 

36th — Fourteen privates from Augusta,St Mary's and St. Alban's. 

43d. — Co. F, 6 privates from Nauvoo. 

46th. — Co. D, 8 privates from Montebello and Augusta. 

THE 50th regiment. 

Co. F.—Wm. B. Snyder, Dallas City, Captain, Sept. 12, 1861; 
resigned Jan. 19, 1863. Charles D. Fee, Second Lieutenant, June 
10, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant Nov. 15, 1862; promoted Cap. 
tain Jan. 19, 1863; discharged Sept. 15, 1864. Alfred L. Martin 
Dallas City, Captain, June 14, 1865, First Lieutenant, Charles J. 
May, Warsaw, Sept. 12, 1861; resigned April 27, 1862. Second Lieu- 
tenant, C. M. Harris, Dallas City, Sept 12, 1861 ; promoted First 
Lieutenant April 27, 1862; resigned June 20, 1862. Joseph M. 
Morgan, Warsaw, First Lieutenant, June 14, 1865. Wm. S. Weak- 
ley, Warsaw, Second Lieutenant, Nov. 15, 1862; resigned Sept. 15, 
1864: Thomas Stewart, Dallas City, Second Lieutenant, July 10, 
1865; not mustered. 

Co. G. — Selah W. King, La Harpe, First Lieutenant, Sept 12, 
1861; promoted Captain Dec. 12, 1861; resigned Sept. 15, 1864. 

In the 50th Regiment there were 88 privates from this county, 
from about ten different townships. 

53d. — Had 17 privates from Hancock county. 

57th. — Co. I, Edward D. Hazzard, Plymouth, Second Lieutenant, 
Feb. 13, 1863; promoted First Lieutenant July 12, 1864; promoted 
Captain July 1, 1865; not mustered. Co. K, Edward Gallagher, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 481 

Hamilton, Captain, April 1, 1865. In Co. K, 27 privates from 
St. Mary's. 

61th. — From Fountain Green, 5 privates. 

65th. — As re-organized Co. A had 10 privates from this county. 

71st. — Co. E, 7 privates from St. Mary's. 

72d. — Co. G, 8 privates from St. Mary's. Co. H, 10 privates 
from Augusta. 

73d. — Co. H, 3 from Hancock township. 

75th. — Co. E, one from Montebello. 

THE 78th regiment. 

First Assistant Surgeon, Elisha S. Mclntire, of Dallas City, Sept. 
1, 1862; resigned March 25, 1863. Second Assistant Surgeon, 
Wm. H. Githens, Hamilton, May 14, 1863; promoted to First 
Assistant Surgeon Aug. 7, 1863. 

Co. i>.— Robert M. Black, Carthage, Captain, Sept. 1, 1862; 
killed in action Sept. 1, 1804. First Lieutenant, John B. Worrell, 
Chili, Sept. 1, 1862; promoted to Captain Sept. 1, 1864. Second 
Lieutenant, Isaac N. Kinchloe, Breckenridge, Sept. 1, 1862; re- 
signed July 16, 1863; Samuel W. Puntenny, Montebello, July 16, 
1863; discharged Jan. 10, 1865. 

Co. H. — John K. Allen, Dallas City, Captain, Sept. 1, 1862; re- 
signed March 30, 1864. First Lieutenant, George T. Beers, Pon- 
toosuc, Sept. 1, 1862; promoted to Captain March 30, 1864; killed 
in battle March 19, 1865. Thomas M. Scott, Dallas City, Captain. 
May 19, 1865; not mustered. John Gibbs, Dallas City, First Lieu- 
tenant, May 19, 1865; in hospital at the mustering out of the 
regiment. 

This county furnished 160 men to the 78th Regiment, as fol- 
lows: Co. A, 4; Co. B, 2; Co. D, 73; Co. H, 81. 

history of the 78th regiment. 

Organized at Quincy by Col. "Wm. H. Benneson, and mustered 
into service Sept. 1, 1862. Ordered to Louisville; arrived on the 
22d, and was assigned to 2d Brigade, 4th Division, Army of the 
Ohio. On the 23d was assigned to 39th Brigade, 12th Division. 
October 1st was detached and assigned to Gen. Boyle; marched to 
Shepardville, Kentucky, October 5, to guard railroad bridge. Oc- 
tober 14 was stationed at Lebanon Branch railroad bridge, guarding 
bridges and stations. 'Mustered out June 7, 1865, at Washington, 
D. C, and arrived at Chicago June 12, for pay and discharge. 

83d. — Co. A, one private from La Harpe. 

84th. — Co. C, 9 from La Harpe, Fountain Green and Augusta. 

86th. — Had 30 privates from this county,— 4 from St. Mary's 
and 26 from La Harpe. 

89th. — Recruited 11 privates from Augusta. 

99th. — Had 10 privates from Augusta, and one from Montebello. 



482 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

THE 118th REGIMENT. 

Col., John G. Fonda, "Warsaw, Nov., 1862; promoted Brevet 
Brig.-Gen. June 27, 1865; mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. 

Lieut. -Col., J. G. Fonda; promoted to Col. 

Thomas Log-an, Hamilton, Lt.-C<jl., Nov. 2 '^ 1862; mustered out 
Oct, 1, 1865. Major Robert W. McClaughrv, Carthage, resigned 
to accept appointment ot" Pay Master in the U. S. A., May 13, 1864:. 
John W. Barnes, Warsaw, Adjutant; discluu'ged for promotion, 
March 22, 1864. H. M. Sleator. Carthage, Adjutant, March 26, 
1864; mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. Wm. K. Davison, Warsaw, 
Quartermaster, Oct. 13, 1862. First Asst. Surgeon, John K. 
Boude, Carthage, Nov. 27, 1862. Second Asst. Surgeon, Yaughn 
B. Corey, West Point, Oct. 1, 1865; not mustered. Chaplain, 
Thomas M. Walker, Fountain Green, Nov. 29, 1862; resigned July 
11, 1863; Wm. Underwood, Carthage, May 7, 1864. 

Co. A.—T. J. Campbell, Fountain Green,' Captain, Nov. 7, 1862; 
resigned Feb. 19, 1863. A. W. Geddes, Fountain Green, First 
Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; promoted to Captain Feb. 19, 1863; killed 
in battle May 16 1863, at Champion Hills. Thomas B. White, 
Fountain Green, Second Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; promoted Feb. 19, 
1863; killed in battle May 16, 1863, at Champion Hills. John W. 
Campbell, Fountain Green, Second Lieut., Feb. 19, 1863; promoted 
to Captain May 16. 1863; died as Second Lieut., July 29, 1863. 
Cyrus M. Geddes, Fountain Green, Second Lieut., May 17, 1863; 
promoted Captain Jul}' 29, 1863; mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. Sam- 
uel B. Arrison, Hancock township, May 16, 1863; died as Sergeant, 
of wounds received at Champion Hills, Nov. 2, 1863. John Typer, 
Fountain Green, First Lieut., Nov. 2, 1863; resigned July 30,1865. 
Vanness Walkup, Pilot Grove, First Lieut., Oct. 1, 1865. Bobert 
N. Witherow, Fountain Green, First Lieut., Oct. 1, 1865; not 
mustered. 

Co. B. — Robert W. McClaughry, Carthage, Captain; promoted 
Major. Morgan Reymer, Carthage, Second Lieut., Nov. 7,1862; 
promoted to Captain Nov. 8, 1862; discharged March 28, 1863. 
Alexander Sholl, Carthage, Second Lieut., Nov. 8, 1862; promoted 
to First Lieut. Feb. 27, 1863; promoted to Captain March 28,1863. 
Thomas W. Hurst, Carthage, Second Lieut., Feb. 27, 1863; ]>ro- 
moted to First Lieut. March 28, 1863; promoted to Captain Nov. 
14,1863. Wm. H. Odell, Carthage, First Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; 
resigned Feb. 27, 1863. ElishaB. Hamilton, Carthage, First 
Lieut. , No v\ 14, 1863. James Sample, Carthage, Second Lieut. , 
March 28, 1863; honorably discharged Dec. i, 1863. Joseph 
Gill, Rainie, Second Lieut., April 11, 1865. 

Co. ^.—Arthur W. Marsh, Wythe, Captain, Nov. 7, 1862; 
killed Nov. 11, 1863, near Grand Caton bayou, while in command 
of the regiment. Ephraim Grubb, Montebello, First Lieut., Nov. 
7, 1862; resigned Feb. 19, 1863, on account of ill health. A. W. 
Robinson, Wythe, Second Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; promoted First 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 483 

Lieut. Feb. 19, 1863; promoted to Captain Nov. 11, 1863. Jeptha 
S. Dillon, Wjthe, Second Lieut., Feb. 19, 1863; promoted First 
Lieut. Xov. 11,1863. George B. Safford, Montebello, April 11, 
1865. 

Co. D.—ll. M. Sleater, Carthacre, Feb. 19, 1863; promoted 
First Lieut. Nov. 12, 1863; promoted Adjutant March 22, 1864. 

Co. E.—Z. S. Allen, Warsaw, First Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; promoted 
to Captain Dec. 24, 1862; resigned Aug. 7, 1863. Wm. H. Berry- 
man, Warsaw, Captain, Aug. 7, 1863; mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. 
David Turner, Warsaw, First Lieut., Dec. 24, 1862. W. S. Lem- 
ley, Warsaw, Second Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; resigned Feb. 19, 1863. 
Thomas A. Worthen, Warsaw, Feb. 19, 1863; honorably dis- 
charged May 15, 1865. Albert H. Fuller, Warsaw, Oct. 1, 1865; 
Dot mustered. 

Co. E.—YqWx G. Mourning, Bear Creek, Captain, Nov. 7, 1862; 
resigned Oct. 21, 1863. Calender Rohrbough, Bear Creek, Second 
Lieut., Nov. 7, 1802; promoted to First Lieut. Feb. 19, 1863; pro- 
moted Captain Oct. 21, 1863. Kice C. Williams, Rocky Run, 
First Lieut., Nov. 7, 1862; resigned Feb. 19, 1863. Levi B. Moore, 
Bear Creek, Second Lieut., Feb. 19, 1863; promoted Oct. 21, 1863; 
honorably discharged Aug. 14, 1865. A. J. Stroup, Rocky Run, 
First Lieut., Sept. 2, 1865; not mustered. Wm. II. Cole, St. 
Mary's, Second Lieut, Oct. 1, 1865. 

Co. Z— Wm. M. Cole, Elvaston, May 23, 1865. 

HISTOKY OF THE 118tH REGIMENT. 

Came into service under the call of July 2, 1862; organized Aug., 
1862; Cos. A, B, C, E, and H, in Hancock. At Camp Butler to 
the 8th Sept., and placed on duty guarding Confederate prisoners; 
mustered into service Nov. 7, by Captain Washington. At Butler 
till Dec. 1st, when it left for the field by rail to Alton, and embarked 
for Memphis, arriving Dec. 11. On 20th left with Sherman for 
Yicksburg; arrived at Vazoo river Dec. 26, and participated in 
the engagement at Chickasaw Bluffs. Re-embarked and arrived at 
Arkansas Post, Jan, 9, 1863, and took part in the fight and the 
capture of that place, on the 10-1 1th of Jan., capturing 8,000 
prisoners. Returned to Young's Point, remaining till March 9; 
moved to Milliken's Bend, where it remained till April 2, when it 
left on the expedition against Vicksburg, forming a part of Gen. 
Osterhaus' Division. Participated in the battle of Thompson's 
Hill May 1, 1863, which lasted 16 hours, against an enemy well 
posted and three times our own numbers. Li this bloody contest 
we had over 100 killed and 500 wounded; rebel loss twice that 
number. Encamped on the field of battle, the rebels retreating 
toward Vicksburo;. 

At Champion Ilills met the enemy again. The ground was so 
broken that it rendered artillery almost useless, and it was with- 
drawn. The rebels had (;0,000 men in tlie fight; the Union force 
less than 40,000. After a long and bloody conflict, a charge was 



4S4 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 

made along the line, when the rebels gave way and fled toward 
Vicksburg; 6,000 prisoners and 29 cannon the result of this victory; 
loss in killed and wounded was heavy, Rebel loss, 1,500; Union 
loss, about 800, Among the killed were Capt. A, "W. Geddes and 
Lieut. Thomas B, White, of Fountain Green. The next morning, 
May IT, the rebels M^ere again encountered at Black River Bridge, 
12 miles east of Vicksburg, well fortified. A charge was made, 
resulting ia the capture of their works, 17 brass cannon, 5,000 
prisoners and a large amount of stores. 

On the 19th Yicksburg was closely invested; 22d, an attempt to 
carry the works by storm, but unsuccessful. Among the killed in 
this charge was Joseph H, Gate, of Hamilton, July 4, the place 
surrendered, 

Kemoved on duty to Black River Bridge; July 6 ordered to 
Jackson with General Sherman. Participated in the fight at Jack- 
son; 10th to 17th on a raid to Brook Haven to cut the railroad and 
destroy army stores. August 14, 13th Army Corps ordered to the 
Department of the Gulf, At Carrollton Aug. 16; Sept, 5, on a 
raid to Western Louisiana; 4th October, ordered to Algiers and 
mounted; left for the front October 11; at Yermillionville Oct, 14; 
at Opelousas Oct. 23. Engagement near Washington Oct. 24; 
took part in severe battle of Grand Canton Nov, 3; Kov, 11, battle 
near Yermillionville; in this battle Capt, A, W, Marsh, of Wythe, 
was killed. To New Iberia Nov, 15; severe skirmish near Yer- 
raillion bayou, in which 78 prisoners were captured. Ordered to 
Port Hudson, arriving Jan, 7, 1864; remained to July 3, scouting 
almost daily; had many sharp skirmishes, often capturing prison- 
ers. Removed to Baton Rouge, remained till Sept, 4; participated 
in Gen, Lee's raids to Liberty and Brook Haven, 

Left Baton Rogue Nov, 27 with Gen, Davidson's expedition to 
West Pascagoula; returned bj'^ New Orleans Dec. 27. Winter 
and spring 1864-'5, the regiment was engaged in scouting, picket- 
ing, etc. May 22 dismounted, and from that time the regiment 
was employed in provost duty in Baton Rouge, to Oct. 1, 1865, 
when it was mustered out. Arrived at Camp Butler Oct. 13, for 
final pay and discharge. 

119th. — Had 44 men from Hancock county, of whom 35 were 
from Augusta, 

124th,— Co. C, 5 recruits from St. Mary's. 

137th. — Had 43, mostly from Warsaw, 

13Sth, — Had 10 men from Carthage, 

148th. — Had 3 men from Carthage. 

151st. — Had 21, mostly from Pontoosuc, 

155th. — From Warsaw and St. Mary's, 10 men. 

SECOND CAYALBY. 

Major Benj. F. Marsh, Warsaw, Aug. 30, 1862; promoted Lieut,- 
Colonel May 3, 1864; promoted Colonel Aug, 29, 1865; not mus- 
tered. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 485 

Company Officers. — Co, G, Benjamin F. Marsh, Cap tain, Aug. 24, 
1861; promoted Major. John G. Weakley, Warsaw, Second Lieut., 
Dec. 27, 1861; promoted First Lieut. March 12, 1862; promoted 
Captain Dec. 31, 1862; died Sept. 28, 1864. John G. Fonda, War- 
saw, First Lieut., Aug. 24, 1861; resigned Dec. 27, 1861. Thomas 
Logan, Hamilton, Second Lieut., Aug. 24, 1861; proinoted First 
Lieut. Dec. 27, 1861; transferred to 12th Cavalry. William H. 
Williams, Carthage, Second Lieut., March 12, 1862; promoted First 
Lieut. Dec. 31, 1862; resigned May 11, 1864. George M. Prentice, 
Fountain Green, First Lieut., May 11, 1864. James M. Foy, Foun- 
tain Green, Second Lieut., Dec. 31, 1862; resigned May 18, 1864. 
Miles H. Day, Fountain Green, Second Lieut., May 18, 1864. 

Co. L. — James K. Catlin, Augusta, First Lieut., Aug 24, 1861; 
promoted Adjutant, 

Plancock county furnished 150 men for the Second Cavalry, as 
follows: Cartilage, 56; Fountain Green, 25; La Harpe, 23; Monte- 
bello, 9; scattering, 37. 

THE 12th cavalry. 

John G. Fonda, Warsaw, Major, March 8, 1862; mustered out 
for promotion. 

Co. I. — Jesse C, Rogers, Durham, Second Lieutenant, Jan. 22, 
1864; promoted to First Lieutenant May 17, 1865. 

Hancock county had 53 men in this regiment; the 14th 
Cavalry, 3 men from this county; 16th Cavalry, 15 men; 2d 
Kegiment Artillery, 24 men from Hancock, 

As far as the war records go to show, it appears that 1,797 
officers and men were in the service from the county of Hancock, 
distributed among the several townships as follows: 

Prairie, 33; Rock Creek, 13; Dallas, 107; Pontoosuc, 46; 
Walker, 30; Wythe, 65; Montebello, 165; Sonora, 25; Appanoose, 
6; Rocky Run, 26; Wilcox, 4; Warsaw, 203; JSTauvoo, 27; Augusta, 
153; St. Mary's, 108; Hancock, 36; Fountain Green, 132; La Harpe, 
143; Chili, 33; Harmony, 7; Carthage, 238; Pilot Grove, 70; Dur- 
ham, 34; St. Alban's, 32; Bear Creek, 41; scattering, 30. 

The lists doubtless do injustice to some of the townships. Many 
names are given and not credited to any county, while others are 
reported as from Hancock county only; no township mentioned. 
Besides, it is known that four companies of the 7th Mo. Cavalry, 
known as the 

BLACK HAW^K REGIMENT, 

were recruited in Hancock county: — Co. B, Captain Bredett, at 
Augusta; Co. E, Captain Rockwell, Warsaw; Co. F, Captain 
Miller, Carthage; and Co, G, Captain Martin, St. Mary's. This 
would add, perhaps, 300 men to those four townships, and those 
adjoining them. 

The record of three of those companies we have been unable to 
obtain, but tliroucfh the kindness of Lieut. A. E. Boude, of Car- 



486 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

thage, we obtain a sketch of the organization of Co. F, and the 
service of the regiment in the field. The company was ofiicered 
as follows: Thomas C, Miller, Carthage, Captain; James C. 
McQuary, Carthage, First Lieutenant; A. E, JBonde, Carthage, 
Second Lieutenant; George P, Brown, John Sommerville, Philander 
Powell, Jackson F. Perry, James N, Herbert, George Abbott, 
Edward J, Doran, Miron C. Chafiee, Wm. Hudkins, Sergeants; 
John B. Donley, "Wm. E. Hill, Andrew Rymer, Benj. Robinson, 
Edward Stifiies, Hiram Tennyhill, Corporals; James D. Burnam, 
John F. Clokey, Blacksmiths; Wm, T. Waggoner, John C. West- 
brook, Patrick Gannon, Buglers; and 67 privates. 

The regiment was first known as the Northeast Mo. Cav., Col. 
Wm, Bishop commanding, then as the Black Hawk Cav., and was 
finally numbered the 7th Mo. Cav,, and Col. Daniel Huston, of 
the regular armj^ placed in command. The Hancock companies 
were enlisted in the fall of 1861 for three years. 

The regiment was stationed at Macon City during the winter of 
1861-''2; moved to Lexington in the spring, holding that portion 
of the State. The battle of Lone Jack was fought Aug. 16, in 
which five companies of our regiment took part, sufiering severely. 
In the fall it joined the Army of the Frontier at Springfield, Mo., 
Gen. Schofield commanding, taking active part in all the move- 
ments which culminated in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., Dec, 
7, 1862, in which the rebel army was completely defeated and 
broken up. 

During the winter the regiment returned to Missouri, moving 
eastward across tiie southern portion of the State, in time to 
check-mate one of Gen. Price's raids. July, 1863, found us part 
of the Cavalry Division under Gen, Davidson leaving Arcadia for 
the South, passing through Southeast Missouri to the St. Francis 
river in Arkansas, down that stream to the vicinity Helena, where 
the Division formed the advance of the 7th Army Corps upon 
Little Rock, which place was taken on the 10th of September, 1863. 

The 7tli was made patrol guard for the city, the Lieutenant- 
Colonel being appointed Provost Marshal, January, 186-1, ordered 
to Pine Bluff, one of the outposts of the army, where it was 
kept constantly employed in scouting and picketing. 

On April 25, 1864, occurred the battle uf Mark's Mills, Ar- 
kansas, in which 120 of the regiment were engaged, 60 of whom 
were either killed, wounded or captured. The regiment lost a 
great many men during the summer, from the malarial diseases 
peculiar to the country; at one time but 60 men could be found fit 
for duty, and not an officer, A number of the men, having re-en- 
listed, went home on their veteran furlough during the summer, 
and the term of service of many others expired during the sum- 
mer and fall. The veterans and recruits were consolidated with 
the First Missouri Cavalry, remained until spring of 1865, when 
all were mustered out of service, the war being over. 

Of the Captains of the Hancock companies. Captain Berdett 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 487 

was promoted Major, and was killed in battle of Prairie Grove ; 
Captain Martin was killed in the vicinity of Little Rock, by 
bushwhackers, and Captain Miller was mustered out on account of 
disability July 23, 1863. 

LIST OF CASUALTIES - jj 

among Hancock soldiers in the service of the United States dur- 
ing tTie Rebellion, collated from the Adjutant-General's reports 
and other sources. 

In the 16M Infantry: Co. D. — Sergeant Oscar Dickinson, ot 
Hamilton, wounded at Caldwell Station, Mo., Aug. 16, 1861; died 
September 1; Corporal George O. Felt, Hamilton, killed at same 
time and place; John McGovern, Hamilton, killed at Peach Tree 
creek, Georgia, July 17, 1864; Clarence C. Pitchey, Hamilton, 
died December 15. 1861. Henry A. Fortna, Montebello, died May 
4, 1865, of wounds; Jewett White, Carthage, died June 20, 1862. 
Philo C. White, Montebello, killed at Bentonville, N. C, March 20, 
1865. Co. /.—Adam Bird, Dallas, killed at St. Joe, Mo., Sep- 
tember 25, 1861; T. Ashton, Dallas, died September 12, 1861; F. 
Dolby, Dallas, killed at Buzzard's Roost, Ga., May 9, 1864; Thos. 
H. Duffield, Dallas, killed at Bentonville, N. C, March 20, 1865; 
Frank A. Humilke, Warsaw, died of wounds May 12, 1864; Geo. 
W. Lauthlin, Dallas, died January 16, 1864; John Martin, Dallas, 
died June 30, 1864, of wounds; John Purtle, Dallas, died May 1, 
1865; M. Wellover, Dallas, died August 20,1864; Joseph Burger, 
I^auvoo, died July 28, 1864; C. W. Pershin, Dallas, died July 20, 
1864. 

In the Z2d Infantry: Co. ^.—-Joseph Robertson, Carthage, 
died at Camp Butler, Nov. 3, 1861; Dearborn P. French, Hamil- 
ton, died at Memphis, Tenn., February 26, 1863; Thomas Swigel- 
son, Hamilton, killed at Hatchie river, October 6, 1863; J. S. 
Hickman, Carthage, died at Wilmington, N. C, March 23, 1865. 

In the 4:Qt]i Infantry, Co. D. — Geo. AV. Manning, Hamilton, 
died of wounds at Keokuk, August 21, 1863. 

In the hOth Infantry, Co. F. — John W. Alexander, Dallas, 
died of wounds, Oct. 22, 1862; Ebon Barker, Wythe, died at 
Quincy; Barnes R. McKaig, Pontoosuc, died at St. Louis, of 
wounds; Oliver G. Rauck, Nauvoo, killed at Allatona, Ga., Oct. 6, 
1864. Co. O. — Jacob Landers, La Harpe, died at Clarksville, 
Tenn., March 14, 1862/ David Barnes, La Harpe, died April 16, 
1862; Wm. Bray, La Harpe, killed at Rome, Ga., Sept. 2, 1864; 
G. W. Kirkpatrick, Prairie, died at Newbern, N. C, April 5, 1865. 

In the bith Infantry: Co. I. — M. j\[. Hendrickson, Plymouth, 
killed at Shiloh, April 6, '62; James Barnes, St. Mary's, died at 
Pittsburg, Tenn., Dec. 19, '62; W. T. Lawrence, Plymouth, died at 
Athens, Ala., April 3, '64. 

In the QUh Infantry: Co. D. — John W. Savage, Fountain 
Green, died at Rome, Ga., June, '64. 

In the l%th Infantry: Co. i>.— John L. Bell, Plymouth, died 



488 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

at Louisville, Ky., Feb. 3, '63; L. C. Barton, Plymouth, died June 
26, '64, of wounds; John Carroll, Carthao-e, killed at Chicka- 
mauga, Sept. 26, '63; W. H. Crott«, Chili, "died Aug. 11, '64, of 
wounds; Wm. S. Davis, Hamilton, died Sept. 17, '64, of wounds 
at Atlanta, Ga,; Daniel G. Hawkins, St. Mary's, died at Louisville, 
Ky., May 12, '63; Jeremiah M. Stuart. Hamilton, killed at Big 
Shanty, Ga., June 16, '64; Albert Wallace, Hamilton, killed at 
Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, '64. 

Co. B.—Wm. J. L. Ward, Dallas, died at Xashville, Tenn., Feb. 
28, '63; "Wm. J. Thomas, Durham, killed at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 
1, '64; Joseph Beerman, Dallas, died Sept. 20, '63; Joseph Coke, 
Dallas, died at Nashville, Tenn., March 7, '63; C. H. Dolbert, 
Dallas, killed at Chickamauga Sept. 20, '63; Martin Ellis, Dallas, 
died near Nashville Feb. 7, '63; Solomon Huff, Durham, died at 
Franklin, Tenn., May 9, '63; Albert Lincoln, Durham, died at 
Franklin, Tenn., May 9, '63; S. L. Lhornidlen, Dallas, died at 
Goldsboro, N. C, March 30, '65, of wounds; John W. Pate, Dallas, 
died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 7, '63; Thomas Robinson, Pontoosuc, 
died of wounds, Sept. 2, '64. 

In the SSth Infantry: Co. F. — Thomas A. Cassingham, La 
Harpe, killed at Mission Ridge, Nov. 25, '63; B. Duplaucy, La 
Harpe, killed at Perry ville, Ky., Oct. 8, '62; Newton B. Filson 
Carthage, died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 20, '64; Andrew Hutch- 
inson, La Harpe, killed at Mission Ridge Nov. 25, '63; Thomas 
Norris, La Harpe, died at Annapolis, Md., Feb. 24, '63. 

In the S9th Infantry: Co. A. — John Butlers, Augusta, died at 
Anderson ville prison, Sept. 14, '64; No. of grave, 8,776; J. J. 
Ferguson, Augusta, died at Danville, Ky., Oct. 15, '62; Enoch D. 
T. Sharpe, Augusta, died at Andersonville prison, June 13, '64; 
No. of grave, 1,899. 

In the W%th Infantry: Co. A. — Hiram Chamberlain, Fountain 
Green, died at Carrollton, La., Oct. 16, '63; Marcus Alton, Foun- 
tain Green, died at Island No. 10 June 5, '63; Thomas Bramley, 
Fountain Green, died at Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 23, '62; Richard B. 
Brandon, Fountain Green, died at Milliken's Bend, La., March 15, 
'63; Otis E. Brunson, Fountain Green, died at Mempliis, Tenn., 
Dec. 28, '62; Andrew Bright, Hancock, died in Louisiana, May 2, 
'63; John Conner, Fountain Green, died at Port Hudson, La., Feb. 
26, '64; George W. Glass, Fountain Green, died at Young's Point, 
La., March 13, '63; John N. Harrell, Fountain Green, died at Ben- 
ton Barracks, Mo., July 2, '63; David Line, Hancock, died at 
Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 31, '62; George Lathrop, Fountain Green, 
died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Jan. 28, '63; Robert Riggs, Foun- 
tain Green, died at St. Louis, March 26, '63; J. C. Roberts, Foun- 
tain Green, died at Camp Butler, Nov. 30, '62; Jesse W". Roberts, 
Fountain Green, died on steamer Di Yernon, Jan. 19, '63; Alex- 
ander Wright, Fountain Green, died at New Orleans, Sept. 11, '63. 

Co. B. — Sergt. David Sholl, Carthage, died of wounds, May 
9, '63; Sergt. Samuel Davis, died at St. Louis, Aug. 18, '63; David 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



489 



Bayles, Bear Creek, died at Meuiphis, Tenn., Dec. 19, 62; M. 
BaVles, Plarmony, died Dec. 9, '62; Marion Bayles, Bear Creek, 
died April 26, '65; Wm. M. Grisham, Pilot Grove, killed at 
Thompson's Hill, Miss., May 1,' 63; F. M. Kcyoier, Rock Creek, 
killed at Vicksbur^ May 22, '63; Thomas Mix, Carthage, killed 
at Redwood, La., Aug. 25, '64; John L. Symonds, Prairie, died in 
camp at Black River Bridge, Miss., Dec. 19, '62; Wm. Sleater, 
Carthage, died at Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 19, '62; Edwin C. 
Stevens, Montebello, died of wounds received at 1 azoo Landing, 
Miss., Jan. 6, '63; George J. Weir, Carthage, died Jan. 21, '63; 
Francis Warner, Fountain Green, died at Mound City, III., Jan. 4, 
'63; Geo. W. Delano, Carthage, died Oct. 11, '64; Wm. A. Miner, 
Carthage, died Aug. 1, '64. ■ ^r-n-i , 

Co (7.— Sergt. Henry Moore, Hamilton, died at Milliken s 
Bend, La., June 27, '63; Frank Benner, Sonora, died at Baton 
Rouo-e, La., Feb. 5, '65; Frank J. Barker, Wythe, died at Milli- 
ken's Bend, La., April 22, '63; Samuel Bechtold, Nauvoo, died on 
hospital boat, April 18, '63; Wm. T. Curtis, Hamilton, died at 
Keokuk, Aug. 11, '63; Joseph H. Gate, Hamilton, killed at Vicks- 
buro- Miss., May 22, '63; Henry Chandler, Wilcox, killed at 
WaSiington, La., Oct. 24, '63; Joseph Ferguson, Wythe, died at 
Baton Rouge, Jan. 18, '65; James McFadden, Wythe, died on 
hospital boat, Jan. 22, '63; Henry Moore, Hamilton, died at St. 
Louis March 31, '63; Calvin Newcomb, Hamilton, died at Port 
Hudson, La., Feb. 21, '64; John Poole, Wythe, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., Jan. 5, '63; Casper Sharts, Hamilton, died at Mound City, 
111., Jan. 19,'63;Henry J. Trussell, Hamilton, died at St. Louis, Mo., 
May 10,'63; Henry Teigen, Sonora, died at Louisiana, Oct. 18, '64; 
Patrick Welch, Hamilton, died while a prisoner of war at Jackson, 
Miss., March 13, '63; Geo. McClintock, St. Alban's,died Jan. 30, '63. 
Samuel M. Crawford, Walker, died at Keokuk, Feb. 22, '65. 

Cq ^.—Sergt. Wm. H. Masgan, Warsaw, died at Port Hudson, 
La Aug 9, '64, of wounds; G. AV. Bankson, Warsaw, killed on 
Yazoo river, Jan. 2, '63; Wm. M. Silsby, Warsaw, died July 24, 
'63 atMilliken's Bend, La.; David L. Smith, Nauvoo, died of 
wounds received at Thompson's Hill, Miss., July 9, '63; Henry 
Weddincr, Harmony, died at Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 16, '65; 

Co. (?!— Provine Burch, La Harpe, died at Memphis, Dec. 20, 
'62; Alexander Spiker, La Harpe, died at Milliken's Bend, June 

19 '63. 

'Co. iz— Corp. Thomas Kerr, Wythe, died at Milliken's Bend, 
Marcii 13 '63, of wounds; Christopher Allen, Walker, died at 
Keokuk, Oct. 12, '63; Charles Allen, Walker, died atMilliken's 
Bend March 21, '63; Alexander Bennett, Rocky Run, died on 
hospital boat, Dec. 18, '62; W. P. Brown, Wythe, died Sept. 14, 




C. Lilley, Chili,' died at Memphis, Dec. 25, '62; Wm. Marshall, St. 
Mary's, died at Memphis, Dec. 31, '62; Martin H. Messick, Walker, 



490 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

died at New Orleans, Nov. 13, '63; Andrew J. Polite, St. Mary's, 
died Feb. 11, '65; Austin Rhodes, Bear Creek, died at Carrollton, 
La., Oct. 24, '63; T. S. Staley, Rocky Run, died at Bruinsburg, 
Miss., May 16, '63, of w^ounds; Wm. Farlev, Warsaw, died March 
L7, '65. 

Co. I. — George W. Newkirk, Hancock, died at Alton, 111., June 
30, '65. 

Co. R. — Geo. "VV. Bloyd. Hancock Co., died at Memphis, Jan. 
9, '63; James Mesacor, LaHarpe, died at Memphis, Feb. 19, '63. 

In the ll^th Infantry: Co. G. — John A. Archer, Warsaw, died 
at Red River Landing, La., May 20, '64, w^ounds. 

Co. K. — Thomas Clifton, Augusta, killed at Yellow bayou, La., 
May 18, '64; Wm. Jump, died of wounds at Jefferson Barracks, 
June 3, '64. 

In the V61th Infantry: Co. A. — John A, Davenport, Warsaw, 
died at Memphis, Aug. 26, '64; John Hubbard, Augusta, died 
Sept. 12, '64. 

In the \^%th Infantry: Co. B. — E. H. Patterson, Pilot Grove, 
died at Quincy, 111., Feb. 10, '65. 

Co. G. — W. H. Roseberry, Carthage, Feb. 11, 'Co. 

In the \o\st Infantry: Co. D. — I. D. Clark, P.Mitoosuc, died at 
Dal ton, Ga. April 3, '65. 

In'^d Cavalry: Co. G. — James Comstock, LaHarpe, killed in 
action at Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 20, '62; Ed. C. Simms, Foun- 
tain Green, died at Paducah, Ky., Dec. IS, '61; John Mack, Elvas- 
ton, died of wounds, June 30, '63; Wra. A. Payne, Chili, died at 
New Orleans, March, '64; Jc>hn N. Parker, Fountain Green, died 
at Bolivar, Tenn., Sept. 12, '62; Isaac B. Ritter, Carthage, killed 
by a mob at home, June 9, '63;' Benj. L. Scott, Hamilton, died at 
Metropolis, 111.; Eli Sporry, LaHarpe, died at Keokuk, March 30, 
'64, of wounds; James Blackburn, Carthage, died at Bolivar, Tenn., 
Jan. 14, '62 ; Hiram E. Neal, Carthage, died Jan. 14, '63, of wounds. 

In the \^th Cavalry: Co. G. — John Ellis, Hancock Co., died of 
wounds received at Gettysburg; George Minor, Bear Creek, killed 
at Upperville, Ya., June 21, '63; Orlando Aleshire, Carthage, died 
at Napoleon ville, La., June 26, '64; F. Crow, Bear Creek, died at 
Baltimore, Md., July 13, '63. 

Co. M. — Joseph Hasse, Pontoosuc, died at New Orleans, May 
21, '64; Josiah Matlock, Durham, diedat New Orleans, June 3, '64; 
James Phelps, Hancock Co., died at Donaldson ville. La., Oct. 7, 
'64; Gideon Thompson, Durham, died at New Orleans, June 18, 
'64. 

In the 14:th Cavalry: Co. A. — Zeno Hillard, Hancock Co., died at 
Wilmington, N. C, March 23, '65. 

In the 16th Cavalry: Co. I — Robert H. Durand, Warsaw, died 
at Andersonville, Ga., July 31, '64; John Little, Warsaw, killed in 
action at Jonesville, Ya., Jan. 3, '64; Clark Reed, Warsaw, died at 
Augusta, Ga., April 1, '64. 

Co. K. — James B. Ellis, Augusta, died at Savannah, Ga., Oct 
26, '64. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 491 

In the Ind Jiegt. Artillery: Co. H. — Win. Ward, Dallas, died at 
Fort Donelson, Mav 30, '63; Marquis Avery, Augusta, died at 
Camp Butler, 111., April 30, '64. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Milton Brawner, Warsaw, Captain Co. A, Ttli Mo. Cav., promoted 
to Major and Colonel; died at home, Dec, 16, 1866. Joseph Brawner, 
Warsaw, 1st Lieut. Co. K., 8th Mo. Inft., died in La Harpe, '76; 
Charles CooHdge, Warsaw, Lieut. Col. .50th 111, luft, Suro-eon in the 
field and Examining Surgeon this district, died in 1870; Wm. 
Brawner, Warsaw, 1st Lieut. 2d Iowa, killed at battle of Shiloli; 
Malcolm Andrews, Warsaw, 7th Mo. Cav., killed at battle of Lone 
Jack, Mo.; Thaddeus Ketchum, Warsaw, 7th Mo. Cav., killed at 
battle of Lone Jack; John Walther, Captain and Pastor Ger. M. 
E. Ch., Warsaw, killed at Pittsburg Landing; Dr. Wm. A. Russell, 
Hamilton, Capt. Co. F, 10th Mo., killed at battle of Mission Ridge; 
Joseph Lloyd, Hamilton, 10th Mo., wounded at Mission Ridge, 
afterward killed at home; Geo. White, Hamilton, killed at bat1;le 
of Jackson, Miss. ; Elijah T. Swigert, Hamilton, died in hospital 
in Hermann, Mo., '61 ; Ernst Fleisback, Warsaw, 7th Mo. Cav., 
died at Macon, Mo.; Ernst Hazelstrange, Warsaw, 7th Mo. Cav., 
killed at Lone Jack; James H. Creese, Warsaw, died at Little Rock, 
Ark.; Henry Brasche, Warsaw, 8th Mo., died in service; Dr. Wm. 
English, Warsaw, Captain of supply boat on river, captured by 
.enemy and held several months prisoner, died at home; Jonathan 
J. Smith, Quartermaster 137th 111., killed at Memphis, Tenn., 
Aug., 21, '64. 

When the draft was about coming, one " Jerry Scrog-gs," not 
having the fear of it before him, ])ublished in the local paper the 
following jeu cf esprit: 

THE DRAFT. 

O, dou't you see the draft is coming, boj'S? 
And sure there's no use now in running, boys! 

O, not a bit — 0, not a whit 
Of use is tliere at all in running, boys. 

All ye Smiths, from Charles to Fred; 

All ye Browns, from A to Zed ; 

Omen Quinn and Patrick Flynu 

Ned O'Bryan, IMichael Ryan,— 

Just skin your eye, and dou't j'ou cry — 
For sure enough the draft is coming, boys. 

. Uncle Sam — bless his soul ! — is calling, boys ! 
Don't you hear ? 'Tis Sam-u-el that's calling, boys ! 

And not a -vvhit — never a bit 
Will you stand back wIumi Sam is calling, boys. 
All 3'e Clarks and all j'c llowells, 
All ye Thompsons, all ye Powells, 
All ye Rivers, Fords and Floods, 
All ye Forests, Groves and Woods, 
Be ye ready — ever ready — 
To answer to the call of Samuel, boys. 



492 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

The country's banner high is waving, boys ! ' 

The country's life is worthy saving, boys! 
Far in the sky that flag must fly, 
And ever there you'll keep it waving, boj'S ! 
All ye Delaplains and Dillons, 
All ye McNultys and McMillans, 
All the Austins and Adairs, 
All the Butlers and the Blairs, 
Gerard Nollen, Patrick Dolan, 
William Fields and Jimmy Shields, — 
Keep — keep your eye up to the sky, 
And keep that flag forever waving, boys ! 
Dec. 25, 1863. Jerry Scroggs. 

~Ho apology is offered for writing — and none for publishing in 
this connection — the following, written during the dark days of 
lS6i: 

EUTH; 

A POEM OF THE REBELLION, 

£i/ Thomas Gregg. 

To hose who recognize in the lessons of the Past and the tokens of the Present, 
promise of a glorious Future for our beloved country, and especially to those 
heart stricken ones who mourn the sacrifices laid upon the Coimtry's Altar, this 
humble tribute is respectfully inscribed. 

I. 

Grandma Ruth, in her easy chair, 

Sat plying her needles bright, 
While by her side lay Harry, the pet. 

In the taper's cheerful light. 
And each to her evening task, there bent. 

Were Sarah, and Jane, and Sue — 
These, father and mother, John and James, 

Composed that household true. 

Without, the broken clouds drove past, 

Beneath a moon-lit skj"- ; 
And giant shadows, in phantom forms, 

Stalked through the forest by. 
At intervals the big drops fell, 

A-patteriug on the pane, 
Borne on the tempest's fitful blast — 

The chilling April rain. 

Grandma sat humming a good old tune, 

And still her needles plied ; 
" Poor boy ! " she said, as the little form 

Lay sleeping at her side. 
Her thoughts had flown to far-oft" scenes, 

Full many a year before, 
When she, a little bright-eyed girl, 

Dwelt on Potomac's shore. 

And so she hummed her olden tune, — 

The hymn that long before 
She had sung so oft in the old church choir, 

On that remembered shore. 
She hummed away, and the stitches flew, 

The needles faster plied, — 
" Poor boy I I wonder if he'll ever know 

How his great-grandpa died ! " 



/ 



HISTORY OF IIANCOOK COUNTY. 493 

And then upon hi r \vrinkh»d hands 

Her i.fiid sht- srcntly leant, 
And a silvi r lock, from out lier cap, 

In shining wavelets l)ent. 
For-fotten, in her spacious lap, 

Her worlv neglected lay ; 
Her thoughts were busy with the scenes 

Of her early childhood's day. 

Her home, her friends,— the present, all, — 

Had faded from her sight ; 
These, with their dear realities. 

Had taken wings iu flight. 
The dead of eighty years before 

In magic column stood ; * ^ 

The deeds of eighty j^ears rolled on. 

In a tumultuous flood. 

The scenes of eighty years ago — 

The hamlet by the main, 
The grass-plot and the old school-house, 

Rose to her sight again. 
And, oh ! her childhood's early home, 

How vividly it came ! 
The well, the grove, the rippling rill, — 

The same, ah ! still the same ! 

Still in that home in loveliness, 

Each form transfigured stood; 
The mother, in her modest robes — 

The beautiful, the good. 
The sister's easy, gentle grace. 

The brother's manly form, 
The father, idol of her heart, 

The babe, with lip so warm. 

She thought of him, her father dear, 

Her glory and her pride ; 
How, at his country's call he went, 

And for his country died ! 
And those after years of agony, 

Of penury anil of pain. 
Now, in her second childhood's hour. 

She lived all o'er again. 

She stood with him on ])attle-fields 

Stained red with human gore. 
And with him trod, through wintry blasts. 

Full many an ice-bound shore ; 
She marched with him, for weary months, 

On many a hard cami>aign, 
With bleeding feet and sun-burnt brow, 

Through storm, and snow, and rain ! 

On Bunker's Heights with him she stood, 

And then at Bennington ; 
With him his battles nobly fought, 

With him his victories won! 
On Saratoga's gory plain 

At Princeton's well-fought field, 
She .saw the foeman bite tlie dust, 

Slie saw the foeman yield! 



494 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

She saw again that brother bold, 

When captured by the foe ; 
She saw that sister's flowing tears — . 

That mother's deepest woe ; 
Because he would not bend the knee, 

And Freedom's cause denj^ — 
Because he would not to King-Craft bow 

They led him forth to die ! 

That father once again appeared, 

As, when at even-tide, 
The battle's bloody contest o'er, 

Down near the brooklet's side 
They found him— dead, aud stitT, and pale 

From many a ghastly wound 
His blood had tiown in livid streams, 

And crimsoned o'er the ground. 

II. 

Thus grandma sat but, hark ! a sound ! 

The cannon's deep-toned roar 
Breaks in upon their solitude. 

And swells along the shore ! 
The News of Sumter! — like a shock, 

Has startled all the land! 
The Deed of Sumter! black and foul! 

Has nerved each Freeman's hand 1 

Full long the Southern breeze had borne 

Defiance on its wings. 
And loyal hearts full long been filled 

With grave imaginings. 
One thought now fills each patriot breast, 

One impulse fires each soul — 
The desolating scourge of war 

Must o'er the traitor roll ! 

"Go forth!" the aged woman spoke — 

Her grandsons at her side; 
" Go forth !" 't was in just such a cause 

JNIy good old father died ! 
Gird on your armor, boj-s, and go ! 

Be valiant in the fight ; 
Your Country calls her loyal sons 

To Battle for The Right ! 

" That flag, which nearly fourscore years. 

Has floated o'er the land. 
Must not lie trailing in the dust. 

By coward traitors' hand ! 
Go, boys ! and bear that banner high ! 

Your Country's call obey! 
The blood of Revolutionary sires 

Must show itself to-day!" 

And there went out unnumbered hosts — 

Poured forth stout-hearted men 
From every sunny hillside home — 

From every mountain glen. 
And, marshalled on a hundred fields, 

Were heroes marching on ; 
And bristling bayonets flashed their light 

Beneath each morning sun. 





Fiji's 



,'-?»%'-;■ 
"^-i" 
■«*' 



O^r &^Pfp^C^ 



HANCOCKTp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 497 

From wlR're Peuobscot pours his flood, 

By Saco's rushing tide — 
From Susquehanna's fertile vales, 

Where Hudson's waters glide; — 
From Mississippi's sounding shore. 

From Ohio's placid wave, — 
Rushed forth a thousand valiant bands, 

The Nation's life to save ! 

With sword and musket, lance and steel. 

They gird them for the fight; 
They go, in Heaven's name, to wage 

The Battle of the Right! , 

They go to teacli the traitor hordes 

The majesty of law! 
They go — and at their martial tread 

The Nations stand in awe ! 

The plow is left to rust its share — 

The reaper lieth still ; 
Uncared, the cattle rove the fields, 

And silent stands the mill ; 
And peaceful skies look down from where 

The smoke of steamer rose. 
And plain, and vale, and hillside home. 

Lie wrapped in deep repose. 

III. 

Three years have past ! and Grandma's form 

Is bowing to the grave ; 
And James and John, those stalwart boys, 

Sleep 'neath Kanawha's wave; 
And thousand true hearts, such as theirs 

Have poured their richest blood 
To mmgle with the Hatter as sands. 

Or tinge Tal'hatchie's flood. 

And on a hundred battle plains 

Dead corpses bleeding lie, 
And maimed and sickened foemen writhe 

Beneath the arching sky. 
And twice ten thousand widowed wives 

Are left to mourn their fate ; 
And thrice ten thousand happy homes 

Are rendered desolate! 

And War, the Demon, drives his car 

O'er plain, and hill, and dale ; 
And Carnage gluts his thirst for blood 

In many a sunny vale. 
And Wrong, and Hate, and Treason, still 

Their flaunting flag furl wide; 
And bold Defiance, blind with rage, 

Strikes out on every side ! 

But God, who sends the earthquake's shock, 

The tempest's fiery wrath. 
And bids the dread sirocco bring 

Destruction in its path, — 
Will rule the Evil still for Good, 

And heal the Nation's woe ! 
Lo! now against the curtained East, 

See ! See ! the Promise-Bow ! 



30 



498 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

IV. 

Grandma, as iu that April night, 

Sits by tlie cliimney place ; 
And, as before, her wrinlvled hands 

Still shield her aged face. 
She musing sits. But visions now 

Of future prospects rise ; 
Turned from the past with grief away. 

She scans the coming skies. 

She musing sits. For her no more 
• Potomac's waters run — 

No more for her the Blue Ridge peaks 

Smile 'neath the morning sun. 
No more the strife of Shiloh's light — 

The blood at Malvern Hill,— 
Or carnage on a hundred fields, 

Her mind with horrors fill. 

But far away, on Time's broad sea. 

The opening years uprise; 
Whose rolling waves, in vistas clear, 

Blend with th' encircling skies. 
The vistas sweep around— expand, 

The shadows roll away. 
The golden tints of morning burst 

Into effulgent day. 

A vast expanse looms up to view 

From Equatorial sea. 
And from Atlantic's surge, to where 

Pacific's waves roll free ; 
O'er plain and mountain, lake and vale, 

O'er pebbly-margined river, 
The beams of Peace triumphant smile, 

And Freedom's sunbeams quiver! 

No more the wail of woe is heard. 

No more the clank of chain ; 
No more the dusky bondmen bow 

Beneath their load of pain. 
No more the traitor dares to act 

A parricidal part, 
Nor reaches forth his bloody hand, 

To strike the Nation's heart ! 

But plenty, joy, and love, abound ! 

Schools, churches, cities, rise I 
The hum of industry ascends, 

And echoes through the skies! 
And Max stands forth, at length, redeemed 

From power of brother Man ; 
And Equal Rights is writ anew, 

In God's Eternal Plan ! 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 499 

CONCLUSION. 

When the Rebellion began, no one expected it to be of long con- 
tinuance. Even President Lincoln seemed to hold the prevalent 
opinion that the 75,000 men first called for would be ample to put 
it down. And they would have been amply sufficient had all who 
were not engaged in it been true to their country and their flag. 
Had it been realized that it would require more than a million of 
men and a sacrifice of two hundred thousand lives to subdue it, 
the whole people would have stood aghast with horror; and had 
these results been foreseen, it surely would' never have been begun. 

But now. after the lapse of years, we are enabled to comprehend 
the causes for its long continuance. We can now more fully realize 
that, though inaugurated by the violence and fraud of the few, 
against the wishes and sober judgment of the many, it was the aid 
and support it received elsewhere, coupled with the " fire in the 
rear" that raged '• all along the line," that contributed largely to 
its four years' duration. 

Hancock county stood abreast with her sisters in furnishing the 
complement of men required, in answer to the various calls for vol- 
unteers; yet it cannot be concealed that she, too, contained citizens 
whose sympathies were with the /Stripes and Bars. This fact was 
made more apparent toward the close of the struggle, during the 
dark daj's of 1864. And while stern justice demands that these 
things should be made matters of history, we shrink from the task 
of recording them, preferring that the sea of oblivion shall hide 
them, and unwilling to cast even a pebble into the watei^s whose 
troubles have subsided. \je. it enough that the Stars and Stripes 
still wave. 

AVe would, if we could, record the many patriotic eftbrts of our 
people to furnish supplies to the soldiers in hospital and field, and 
the many noble acts of self-sacrifice to that end. Suffice it to say, 
that the citizens all over the county vied with each other to aid in 
the cause, and thousands upon thousands were contributed in pro- 
visions, clothing and money, for that purpose, and sent to the 
front. Great credit is due to the noble women everywhere, for 
their eiforts; and man}' thanks and many a prayer went up trom 
the "boys" in hospital and camp in behalf of their sisters and 
friends at home. Lo, these things, are they not all written in the 
great book of human account! 

We must not omit to state that, after several efforts to pass orders 
in behalf of drafted and substitute men and tiieir families, one was 
finally passed and put into effect, appropriating $120,000 for that 
purpose, and disbursed by an agent in depreciated county orders. 



CHAPTER XXiy. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 
LA MOINE RIVER. 

Crooked creek, in the east part of the county, is on some of the 
old maps called La Moine river, — said to signify River of the 
Monk. Wliether the name had the same or a similar origin with 
that of the Des Moines river, which empties into the Mississippi 
opposite Fort Edwards, we are unable to say. And of the origin 
of its name there are two statements; which is the correct one 
might require even a learned Frenchman to decide. One is, that 
the name is an abbreviation of Moin^onas., a tribe of Indians 
who inhabited the country. xlnother, that the French term 
La Riviere des Moines., is a translation of Ke-ish-shaxv-qua' s sepo, 
the river of the man who lives alone; such a man having been 
found on its banks many moons ago, when the Sacs and Foxes 
settled there. This the French pioneers interpreted as the 
river of the monk. 

ANECDOTE OF AMZI DOOLITTLE. 

A correspondent tells the following story : " Mr. Doolittle was 
a thorough -going, energetic man, yet kind-hearted and true. But 
he was a most inveterate, profane swearer. An incident is told 
about him that illustrates this habit. He was at Quincy attend- 
ing to some business, and as usual, was letting off a string of oaths 
at every other breath. A man, who was in an adjoining room, 
hearing Mr. Doolittle going on, and the door being partly open, ob- 
served in Mr. D.'s hearing that he beat any person swearing he ever 
heard, except one man, and that was Amzi Doolittle, of Appa- 
noose. This, of course, was a poser to Mr. D., and on his way 
home he reflected on the matter and decided to turn over a new 
leaf, which he did, and subsequently joined the Baptist Church." 

SOME PONTOOSUC PIONEERS. 

Thomas Harris — Settled in seven north, seven west, in 1833; was 
a native of Kentucky. Horse thieves sometimes prowled around, 
and occasionally got off with a good jme. Mrs. Harris owned two 
very fine mares, and several attempts had been made by a well- 
known bad man, who lived in the woods on the river bluff, but had 
failed. However, one dark night he concluded he must have one 
of the mares. Mr. Harris had taken the precaution to tie them 

(500) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 501 

close to Lis cabin door, but this did not deter the thief from trying 
to stampede them. The liorses making an effort to l)reak away, 
waked the owner, and he rushed out, rifle in hand, and tired at 
random. He then tied them close to the door and lay down to 
sleep again. But the ardor of the rascal did not abate. Waiting 
till near two o'clock, he once more crept up, and began to untie 
the horses, but they received him with a snort. This time Mr. 
Harris was fully aroused, and seizing his gun, he aimed a blow at 
the persistent thief, which sent him away howling through the 
woods. His horses were molested no more. 

Mr. Harris has now reached the ripe old age of 84, in good 
health, and bids fair to be a centenarian. 

Johnson C. Clarh — Was a native of Indiana; emigrated to this 
count}' in 1S32. During the Indian troubles he settled on section 
10, 7 n, 7 w; was the husband of two wives, by whom he had 
eleven children each — 22 in all ! He was appointed b}' the War 
Department to build a block house or small fort at Spillman's 
Landing (now Pontoosuc), and in the discharge of this duty he 
was assisted by Hezekiah Spillman and Andrew Deboneyer. Mr. 
Clark, who wasa man of courage, would mount the fort, swing his old 
while hat, cheer for Gen. Jackson, and curse the red-skins; then 
down into the trench again, would work away with pick and 
shovel, throwing up breast- works; all the while telling the men 
they must work or the red-skins would get their hair. 

Mr. Clark lived to the advanced age of 85. 

Elijah Pease — Emigrated from Ohio in 1834, and settled in the 
timber near Mr. Harris. He was of the old Baptist school, some- 
times known as the '' Iron Jackets," and was noted for his honesty 
and fair dealing. So much did this trait mark his character that 
he was known as " honest old Elijah." An incident occurred dur- 
ing the latter period of his life which characterizes that trait of his 
nature. He was owing a man in Adams county the sum of $11, 
or, at least, supposed he was. The hard times of 1837 prevented 
him from discharging the debt at the time it was due; but as soon 
as he got enough money together, he called on Esq. Mendenhall, 
then living five miles distant, and requested him to take the money 
and pay the man, Mr. M. being in the habit of attending the land 
sales at Quincy. Mr. M. took the money, but on his visit to Quincy 
could learn nothing of the man anywhere in the county. The 
money was returned to Mr. P., who expressed sincere regret, but 
the man could never be found. 

SPELLING SCHOOLS 

had their day, or nights, among the early settlers. Common 
schools were yet scarce in the sparsely settled sections; but the 
hardy men and women of toil were ever ready to make up for any 
lack of improvement. So, in a circuit of ten or tifteen miles, the 
few young men and women would assemble in the wintertime, once 



602 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

or twice a week, at a designated house, and spend a few hours at 
spelling, words given either from a small dictionary or Webster's 
old spelling-book. This was an amusement of a three-fold benefit. 
First, it was instructive; second, it served to pass away the long 
winter nights, and to vary the monotony of frontier life; and, third, 
it served as an auxiliary to courting by the young folks, and the 
laying of plans for future business in that direction. The youth of 
to-day know little of the luxury of sparking in the winter time, by 
a huge hickory-wood fire, in a one-story, one-room log cabin, with 
nine children sprawling around watching, and the old woman 
quietly knitting, and the old man quietly nodding, with one eye 
open, in the chimney corners. Things are sadly changed now! 

THE LOST CHILD. 

Every county, almost every neighborhood, has a story of a lost 
child. Here is one from the blufis of Camp creek: 

Early in the spring of 1835. Michael Hildebrand removed from 
near Quincy and settled on the Camp creek bluffs, near the farm 
now owned and occupied by O. S, Avery. The country was wild, 
and settlers were few and far between. The dusky form of the red 
man was frequently seen, and ferocious wild beasts were plenty. 

Mr. H. cleared a patch of ground, fenced it in and put up a log 
cabin near a spring some 80 rods from his little field. He had 
planted his patch in corn, potatoes, pumpkins, etc., and as the 
autumn days drew nigh, it furnished him and his small family of 
three children with roasting ears and the various kinds of vegetables 
for the table. Several times Mrs. Hildebrand would take her eldest 
daughter, then six years old, and go to the field to get supplies for 
the table; little Sarah, or "Sallie," as she was called, thus learned 
the way to the field. 

One day, whilst her mother was very busy about her household 
duties, little Sallie, who was playing in the yard, took it into her 
head to go to the field for roasting ears. No sooner had she con- 
ceived the idea than she put it in execution. Starting to the field 
alone and unnoticed by her mother, she arrived there, plucked a 
green cucumber and an ear of corn, and started on her return, but 
missed her way, and became lost in the woods and underbrush. 
Mrs. H. did not miss her little one for some time, thinking all the 
time she was playing in the yard with her trinkets. On going to 
the door, and not seeing her. she began calling her by name. Not 
receiving any answer, she hurried around the house and yard, exam- 
ining tiie play-house and accustomed haunts of the little girl, but 
still no response. At this the mother became very much alarmed, 
calling frantically for her dear child. The cries of alarm reached 
the ears of her husband, who was at work in the woods not far 
away. Coming to her at once, and learning the facts, both parents 
joined in the search for the child. Every nook and corner was 
rigidly searched. By this time the cries and callings of the dis- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. "503 

tracted parents were heard by a neighbor passing by. Comincy to 
their assistance, and learning the facte, he immediately set off to 
call the few settlers around the country. 

The child was missed about ten o'clock a., m., and by night quite 
a number of settlers were searchinij tlnvtugh the woods for the lost 
one; but no tidings or signs conld be had. A brief consultation 
was held, and it was decided to continue the search through the 
night, with lanterns and torches, while two or three, on good horses, 
should carry the news to the nearest settlers, and ask their aid. 
The general conclusion was, that the child liad been either carried 
off by some savage beast, or by Indians. 

It was very distressing to see the j>oor parents call for their lost 
one. The Tuother had called and rambled through the woods, until 
she fell to the ground from mere exhaustion. Although tenderly 
urged and cared for by the neighboring women, she would not sit 
down and take rest. As the night wore on, a slight rain came on; 
then it was that the agony of the mother was unbounded — " My 
child ! my poor child ! in this rain, — every drop of Avhich pierces 
my heart like a dagger !" The women in attendance urged her to 
shut the door and keep the chill air out. "No!" she replied, 
"open wide the door; place a bright light on the table; open the 
window; perhaps my child may see the light and come to it." 

But the child was too far away to see any light. Toward the 
dawn of day the mother seemed to despair of finding her child, 
and gradually sunk under it. Her cries became low moanings and 
mutterings. Frequently she would call her darling to her, and 
then endeavor to lull it to sleep in her arras; and then she would 
start up with a wild cry of '' O, where is my child ! Have you 
found my child ?" 

The sturdy pioneers kept up the search all night long, but with 
no success. Morning at length dawned, and with it came a hun- 
dred or more of men to join in the search. The men who had gone 
out to tell the news traveled hard and all night, sparing not their 
horses, and by morning a circuit of thirty miles had been alarmed. 
The trusty rifle was the companion of the pioneer in those days; 
and no one was often away from home without his shot-pouch, 
powder horn and tried firelock. 

Another consultation was held at seven o'clock, and a plan of 
search agreed upon b}' the company. Many expressed their fears 
that, if found at all, the child would be dead. It was agreed to 
make a more thorough search of the corn patch, and then the 
woods around. On examination, some little prints of the child's 
feet were seen, as though coming out of the plowed ground. This 
trail was taken up, but soon lost again. 

It was agreed tliat if she was found a gun was to be fired. The 
search went on until the sun had nearly attained its meridian, 
when a shot was heard nearly a mile off"; then another, and 
another, was "fired. This, then, was the signal for the finding of 
the child. It was found! The mother knew the signal; but 



604: HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

whether her child was dead or alive, she knew not; her asfony and 
suspense were too much, and she sank to the earth in a swoon. 

About a mile from the house the little one was found. She was 
first seen b}^ one of the hunters, sitting on a log, eating away at her 
roasting ear. She had been lying down beside the log on a bed of 
leaves. When found she had a wild and haggard look, and started 
off tb evade the man who found her. She was tree from any harm, 
and only complained of a little hunger. Gradually the joyful news 
was conveyed to the mother; but the shock was so great to her 
system, that for manj^ months she suffered severely. 

Those sun-browned, hardy pioneers gathered around the parents 
and child, grasping each other by the hand; while the big tears 
rolled down their cheeks, as they expressed their joy to Mr. Hilde- 
brand and his wife, and to one another. Every one must take the 
little one and caress it! The father and mother would cry and laugh 
by turns. And finally when leaving for their homes, each would 
press the hands of parent and child, and with a fervent "God Bless 
you! " and a tear of gratitude, mount their horses and ride away, 

JUMPING CLAIMS. 

To a correspondent we are indebted for the following: On one 
occasion, a settler had made a claim on Camp creek, and put up a 
good hewed-log house, and lived in it during the summer; but as 
winter approached, and some of his family being sick and provision 
scarce, he went back to the older settlement where subsistence 
could be had in plenty. 

During the winter his improvement attracted the greedy eye of 
a speculator, who "jumped the claim" by moving into the empty 
house. This was looked upon by the settlers as a violation of the 
rules of frontier honesty. A deputation of them accordingly waited 
on the jumper of the claim and notified liim to leave. But this he 
refused to do, and declared his intention of going to Quincy to enter 
the land, it then being in the market. The first owner had returned 
to the claim and demanded possession, but all in vain. Finally, as 
the land sales drew on, the jumper, to seen re matters, as he thought, 
threw the roof off, after taking his family out and putting them 
in a tent, and proceeded to Quincy to enter the land. This was done 
in order to prevent any one from moving into the house. But on 
returning from the land sales, not a vestige of the house remained! 
Everything had been qnietlj' removed by the settlers. 

The same writer closes with the following description of 

PIONEEK LIFE. 

Mr. B. Mendenhall,of Dallas City, says: "The writer of this was 
a small boy in those days, and he has sat at the log fires of the 
early settlers (the fire-place occupying nearly the entire end of a 
cabin), and listened with eager delight to the stories of the pioneers, 
as they gathered around the hearth on winter nights, and recounted 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 505 

to one another the hardships, toils and dangers encountered, in 
order to gain a foothold in the Western wilds. 

'* Over the "linge tire-place hung the trusty rifle, on the prongs of 
the sturdy buck-horns. The well-tilled shot-bag, made of the skin 
of some wild animal, generally the raccoon or fox, hung by the 
rifle. In one corner was the meal sack, accompanied by the tin 
grater. If the former failed, resort was had to the latter, which 
never failed. Overhead were long strings of golden-colored pump- 
kins, cut in rings and hung up to dry. Generally the ])umpkin was 
interspersed with quantities of dried venison steaks. A barrel ot 
honey was almost always found in the cabin of the settler. 

" Frequently, as the meal sack would become low, the anxious 
housewife w'ould state the fact to the husband, and a new supply 
would be looked after. But many times supplies could not be had, 
as the mills were so few and far awa}'. So, to lengthen out the 
meal, the housewife would steam the dried pumpkin, and mixing 
it with the meal in equal parts, bake it into bread. It was good 
and palatable, and kept huno;er away. 

"People enjoyed themselves in those days, but they have passed 
away, and with them the early settlers also. One by one at first, 
and then by twos and threes, they have passed away and are at 
rest. But few remain. Occasionally a white-haired sire remains, 
a living monument of the hardy frontier settler, waiting and 
watching with an eye of faith, when he, too, will be called on to 
join his companions in that home beyond the skies, where all is 
joy and peace. 

" The younger ones are pressing on, filling their places in the 
great drama of human life. But the eagerness to obtain wealth 
and position has eftaced from these young ones manj' of the noble 
and generous traits of character that were prominent in their 
fathers." 

THE WINDMILL. 

Among the objects of interest well remembered by all the old 
citizens of the county was the unfinished windmill, which stood 
on the southeast of Carthage, on the southwest ten acres of the 
quarter section on which the college is located. It was originated 
by Rev. John Lawton, elsewhere named in these pages, who, in 
conjunction Avith E. D. Vandervoort, a mechanic, undertook its 
erection about 1835 or '^6. Of its plan we know but little, but 
remember that it was a high and strong frame, in the center ot 
which rose an immense shaft, to which were attached a number of 
16-foot wings. Shortly after its erection a storm of wind blew 
down some of the wings, and otherwise injured it. About the 
same time Mr. V. was crippled in the machinery. This accident, 
coupled with the fact that their funds and credit were about 
exhausted, determined the firm to abandon it. It stood in that 
unfinished condition for several years, it and the dome of the new 
court-house being the two first objects visible on approaching the 



506 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

town. After Mr. Lawton's death in 1842 it was taken down and 
sold. 

THE FIRST TWO -STORY FRAME. 

Mr. Samuel Gordon says: "I well recollect the excitement inci- 
dent to the raising of the first two-story frame house in the county. 
It was in the month of June, A. D. 1832, when the enterprising 
proprietor, Mr. Luther Whitney, conceiving the idea of enlarging 
his accommodations for the comfort of his guests of the Monte- 
bello House, projected a two-story frame, 20 by 50 feet. A raid 
upon the forest was made for the necessary material, and according 
to the notions of the day the timber must be about three times the 
size now used. Consequently the frame was very heavy. When 
everything was ready, all tlie inhabitants for ten miles around 
were invited to the raising. The timbers were fastened to- 
gether broad side at a time. The first side was carried up without 
difticultv; but the second bent was much more formidable. When 
about one-third the way up, matters came to a stand-still, and the 
utmost exertions of all engaged could not gain an inch. The sit- 
uation had become extremely critical, the great iLanger being ot 
losing control, and the frame falling back and killing or crippling 
all below. Just as all were about giving up in despair, the "buss" 
happened to think that there were a dozen or so of women in the 
house near by, and perhaps their strength might help him out of 
the difliculty. Their aid was invoked, and promptly responded to, 
and by the united efforts of' the whole west half of the county, the 
frame was raised and finished, and to-day stands as a monument ot 
the past, and also as the oldest frame building in the county." 

THE FIRST MURDER. 

To Mr. Gordon we are also indebted for the particulars of the 
first murder in the county, which we have failed to obtain else- 
where: 

"The first murder committed in the county was in the summer 
of 1832. The parties were Enoch Hankins and Abram Moore. 
It seems that they had been neighbors in Ohio, and had an old 
grudge not settled. On the fatal day they were both in the court 
room, rather the worse for liquor, when the quarrel was renewed. 
Moore being almost twice the size and strength of Hankins, 
gathered hold of him and threw him head first out of doors, the 
floor being several feet above the ground. The fall was a hard 
one. Hankins was so enraged tliat he took out his knife, opened 
it, but put it back into his pocket, and returned into the court 
room. Moore seeing him back again, made the second attempt 
to throw him out, whereupon Hankins drew out his knife and 
inflicted a fatal wouud, which caused Moore's death in 24 hours. 
Hankins was arrested, and bound over for his appearance to Court. 
Not being able to give bond, and there being no jail in the county, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 507 

he was taken to Quinc}'^ for safe keeping, Adams county having a 
log jail. Hankins, after a few months in jail got tired of such close 
quarters; so one night he dug through the wall and cleared himself 
for Texas. The family of Moore offered a reward of $500, the 
county $500, and Gov. Reynolds $200; but Hankins was never 
caught." 

SONS or TEMPERANCE. 

About the year 1846 or 'T, a temperance wave struck Hancock 
county, and resulted in the organization of a number of Divisions 
of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance. Of the Sons there 
were about a dozen Divisions in the county, one at each of the 
towns and villages. The total nuiiSber of members could not be 
told, as they were liable to so many changes. The Division at 
Warsaw initiated nearly 500 members, during the period of about 
eight years that it existed ; and Divisions at other points had nearly 
as many. But these institutions in time ceased to be beneficial, and 
passed away, none we believe now existing in the county, though 
the order still exists. 

MORMON TRAIL. 

It seems that a portion of the Mormon brotherhood had an intro- 
duction to Hancock county four or five j-ears before they settled at 
Nauvoo. There is, or was, not long since, a well-beaten, but grass- 
grown, track through the southeastern section of the county, known 
as the Mormon Trail, made by that people when on their passage 
from Ohio to the promised land in Missouri, in 1833 or '34. It 
entered the county from Schuyler, and crossed the prairie between 
Plj'mouth and Augusta, in the direction of Quiucy, that being the 
objective point on the Mississippi river. So that, in coming from 
Missouri to this county in 1838-'9, in pursuance of a later revela- 
tion, they were onl}' taking the " back track " over a road some ot 
them had traveled years before. 

THE DESERTERS. 

To John R. Tull, Esq., of Fruitland, we are indebted for a good 
many incidents of personal and county history. Here is one ot 
them, which occurred the first summer of his residence in the 
county: "'On a Friday night, near the middle of June, there was 
a tap on my cabin door ; I opened it, and there stood two men of 
suspicious appearance, with guns in their hands. They begged to 
come in ; I let them in, and they asked for something to eat, saying 
they had been without food for nearly two days. By close ques- 
tioning they told me they were deserters from the U. S. barracks 
at the head of the rapids, and that they were so cruelly treated by 
the ofiicer in command they could stand it no longer. I gave them 
of our little store of provisions. The next morning they begged 
to remain over Sunday, and they would work for me to pay for 



SOS HISTORY OF HANCOCK COrXTT, 

tlieir board. I consented. But on Snnday one of them discovered 
a company of Indians at a distance, and, supposing they were sent 
out from the fort on their trail, they both got into the cabin as quickly 
as possible, got their guns, and secreted themselves, declaring they 
would not be taken alive. I went out to watch the movements of 
the Indians, and. if possible, to divert their attention on eastward. 
They did not. however, attempt to enter, but. after looking around 
a little, passevi on. to our great relief. On Monday morning one of 
the men saw a man riding rapidly in the direction of where he was, 
and supposing him to be one of the officers of the barracks, both 
deserters broke for the brush, and made their escape, leaving their 
guns and bundles behind. About a month afterward they returned, 
got their guns and bundles, and I have never seen them since." 

LTJSUS XATURJE. 

Dr. G. gives this item as occurring in his practice in this county: 
A woman on whom he was called to attend professionally, gave 
birth to a monster child. It had two well-formed heads, joined at 
the shoulders: four arms, and three legs — a more i*emarkable I asm 
tuituriB than the Siamese twins. The cliild was alive, but died in 
the delivery. 

GASGREXE AND QUIXIXE. 

Speaking of medical cases, we may mention one as having 
occurred near the eastern line of the county many years ago. A 
man had two tingei's cut otf by a circular saw. He was living in a 
malarial district, and, at the time of the accident, was fiill of 
malaria. He was neglio^ent of the wound, until it became extremely 
painful and swollen, and g:\ngrene had set »in. and the arm was 
gangreuevl nearly to the shoulder. Several physicians were called, 
and while a majority said amputation of the arm was all that could 
save his life, another said Xo, claiming that it would not stop the 
gangrene, and that he could be cured by other means. He was 
allowed to pursue his own plan. He resorted to quinine. "With a 
knife he cut away all the g:\ngrenous tiesh clean, and filled the 
wound full of quinine, giving, at the same time, copious doses inter- 
nally. And that, too, when quinine was quoted at six dolhvrs an 
ounce. The patient recovered, retaining K'kth his arms. 

A MISOALCrLATIOX. 

An old settler relates the following story in the history of Appa- 
noose. About the time it was laid out by Messrs. "White and Doo- 
little, a man fn.uu Kentucky ottered them ^.000 for two blocks on 
the river at the upper end. and would obligate himself to put up 
large tlouring and lumber mills. This otfer the short-sighted pro- 
prietors i-efused. but wanted $t>.000, which he refused to give, and 
went away. It can be now seen that they would have done well to 
have made him a free gift of the blocks, on the condition tliat he 
would thus improve them. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



509 



SPILLMA.N S FORT. 

During the scare of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Hezekiah Spill- 
man was authorized to build a fort or block-house, near his place, 
tor the protection of the inhabitants. The house was built of 
large logs, twenty or twenty-tive feet long, knotched up solidly, and 
ten or twelve feet high, and then with longer logs projecting 
two or three feet over. The whole was covered with a heavy clap- 
board roof. All around, above and below, were port holes, to open 
or close as necessity required. This building was enclosed all around, 
some twenty-tive or thirty feet distant, with a stockade of logs set 
in the ground. 




CHAPTER XXIY. 

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. 

In this most important chapter of the history ol Hancock county, 
we wive the respective history of townships, with short biographical 
sketches of their leading citizens. At the close of the introductory 
portion we give a list of supervisors, clerks, assessors and collectors, 
as complete as we could obtain from the records. Each officer is 
credited with the year in which he was elected, and many were re- 
elected for successive years. For want of full returns the list 
doubtless contains errors. 

AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. 

Congressional, or surveyed, township nnmber three north and 
range nnmber five west of the fourth principal meridian (usually 
written 3 n. 5 w., or 3-5 for short) is named Augusta, after the 
handsome and ambitious little city within its borders. The town- 
ship is about one-third timbei-ed land, the rest prairie; the timber 
skirting the head waters of Pantlier creek in the northwest, 
Flowercreek near the center, and William's creek near the south 
line. Augusta contains much valuable land and many fine farms. 
Many of its settlers are farmers of tlie first class — emigrants from 
the East and South, who came to the county to make permanent 
homes for themselves and their families. 

The first settlers we can learn of in this township (and we cannot 
pretend to name them all, or in the order of their coming) were 
Alexander Oliver, Jesse and Shelton Phillips, Dr. Adolphus Allen, 
Benjamin Gould, Christopher E. Yates, George Sadler, Isaac 
Pidgeon, Solomon Stanley (these two last Quakers), Joel Catlin, 
Wm. D. Abernethy, Dr. Samuel B. Mead, Horace Mead, Alfred 
Mead and Jonathan Mead (the father died aged 87), James Bow- 
man, P. P. Jones, Roger Ireland, Thomas Trimble, Thomas Rice, 
David H. Rice, John Wilson, P. P. Newcomb, Wm. Dexter, Wm. 
M. Dexter, Emsley Jackson, George W. Ilawley, Benjamin Bacon, 
Alfred Skinner, Silas Griffith, John Jackson, George Jackson 
and E. S. Austin. 

A number of these left the county again, while manj^ of the 
more aged ones have gone to their reward. 

Mr. Oliver settled over the line, in Adams county, but his land 
was in Hancock. He came in August preceding the "deep snow" 
(1S30). He purchased his supply of provisions for the winter in 
Rushville, just before the snow, and was not able to get them home 

(510) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 511 

till March, consequently hominy was the main support of himself, 
wife, and ei<^lit children durin<^ the winter. His stock suflfered 
severely, and he had to cut down bass-wood trees to keep his cattle 
from starvin<r, they eatin^ the tops. 

In July, 1S32, during the Black Hawk war, Joel Catlin and Wm. 
D. Abernethy (brothers-in-law) came to "Oliver's Settlement," 
from Augusta, Georgia, though they were Eastern men. They 
located where the town of Augusta now stands, and gave the name 
to the place. Mr. Catlin resided there, an honored and influential 
citizen for a number of years, then removed to Jacksonville, where 
we believe he still lives at an advanced age. Mr. Abernethy was 
afterward Sheriif of the county, and subsequently went into busi- 
ness in Warsaw, where he died, about 1850, of cholera. 

The Pliillipses left early. One of them is remenii>ered as being 
the manufacturer of the primitiv^e mills for grinding corn, in use 
in those early days. He is not known to have ever patented it, so 
that any one is still at liberty to construct one for himself. We 
describe it for the benefit of our readers and for posterity. The mill 
was constructed in this wise : A boulder of proper size was ob- 
tained from Flower creek, or at any other creek, and made as level 
and flat as possible. It was then placed on top of a sawed log set 
endwise, or on a rude frame made for the purpose. This was then 
surmounted by another boulder of similar construction, set face to 
face, and these composed the upper and the nether millstones. 
They were held in place by a pivot in center, and made to turn as 
easily as ])ossible. A hole was drilled in the upper stone near to 
one edge, into which a handle would be placed for turning it. The 
regular price for one of these mills was two dollars and a half. 

Dr. Mead came to Augusta in 1833; his father and brothers 
still later. He thinks he was, perhaps, the second practicing phy- 
sician in the county. Dr. Isaac Galland being before him at River- 
side, while Dr. John F. Charles came a little later to Carthage. 
See biography of Dr. Mead on a sub8e(j[uent page. 

In 1834 a ])OstofRce was established at Augusta, W. D. i\.bernethy 
being the first postmaster. Elder Thomas H. Owen was con- 
tractor and carried the mail on route from Rushville to Carthage 
on horseback once a week. Dr. Mead was postmaster from 1840 to 
1857. 

In August or September, 1833, occurred the first burial in Au- 
gusta cemetery, the remains of Mr. John Anderson. 

The first wedding that took place in the township, says Mr. 
Gould (and he is supposed to know), was that of Mr. Benjamin 
Gould and Miss Rebecca J. Jones, on Christmas Day, 1833, 
Christopher E. Yates, P^sq., performing the, ceremony. " No 
cards." 

The first 4th-of-July celebration in Augusta took ] dace in the 
beautiful "Round Grove," which has since disappeared. This was 
in 1839 or 1840. Orator of the day, William N. Grover, Esq., of 
Warsaw. 



512 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Miss Rath Bateman, sister to State Superintendent Bateman, 
tanajlit the first school in 1835. 

AVhat was known in the early days as "Round Prairie," em- 
braced a portion of Augusta township, a part of St. Marj^'s, and 
the adjoining portions of McDonough and Schuyler counties. 
This section, as a unit, ranks among the earliest settlements in the 
south part of the county, and embraces much beautiful country 
and many fine farms. It does not include the town of Augusta, 
and just how far it extends in other directions is not strictly de- 
fined. Like the "Great West," its borders are indefinite. Mr. 
Phillips, Mr. Yates, Dr. Allen, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Solomon Stan- 
ley and Mr. Pidgeon are. perhaps the very first settlers in that 
part of Round Prairie belonging to Augusta. 

Flour creek, now more properly written Floioei\ is said to have 
received its name from the following circumstance : In the 
spring of 1834, Mr. Pruitt and Mr. Box, of St. Mary's, were re- 
turning from the Brooklyn mill with their grists one Sunday eve- 
ning, when the "creek was up," crossing at the ford south of Plym- 
outh with their ox team, a large and well-tilled sack oi jlour 
was swept out of their wagon by the deep and rapid stream and 
supposed to be lost, but on the Wednesday following it was fished 
out, well preserved and in good order, except a thin crust next 
the sack — so saith the "oldest inhaj)itant," Mr. Allen Melton. — 
Young'' s Hist. Hound Prairie. 

Plow Panther creek obtained its title we can only guess; but a 
feir presumption is, that animals of that name existed, or were 
supposed to exist, in its woods. 

On William's creek, south of the town, are coal veins, which 
have supplied considerable quantities of coal for local use. But 
the vein is thin, and the cost of obtaining it too great; and that 
article is now chiefly supplied from abroad by rail. 

The town of Augusta was laid out by Joel Catlin, Wm. D. 
Abernethy and Samuel B. Mead, Feb., 1836, and surveyed by 
James W, Brattle. Mr. Brattle was an early surveyor and an 
early settler in the county, now residing at Macomb, in a green 
old age. And right here we must tell an incident concerning him, 
related by Mr. Lawton, of Augusta township. Mr. B., old as he is, 
has not forgotten the business of his younger days; and so, a year 
or two ago, Mr, L. had him re-establish some lines he had run 30 
or 40 years ago. While so engaged, a young man of the vicinity 
came along, who did not know Mr. Brattle. The young man was 
asked if he knew who had planted a certain stake. He replied, "I 
don't know unless it was old Jimmy Brattle." "This is Mr. 
Brattle," said Lawton. The young man looked at him again : "I 
mean old man Brattle." 

Augusta also contains the village of Pulaski, named for the 
patriot Polish count. It was laid out in 1836 by Alexander 
Oliver, Wm. McCready and Benjamin Bacon. Its growth has been 
very slow. 




^, ^.cM.^^^ 



AUGUSTA 






HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 515 

Mecliaiiicsville, laid out in 1842, by Alansoii Lyon, was also in 
this township. It was designed for a manulacturing center, and 
for a time bid fair to be a town of importance. But for some 
cause (probably the death of Mr. Lyon) it failed, and it is now one 
of the forgotten towns. 

Mr. Benjamin Gould, to whose reminiscences, in the Augusta 
Herald we are much indebted, says: '' On the 22d of Feb., I.s33, I 
celebrated Washington's birth-day by hauling logs for the first 
house ever built in the city of Augusta." Then he and Henry 
Abernethy kept " bach" in it. The same summer he put up the 
log house in which the first religious services were held. Both 
these buildings we believe are still standing, forlorn looking as a 
candidate who has been left out. 

In the severe storm of July 4, 1873, the Christian church at 
Augusta was moved from its foundation and the spire blown down. 
The Presbyterian church had its spire also blown off with part of 
the roof, and a number of other buildings blown down. ]So one 
hurt. 

The first grist-mill in the township was established in 1833, by 
John "Wilson; run b}' horse-power, 

Tlie venerable P. P. Newcomb, born in Mass., 1804, and raised 
in Vt., came to Rushville 1830, to Augusta^ 1836. The Rebellion 
dealt hard with this aged gentleman's family. Two sons went into 
the army; the eldest, Wilbur Fiske, was wounded at the assault on 
Vicksburg under Grant, on 22d of June, and died 31st of June, 
on board the hospital boat J. C. AVood, at Memphis. The second, 
William L., was wounded Nov. 30. 1864, at Franklin, Tenn. ; was 
brought home and died 14th Jan., 1865; and his mother, Mrs. Ann 
(Munson) Newcomb died six days afterward from virus in dress- 
ing his wounds. 

Dr. Adolphus Allen removed to Riverside and died many years 
ago; Mr. Yates to Nauvoo, still living: at an advanced age. Pid- 
geon went to Salem, Iowa; Stanley back to N. C. The elder Mead 
and his sons Horace and Alfred, we believe are all deceased. So 
are Messrs. Dexter, Ilawley, Ireland and Skinner. The latter w'as 
for many years one of the most active business men in the county. 
Mr. Bacon was a leading and honored citizen, resident at Pulaski, 
died much regretted many years since. 

There are many other respected and honored pioneers of Au- 
gusta township, some of tiiem still living, whom we would be glad 
to mention, if space would warrant. But a history of Augusta 
would not be complete that failed to name Eliphalet Strong 
Austin, the genuine, true-ljlue, whole-souled, musical Free-soiler, 
from the land of wooden nutmegs. Born in 1809, liis parents 
removed to Ashtabula, O., in 1811, and in 1843 Strong came to 
Augusta. Was always an ardent Whig; assisted in organizing the 
Republican ])arty, and it is his boast to-day that he hesitated not 
to accept position as conductor on the U. G. R. R., and that no 
train under his care ever jumped the track or met with a smash-up. 
31 



516 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Mr. A. married Miss. Julia W. Hawley, in Northern Ohio, also from 
Conn. They have several children residing "out West;" and it 
was while on a lengthy visit to these a few years ago, that Mrs. A. 
manfully marched up to the polls in Wyoming with other women, 
and deposited a ballot for the right. Perhaps she is the one solitary 
woman in Hancock connty who has ever exercised the elective 
franchise. 

KELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

We have mentioned that Mr. Gould put up the log house in 
which the first religious exercises were held. Mr. Gr. mentions the 
first Sunday-school, in which Mr. Oliver was Superintendent, but 
does not gives its date. It seems to have been previous to the 
summer of 1834. The Presbyterian Church was organized July 
28, 1834, by Rev. Cyrus L. Watson, of Rushville at that time ; 
Rev. Reuben K. McKoy, of Clayton, now deceased; Dr. Blackburn, 
of Kentucky, was present, and probably Rev. John Lawton, of Car- 
thage. The members then received were nine, viz.: Alexander 
Denny, deceased 1868; Mrs. Elizabeth Denny, deceased 1837; 
Phebe W. Candee, lately living in St. Louis, over 80; Samuel B. 
Mead; Arietta Mead, deceased 1865; Evelina M. xibernethy, now 
of Nebraska; Benjamin Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar, who soon 
afterward left the place. 

The first sermons preached in Augusta township were probably 
by Revs. Wm. McCoy, Ralston, Boren and YanHorn; Father 
Cartwright a little later, and Rev. Lawton about 1834-7. 

The Christian Church at Augusta was organized in 1843, at Mr. 
Gould's residence; James Stark and B. Gould, Elders; E. G. 
Browning, Deacon. First membership, Benjamin and Rebecca 
Gould, James and Mary Stark, William and Mary Ann Dron, Mrs. 
Cynthia Jones, Mrs. Nancy Tarr, Mrs. Mary Craig, and Hiram 
Jones. In 1851 the church building in Augusta was erected and 
dedicated. New building erected about 1870. Present member- 
ship about 230. 

The M. E. organization was first in Pulaski; removed'to Augusta 
in 1849. Held first meetings 'in school-houses. First church erect- 
ed about 1856. New brick erected five or six years ago. Names 
of members at organization in town, by Rev. Halton: David Rice, 
class leader; Samuel Parrott and wife Mary; Thomas Leach and 
wife Dorcas Ann; Mrs. Sophronia Sullivan, Mrs. Elizabeth Ken- 
nedy and David Rice and wife Clarinda. 

There is also a United Brethren Church near the southwest 
corner of the township, of which we have no particulars. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

As a portion of the history of Augusta township, we give bio- 
graphical sketches of pioneer and leading citizens, believing such 
personal mention forms the better part of local history. Those 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 517 

whose lives have made history deserve special mention in a work 
of this natui'e. 

T. E. Antrim was born, in Loojan county, Ohio, March 15, 1828. 
In IStW: he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he has contin- 
ued to work to the present time. He owns one lot with dwelling, 
and one lot with shop in Augusta; has held the office of Justice 
of the Peace eight years, and Town Trustee three years. Was 
married in this county in 1850 to Elizabeth J. Saunders, a native 
of Ohio, born in 1832; they have had 6 children, 3 of whom 
are living, George, Orlando and Ada. In politics Mr. A. is a 
Republican, and in religion a Freethinker. 

E. S. Attstifi was born in Connecticut April 27, 1809, and came 
to this county in 1843; was married in Ohio in 1835 to Julia R. 
Hawley, born in Ohio in 1807, and they have 3 children, — 
Julia E. , Eugene S. and Lida J. Mr. A. has been Constable ten 
years, was through the Mormon war, and is a member of the Con- 
gregational Church. Mrs. A. is a Presbyterian. 

A. E. Bacon, farmer, P. O., Augusta; owns 150 acres of land 
worth, $50 per acre, on sec. 14. He is a son of Benjamin and Lois 
(Everetts) Bacon, the former a native of Massachusetts and 
the latter of Connecticut. He was born in 1811 in Yermont, 
and was raised on a farm ; was in the mercantile business six years, 
and came to this count}^ in 1857; was married in Vermont, in 1838, 
to Abigail Rowker, a native of Vermont, and born in 1815. They 
have these children : Anna E., Eleanor E., Hiram E., Carrie R. 
Mr. B. has been Justice of the Peace two terms; is a Universalist 
and a Democrat. 

Benjamin F . Bacon^ farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Augusta; owns 
180 acres of land worth S50 per acre; is a son of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth Bacon, both of French descent; he was born in Missouri, 
Feb. 27, 1832, and came with his parents to this county in 1885; 
was married in Adams county, this State, in 1871, to Mahala J. 
Gordon, a native of ]New York, born in 1836; they have 2 chil- 
dren, Fi-anklin and Mary L. Mr. B. is a'member of the M. E. 
Church and is a Republican. 

Nixon Balfour^ farmer, sec. 26; is a native of North Carolina, 
born in 1826; came to this State in 1835, settling in Adams county, 
and came to this county in 1870. He was married in Adams 
county in 1848, to Keziah Robbins, who was born in 1826, and they 
have had 12 children, 8 of whom are living; James H., Andrew 
M., Theodore S., Mary E., Xellie D., Anna E., Minnie I. and 
Jennie E. Mr. B. is handling some fine horses. 

A. J. Boma,n^ farmer, sec. 2; P. O., Plymouth; owns 159 acres of 
land, worth $35 per acre; was born in this county in 1840 and was 
raised on a farm ; in 1860 he married Elizabeth C. Cooper, a native 
of this county, born in 1843, and they have 5 living children — 
Jennie and Jessie E. (twins), Marion W., Rosie E., Myrtie A. Two 
are deceased. Mr. B. has been School Director; is a member of 
the M. E. Church and is a Democrat. 



518 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

B. B. Boman, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Auo^usta; son of James and 
Arcade (Sturgis) Boman, and was born in this connty in 1S37. He 
lives on a farm and owns 160 acres of land, worth $35 per acre. He 
was married in this county in 1867, to Mary Stark, born in this 
county in 184.6. Mr. B. had but little property to commence with, 
but by industry and economy has acquired a good competence. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

E. K. Boman^ farmer, sec. 2; P. O., Plymouth; is a son of James 
and Arcade (Sturgis) Boman. He was born in this county April 
13, 1826, and was the eldest of 11 children; was married in this 
county in 1852 to Mary Wade, who was born in Tennessee in 1834, 
and they are the parents of 8 children — AUie, Fannie H., Henry 
C, Paul K., Edward H., Benjamin P., Kittie F. and Ira 1^. Mr, 
B, has been School Director and Road Commissioner; was in the 
Mormon war; is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the 
Christian Church. 

James Boman, farmer, sec. 2; P. O., Plymouth; is a native of 
Georgia, born August 10, 1803: came to this State in 1815 and 
to this county in 183-J:. In 1825 he was married, in Sangamon 
county, to Arcade Sturgis, a native of North Carolina, born Feb- 
ruary 28, 1802; they are the parents of 11 children — Ezekiel C, 
John R,, William S., Melinda J., Rebecca J., James B,, R. M., 
Benjamin R., A. J., Margaret A. and Arcade E. Mr. B. was in 
the Mormon war. He owns 70 acres of land, belongs to the M. E. 
Church, is a Democrat and is one of the old and honored citizens 
of Hancock county. 

George W. Campbell was born in Schuyler county. 111., in 1852. 
He is the namesake of his father, who died in 1865; his mother is 
at present the wife of Squire Gould, of Adams county, 111. Her 
maiden name was Esther Harney, and she married Mr. Gould in 
1876. Mr, C. was educated in the common schools of Augusta, 
and resides on section 30, September 6, 1873, he married Elizabeth 
Worman, and they are members of the United Brethren Church. 
His father was of German descent. He is a farmer and a Democrat. 

Joltn H. Catlin, farmer and stock-dealer, son of Joseph and 
Calista (Hawley) Catlin, was born in Georgia in 1821, and is of 
English descent. The first of the name of Catlin in America is 
Thomas Catlin, of Hartford, Connecticut, who came to America in 
1687. John H. came with his father's family to this State in 1832, 
and he now lives on the same farm where his father settled. He 
owns 800 acres of fine land, worth $50 per acre. He was first 
married in this county in 1845 to Lydia Hawley, born in Ohio in 
1823 and died in 1860. They had 3 children: Allie S„ wife of 
James Stark, Camelia, and Nettie, wife of Benjamin Crane, of 
Augusta. In 1861 he married Alice E. A.dams, a native of New 
York, born in 1829. Mr. Catlin has held the oflice of Justice of 
the Peace four years; helped lay out the town of Augusta, and 
was on the first School Board, He is one of the most extensive 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 519 

Stock-dealers in Hancock county. Is a Republican, and himself 
and wife belong to the Presliyterian Church. 

Wiho7i Chambers, farmer, sec. 21; P. O., Augusta; owns 75 
acres of land, worth $50 per acre. He is a native of ISTorth Carolina, 
and was born in 1S04. He came from Tennessee to this county in 
1844; in 1825 he married Elizabeth Ridings, a native of North 
Carolina, born in 1802, and raised in Tennessee. They are the 
parents of 9 children — John M., James R., Joel R., Martha J., 
Laura, Emily, and Susan. Two are deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
C. are members of the Baptist Church. 

Benjamin B. Crain^ dry-goods merchant and clothier, is a son 
of William and Harriet (Tongue) Crain, who came to this county 
in 1834. He was born in Schuyler county, this State, in 1851, and 
has been in business in Augusta since 1878, where he commands a 
large trade. He was married June 1, 1877, to Nettie A. Catlin, a 
native of this county, and they have one child, Lydia R., born 
June 18, 1S78. 

Alexander Denny ^ deceased, was a native of North Carolina, 
and came to this county in 1833. In 1822 he was married in Bond 
county, this State, to Elizabeth Gilmer, who was born in Kentucky 
in 1805 and died in 1837. They had 6 children — John, Henry, 
Brown, Lee, Mary, and Robert. In 1839 Mr. Denny married 
Sarah Allen, born in New York in 1812, and they had 4 children, 
one daughter and 3 sons. Mrs. Denny died in 1851, and in 1852 
Mr. D. married Margaret S. Denny, who was born in North Caro- 
lina in 1809, and they had une child, Hiram F. Mr. D. was a 
Republican, and at the time of his death owned 160 acres of land. 

G. N. Edioards was born in Nebraska in 185G, and is a son of 
George and Mary Edwards, both of English descent. He came to 
this county in 1866. and in 1880, in Schuyler county, he married 
Fanny Pearce, a native of North Carolina. He owns 20 acres of 
land in Pulaski, with dwelling house, — also a coal bank or shaft, 
which takes up as many as 200 bushels per day, and this generally 
sells at seven cents per bushel; the coal is of excellent quality. Mr. 
E is a Republican. P. O., Augusta. 

David Ellis, physician and surgeon, was born in Kentucky in 
1826; came to this county in 1852 and settled in Augusta. In 
1847 he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated in 1852; 
he was married in Kentucky in 1855 to Elizabeth T. Fisher, who 
was born in Kentucky in 1833, and they have 6 children, James 
P.. Mary (wife of Richard Valentine, of Ky.) John, David and 
an infant. One is deceased. The Doctor owns 160 acres of fine 
farm land, and one lot with dwelling. He is liberal in his relig- 
ious views. 

J. P . Fosdyck, carpenter and joiner, was born in New York 
in 1829, and came to this county in 1857; was married in New 
York in 1850 to Abigail McCann, also a native of New York. 
They have 8 children. Mr. F. owns three lots, one with dwell- 
ing and one with shop. He is a Freemason and a Republican. 



530 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

James Garwood, farmer, sec. 11; owns 240 acres of land, 
worth §35 per acre. He was born in this State in 1S48, and came 
to this county in 1860; was married in 1876 to Mary McClain, 
who was born in this county in IS 50, and they have 2 children — 
Mabel, born June IT, 1878, and Jennie, born 1880. Mr. G. is a 
member of the Christian Church and a Democrat. P. O., Au- 
gusta. 

G. W. Hawley, deceased, was born in Ohio in 1806, and came 
to this county in 1833, settling in Augusta. He built the first 
store-house, and bought and sold the first dry goods . brought to 
Augusta. Mr. H. was first married in Ohio to Julia W. Sale, born 
in Connecticut, and died in 1834. They had 2 children, one lir- 
ing — Edgar E. In 1855 he again married, in Connecticut, Mary 
F. C. Chapman, born in 1810. At the time of liis death, which 
occurred in 1873, Mr: Hawley owned 120 acres of fine farm land; 
the widow lives on the old homestead. He was an industrious 
man and a good citizen. 

£. P. Heioitt, attorney at law, was born in Ohio in 1818, and 
came to this county in 1864. He \vas married in Ohio in 1837, to 
Esther McLain, also a native of Ohio, born in 1818, and they have 
had 6 children, 4 of whom are living. Mr. Hewitt has held the 
office of Circuit Judge for nine years. He is a Master Mason, and 
owns one lot with dwelling. 

O- Morton, veterinary physician and surgeon, is a native ot 
Ohio, born in 1840, and is son of Silas and Virginia Horton, both 
natives of Ohio. Nov. 6, 1865, he married, in Fulton county, Lf^u- 
setta Shayga, also a native of Ohio, born in 1842; they have one 
child, ^Belle. The Doctor settled in Augusta in 1875, where he has 
since practiced his profession, commanding an extensive patronage. 
He is a Democrat. 

Johnson Irwin, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
Ohio in 1818, and came to this county with his parents in 1837. 
His father was William and his mother Mary (Johnston) Irwin, 
both natives of Ohio, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch 
descent. In 1857 he married Sallie A. Tucker, born in 1834, and 
they have 3 children — Jennie, Whitney L. and Joseph M. He was 
in the Mormon war and is a Democrat. 

J. R. Kelly, physician and surgeon, is a native of this State, born 
in 1847. In 1872 he graduated at the Michigan University, and 
commenced the practice of medicine in Kensington, Adams count}'-, 
this State, and in 1878 settled in Augusta, where he has since had 
a large and successful practice. He was married in Adams county 
in 1873, to Maggie E. Richardson, born in that county in 1855, 
and they have 3 children — Helen F., Melvina C. and Mabel. 

Jacob Klejpper, keeper of sale, liver}' and feed stable, was born 
in Schuyler county, this State, in 18S5, and came to this county in 
1874. He was married in Putnam county in June, 1859, to Cynthia 
Alvin, who was born in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Klepper have 3 chil- 
dren, Nancy R., Asenath and Clyde. He owns two lots, one with 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 521 

dwelling and one with stable. He keeps a full supply of horses 
and buggies. He belongs to the M. E. Church, and is a Free- 
mason. 

John H. Lmvton, born in Vermont, Feb. 22, 1819. lu 1820 
his parents removed to Hillsboro, X. H., and took the promising 
youth along. Went to school at three years, until 11 years old; 
then went to Boston for three years. In 1834 his father brought 
him to Ohio, and entered him at Oberlin College. It only took 
him three months to finish his education there, when he left and 
worked his way. back to Boston, his father being in the West. In 
the spring of 1835 his father returned, and in the fall brought 
John with him to Carthage. Here his labors were multifarious; 
worked about town, helped get out the timber for the windmill, 
did the circular work on the first number of the Carthagenian. 
In the fall of 1836 went to New Orleans, and spent the winter shell- 
ing corn; summer of '37 back in Carthage; clerked some in Mat- 
thew's store; painted some for Homer Brown. Next six years were 
spent in Carthage, Warsaw, Commerce, St. Mary's, Montebello and 
New Orleans, clerking, painting, driving stage, blacksmithing, act- 
ing Constable, etc., etc. 

June, 1845, Mr. L. went East, where, at New Salem, Mass., on 
April 15, 1847, he was married to Miss Hannah N. Felton, a native 
of that place, born Oct. 13, 1819. They are the parents of 4 
children, all living. Lived at Plymouth during the past 24 years, 
where he was P. M. about five years. 

Mr. Lawton claims that there is but one man now residing in 
Carthage — C. S. Hamilton — who was there when became. 

Williarii E. H. Lemon^ physician and surgeon, was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1848. He commenced the practice of medicine in 
this State, in Jacksonvile, in 1868, and graduated in 1871; he settled 
in Augusta in 1877, where he commands a good practice. He was 
married in this county to Adel A. Gordon-, daughter of George and 
Louisa Gordon, both natives of New York they have 5 children, 3 liv- 
ing — William. Frederick and Bertha. The Doctor owns one lot,with 
dwelling and oflice. He is a Methodist and a Republican. 

Edvmrd A. Lyon, farmer and stock dealer, sec. 8; P. O., 
Augusta; was born in Vermont in 1824, and was reared a farmer, 
which occupation he has always followed. His father, Alanson Lyon, 
was a native of Massachusetts and of English descent; his 
mother Harriet (Parrell) Lyon was also a native of Massachusetts 
and of Welsh descent. Mr. L. married in this county, in 1852, 
Julia II, Blandin, daughter of Joseph and Asenath Blandin ; she 
was born in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon are the parents of 8 chil- 
dren — Alice, wife of O. J. Colton, of Galesburg, Edward B., 
Charles A., George H., Willis L., Frederick, Mary and Albert. 
Mr. L. has been Road Commissioner, owns 380 acres of tine farm 
land.isaPresb3'terian and a Republican. His father,Alanson L^'on, 
laid out Blandinsville.McDonough county, in 1838, and established 
a wagon factory where he employed 24 liands, manufacturing 400 



522 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

wagons annually for several years. He made four trips to California, 
and finally died there in 1858. 

A. B. Jlattheuis^ farmer, sec. 8 ; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
Ross county, Ohio, in 1817; was married in Parke county, 
Indiana, in 1838, to Emily Davis, a native of that State, born in 
1818 and died in 18-11. They had 3 children — one living. In 
18-12 he married Diana Kalley, a native of Indiana, born in 1828, 
and they have 9 children. Mr. M. owns 190 acres of land, and is 
one of the old and honored citizens of Hancock county. 

Anthony MoGuilvery, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Augusta; son of 
Alexander and Prudence McGuilvery, the former of Scotch and 
the latter of German descent. He was born in 1818, in Ohio, and 
was raised on a farm. At the age of 18 he learned the carpenter's 
trade, and worked at it for 15 years. He came to this county in 
1855, and was married in Indiana in 1849 to Sarah E. Johnson, 
who was born in Virginia in 1825, and is a daughter of Lemuel 
and Permelia Johnson, natives of Virginia, and of English descent. 
They have 3 children — Melvina (wife of Alfred Stuart of this tp.); 
Katie, born in 1852; and William, born in 1854. Mr. McG. has 
been Commissioner of Highways, and owns 136 acres of land; he 
belongs to the M. E. Church, and is a Republican. 

D}\ Satnuel B. Mead — The parents of this gentleman were 
Jonathan Mead, born August 24, 1769, and Martha (Barnum) Mead, 
whom he married in 1798. She was a daughter of Dr. Samuel 
Barnum, of Korth Salem, New York, and died in June, 1812, 
leaving 4 sons and 3 daughters, our subject being the eldest, 
and was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Oct. 18, 1799. A few 
days before her death her youngest son, Alfred, was born. He came 
to Augusta in 1836, but now resides in Colusa, Cal. Tiie eldest 
daughter, Caroline, born early in 1801, now resides in Colorado. 
Jonathan Mead wa? married to his second wife, whose name was 
Betsey Bradley, of Greenfield, Conn., in 1817, b_y whom he had 
one son and two daughters. The second wife died at Augusta, this 
county, June 26, 1847, aged 65 years. Jonathan Mead died at 
Augusta September 11, 1851, aged 82 years and 22 days. He came 
to Augusta to live early in June, 1S37. 

Dr. Samuel B. Mead lived on his father's farm until about 15 
years of age, receiving, during this time, a common.-school educa- 
tion. He then received a collegiate course and graduated at Yale 
College, JSTew Haven, Conn., in 1820. He studied medicine and 
received his diploma to practice from the same college, Feb. 25-, 
1S24. He emigrated to Illinois in the spring of 1833, living a 
short time at Rushville; the following August he came to Hancock 
county and located at Augusta, then called " Oliver's Settlement," 
and Commenced the practice of his profession, which he continued 
till 1860, commanding an extensive practice. He was next to the 
first regular ph3'sician that practiced medicine in this count3^ In 
1833 Dr. Isaac Galland was said to be the only practicing physician 
In the county, and probably was the first. In 1834 Dr. John F. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 523 

Charles settled in Carthage. On Dr. Mead's arrival at "Oliver's 
Settlement," now Augusta, he immediately selected a site for a 
dwelling; first had a well dug and engaged a hewed log-cabin built; 
this was in July. It was finished in August, and he moved into 
it, with his family. It was the first cabin built on the site of Au- 
gusta. In February, 1S36, the town was laid out by the proprie- 
tors, William D. Abernethy, Joel Catlin and Dr. S. B. Mead. Oc- 
tober 1, 183J:, Dr. Mead was appointed " Surgeon Mate" in the 
regiment of militia for Hancock cuunty, by Dr. Isaac Galland, 
Colonel; September 12, 1840, he was appointed Postmaster at Au- 
gusta; Nov. 14, 1S40, took charge of the same and continued as 
Postmaster until Feb. 2, 1S57. He received the first mail carried 
by railroad into Augusta, Feb. 6, 1S56. He has kept meteorological 
observations for the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C, 
nearly since its beginning — till it turned them over to the War 
Department, and he still keeps them. He has many years devoted 
much time to the study of botany, and has discovered several inter- 
esting plants. As a botanist he has a world-wide reputation, fre- 
quently receiving letters from Europe and other distant places, 
asking for information in matters pertaining to plants, etc. Several 
plants are named after him. 

Dr. Mead was married to Arietta Purdy Jan. 9, 1822, daughter 
of Ebenezer Purdy, Esq., of Xorth Salem, AYestchester county,N. Y. 
She was born July 27, 1804. They had 6 children. Only one is 
now living, Mrs, Velia Bredett, of Augusta. Mrs. Mead died May 
7, 1865. April IS, 1866, the Doctor married his present wife, 
whose name was Martha Putnam, of Putnam, Ohio, and whose 
father was a nephew of Gen. Rufus Putnam, the founder of Ma- 
rietta, Ohio. They had one child, Ora Mead, born Aug. 23, 1868. 
The Doctor is still living at Augusta, very pleasantly and comfort- 
ably situated, and is respected and honored by all. Although now 
nearly 81 years of age, he is still active, with his meiital faculties 
unimpaired, and is prepared to enjoy life for many years to come; 
that it may be so is the wish of many friends. His portrait is 
found in this volume. 

William H. Meacl^ attorney at law, is a son of Horace and Mary 
B. Mead, both natives of Conn., where he was born July 10, 1839. 
He commenced the study of the law in 1861, and was admitted to 
the Bar in 1862, and has been practicing up to the present time, 
commanding a good patronage. He was married in this county in 
1862, to Ann \ . Bacon, a native of Yermont, born in 1841, and 
they are the parents of 7 children — Mary Y., Millie B., Charlie, 
Allie A., John A., Nellie and Jennie. Mr. M. owns one lot with 
dwelling, and 185 acres of farm land, worth $.50 per acre. He has 
been Supervisor of his township ten years; Yillage Trustee fifteen 
years; is a member of the A. O. U. W. and I. O. M. A. He is a 
Presbyterian. 

^. H. C. Newcomh^ farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of P. P. 
and Sarah A. (Munson) Newcomb, the former anative of Massachu- 



52i HISTORY OF HAjSTCOCK COUNTY. 

setts and the latter of Vermont. He was born in 1829, and in 1860 
he married Sarah E. Gordon, a native of ISTew York, born in 181:0. 
Mr. ]Sr. owns 220 acres of land in this tp., and 240 in Kansas. 
Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb are the parents of 4 children, John E., 
Sarah A,, Susan and Martha. Mr. N. makes the raising of fine 
horses a specialty, having some very fine and fast trotting horses, 
and also pacing horses. He is one of the solid and influential men 
of his county. 

P. P. Netocorah was born in this count}' January 1.5, 1834, and 
is a son of P. F. and Sarah (Munson) Newcomb, natives of Ver- 
mont. He came with his parents to this county in 1830, first 
settling in Schuyler county, and in Augusta in 1836. He is at 
present engaged in the lumber trade, also keeps a good stock of 
agricultural implements on hand, and deals in grain. He has 
taught several terms of school, has been Supervisor of his tp. 
four years, and belongs to the Masonic order. He was married in 
this county, Jan. 15, 1869, to Mercy Compton, a native of this 
county, born in 1841. They are the parents of 4 children, James 
C, AllaH., Mary C. and Helen. Mr. N. is a Kepublican. P. O., 
Augusta. 

Samuel Pickens^ farmer section 35; P. O., Augusta; is one of 
the most extensive farmers in this tp. He owns 700 acres of land, 
and was at one time an extensive cattle, horse and mule dealer. 
He was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, and came to this county in 
1850, where he still resides. In 1839 he married Nancy Steele, and 
they have 9 children, William A., Mary E., George W,, Jehu P., 
Allen S., Arthur A., Edward J., Margaret J. and Amelia E. Mr. 
P. is a Democrat, 

TF". J . Pitney^ Justice of the Peace and Collector, was born in 
1824 and raised on a farm; was married in Ohio in 1846 to Anna 
Pichard, a native of Ohio, and they have had T children, 3 of 
whom are living, Frank B., Florence T. and Wilborn E. Mr. P. 
has been Justice of the Peace 14 years; he owns 30 acres of land 
joining Augusta, and one lot with dwelling, and five other lots. He 
is a member of the M. E. Church and a Eepublican. 

James Stark was born in the town and parish Auchter- 
muchty, Fifeshire, Scotland, about 1817. Parents were James 
and Jessie(Dron) Stark, both natives of the same place in Scotland, 
When his mother died, his father came to the United States, in 
1837, locating in Hancock county, where he died, aged about 42. 
Our subject came to America in 1836, locating at Jacksonville, 
111., and afterward at this place. In 1838 he was married to Miss 
Mary York, who was born in 1820, in Kentucky, a daughter of 
Newman I'ork. 

Of this marriage were born James W., John N., Ellen M. (now 
the wife of D. P. Cofi'man, of Augusta, this county), and Mary J. 
In 1842 the subject of this sketch first came to Hancock county, 
locating at Augusta, where he immediately established himself in 
the mercantile business, and may be classed among the very first 



\ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 525 

merchants who sold goods at that place; has continued to carry on 
a mercantile business at Angusta from the date of his first estab- 
lishment in 1S42 until the present time, without intermission. 
The style of the firm is now J. & G. Stark, his brother George 
being the partner. They now carry on an average a $6,000 stock 
of general goods, and employ four clerks. Our subject had but very 
little of this world's goods on arriving in America, but with that 
indomitable pluck and perseverance which is a characteristic of his 
countrj'men he set to work to make a competence for himself and 
posterity, and with nothing but his hands and a fair education to 
start with, his success has been complete. He is the owner of one 
of the pleasantest residences in Augusta, in which he lives with 
his family, and has some 640 acres of fine farm lauds in the vicinity. 
Mr. Stark is a member of the Christian Church, of which he has 
been an Eider, or preacher, for nearh" 40 years, and is now acting 
in that capacity each alternate Sabbath in Augusta. Mr. S. has 
served as Supervisor eight or ten years in Augusta tp. He was 
elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1846-'7 on the Anti-Mormon 
ticket, in which capacity he served with honor to himself and the 
general satisfaction of his constituents. Since the organization ot 
the Republican party he has acted with them. He served as 
Presidential Elector of this district in 1S60, when President 
Lincoln was elected. He has taken a decided and active part in 
political affairs, having ''stumped" the county on several occasions in 
the interests of Kepublicanism. As one of Hancock county's pioneer 
citizens and an honorable, upright, Christian gentleman, we give 
Mr. Stark's portrait. 

Some 11 years since Mr. S., in companj- with his wife and 
daughter, made the tour of Europe, visiting his native country 
(Scotland) on the round. The trip occupied some six months. 
Again, in 1876, he visited his native place, making a five months' 
visit, accompanied by his wife and daughter. 

James R. Stark^ farmer, was born in this county in 1852, and 
w^as married in this county in 1872 to Sophronia Sullivan, also a 
native of Hancock county, born in 1852. They have 2 living 
children, Carroll and Jessie. Clyde is deceased. They live on the 
old homestead on sec. 3. Mr. S. is a member of the Christian 
Church and is a Pepublican. 

W. L. Stochton, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Augusta; was born 
in Kentucky in 1818 and emigrated to Morgan county. 111., where 
he married in 1849, Miss Frances A. AVhite, who was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1828. They have 6 living children — Mary, wife of F. 
J. Holt, of this tp., Josephine, Charles E., James B., George 
C, and Allen L. Two are deceased. The removal of the family to 
Hancock county was in 1804. Mr. S. is a Mason and an Odd 
Fellow; a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat. 

William Sullivan,, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Augusta; was born 
in ISew Jersey in 1817, and is a son of Benjamin and Bacliel Sul- 
livan, both of Irish descent. He was raised on a farm, and he has 



526 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. ' 

followed farming through life. He was married in Schuyler county, 
this State, in 1842, to Jane Mahuran, who was born in Vermont in 
1820, and died in 185Y. They had 3 children— Sallie, wife ot 
John Stewart, of this tp. ; Sophronia,- wife of James R. Stark; 
and Mary, wife of William McOlure. In 1859 he married Mary 
Tucker, born in Virginia in 1827, and they have one child, George 
F., born in 1861. Mr. S. owns 170 acres of fine farm land. He 
was in Carthage the day Joe Smith was killed. He is a Republican. 

S. G. Swanson, farmer, sec. 5; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
Sweden in 1845, and came to this county in 1860. In 1875 he mar- 
ried Anna Hillock, of Wisconsin, daughter of Nelson and Emma 
(Powell) Hillock, and they have one child, Lewella, born Jul}' 3, 
1877. Ml-, S. owns 160 acres of fine farm land, is a member of the 
A. O. U. W., and also of the Lutheran Church. The father ot 
Mrs. S. was one of the pioneers of this county, having settled here 
in 1835, and he was all through the Mormon war. Her mother 
was born in 1811, and is still living. 

D. H. Swisegood, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
North Carolina in 1822 and came to this county in 1846. He was 
married in Schuyler county in 1847, to Anna C. llaynes, a native 
of North Carolina, and born in 1823. They arc the parents ot 
9 children, of whom 6 are living — John T., Liuiretta, Cornelia 
A., wife of Joseph Ogle; Lida, George P. and Thomas. Three 
infants are deceased. Mr. S. is a Mason and a Democrat. 

Samttel Tarr, farmer and stock dealer, is a son of John and Re- 
becca Tarr, natives of Virginia and of German descent. He was 
born in 1813 in Ohio, and came to this county in 1862, settling in 
Augusta. He was married in Ohio in 1833, to Nancy Hollenshead, 
also a native of Ohio and born in 1813, of French descent. Mr. 
and Mrs. Tarr are the parents of 6 children — Mandana B., wife 
of Robert Ruys, of Iowa; Pinckney, John, Lemira, wife of Robert 
Johnson, of Iowa; George and Mary A. Mr. T. is a Democrat. 

Thomas C. Thornton^ farmer; P. O., Augusta; was born in North 
Carolina in 1824, and has followed farming through life. He came 
to this county in 1858; was married in Precise county, N. C, in 
1845, to Rachel Smith, born in N. C. in 1820 and died in 1876. 
They had 9 children — Oliver C, Martha A., Jacob B., Cleopatra, 
John H., Sanford V., Lona M. and Victoria, deceased. In 1878 he 
married again. He came to this county in 1858, where he now 
owns 60 aci'es of good farm land. He belongs to the M. E. Church, 
is a Freemason, and a Democrat. 

Ellas E. Wade., farmer, sec. 2; P. O., Plymouth; was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1832; was married in this county in 1862 to Mar- 
garet N. Bowen, who was born in this county in 1842 and died in 
1875. They had 3 children — James, Nancy and Martha. In 
1878 Mr. W. married Harriet Richards, born in Indiana in 1853. 
They have had one child, an infant, deceased. Mr. W. owns 100 
acres of good land. 

Robert T. Wade., farmer and stock dealer, sec. 2 ; owns 400 acres 



HISTORY OF irANCOCK COUNTY. 527 

of land, worth $40 per acre. He was born in Schuyler county, this 
State, in 1838. In 1859 he was married in this county, to Mary 
Fowler, also a native of Schuyler county, born in 1837, and they 
have 7 children — Sarah, Celestia, George, Mar}-, David, Rol)ert 
and Ethel. Mr. Wade deals extensively in hogs and cattle, buying 
and shipping them. He is a Democrat. 

Frederick M. Walton. — This pioneer, of whom a portrait is 
given in this volume from a photo taken at the age of 65 years, was 
a native of Mason county, Ky., where he was born Jan. 9. 1809. 
He was a son of William and Barbara Walton, both- natives of 
Kentucky, and of German and Welsh descent. The subject of this 
sketch was raised in the occupation of a farmer, which he success- 
fully followed through life. He came to this county in 1835, set- 
tling on sec. 3, in Augusta tp., where he remained until his death, 
April 9, 1880. Mr. Walton was married in Mason county, Ky., in 
1831, to Emily Rice, also a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of 
Ezekiel and Fann}' (Garnett) Rice, both natives of Virginia, and of 
German ancestry. From this union there were 8 children, 6 ot 
whom are living. Their names are Wesley and John, born in 
Kentucky, Frances, Matilda, Wm. C, Simeon M. and Malvina, who 
died aged 2^ years, and Moses S., who died aged about 18 years. 
All those living are settled in life and holding highly respectable 
positions in society. Mr. Walton had but little means; but pos- 
sessing in an eminent degree a high order of intelligence, strict in- 
tegrity and industry, he accumulated a large property, owning at 
one time about 1,000 acres of land, the most of which he had distrib- 
uted among his children during his life, leaving the homestead of 
some 200 acres at his death. On this place his widow now resides 
with her youngest son, Simeon M. In his younger days, Mr. F. 
M. AValton participated quite actively in public affairs, and was on 
various occasions elected to local offices of trust and responsibility, 
which he tilled with honor to himself and fidelity to the public. 
He was an honest, conscientious man, an excellent neighbor, and a 
true husband and father, in every sense a good citizen and respected 
by all who knew him. His remains were laid in the family burial 
place upon the home farm in Augusta tp. He was a member of 
the Baptist Church. His funeral was conducted by Elder McCor- 
mick, of the Missionary Baptist Church, of Plymouth, assisted by 
the venerable Joseph Batts, now in his 91st j'ear, who knew him 
when a boy in Kentucky. 

John Walton, farmer and stock dealer; P. O., Plymouth; was 
born in Kentucky in 1834. He owns 200 acres of land worth 840 
per acre. He was married in this county in 1805 to Mary Fowler, 
a native of Connecticut, born in 181-5; they are the ])arents of 6 
children, — Ruth L., Moses S., Frederick W., Hugh A., MaryE. and 
Fanny A. Mr. W. is an influential farmer, a member of the 
Baptist Church and a Mason. 

George Watt, retired merchant, was born in Scotland in 1816, 
and came to this county in 1841, settling in Nauvoo, and came to 



528, HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Augusta in 1865. He was married in Scotland in 1835 to Mary 
McAndrew, born in 1812f. They have had 7 children, 6 ot 
whom are living, — Margaret, wife of Oliver Gay, of Quincj'-; 
George, Charles, Mary A., wife of John Easterday; Bird and 
Josephine, wife of Thomas Roina; Samuel is deceased. Mr. W. 
has been Postmaster and has filled other offices. He is a Dem- 
ocrat. 

Henry Welborn, farmer, sec. 7; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
North Carolina in 1817, and is a son of Samuel and Catharine 
(Clinard) Welborn, both natives of North Carolina. He came to 
this county in 1850, and is an influential citizen. He has always 
followed farming, owns 150 acres of farm land. He was first mar- 
ried in North Carolina in 184:9, to Phoebe Haney, born in that 
State in 1826 and died in 1850. They had one child, Julia, wife of 
Thomas Garwood, of this tp. Mr. W. then married Lucinda 
Bodenhammer, a native of this State, born in 1832 and died in 1855, 
leaving one child, John; in 1856 he married Alice Harrison, born 
in Indiana in 1817. Mr. W. has been Road Commissioner one 
term, is a Freemason and a Democrat. 

^. B. West, butcher, son of Solomon and Harriet (Bichnoll) 
West, both of English descent, was born in Pennsylvania in 1844; 
came to this county in 1857, and settled in Augusta. He was 
married in Schuyler county, this State, in 1866, to Alice Melvin, a 
native of tliis State, born in 1846, and they are the parents of 5 
children, — Harriet, Earl, Edith, Solomon and William. He owns 10 
acres of land joining Augusta, two lots, one with house and. one 
with shop. He served in the late war and was in several hard-fought 
battles; was in Andersonville prison. 

Daniel Ds Worma/i, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Augusta, was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1828, where he was married in 1848 to Catha- 
rine Myers, also a native of that State, born in 1830 and died in 1869. 
They had 7 children, — Lawrence, Elizabeth, John, George, Abra- 
ham, Mary and Catharine. In 1870 he was married in Pennsyl- 
vania to Mary A. Strowfer, born in Pennsylvania in 1829, and 
they have one child, Ada. Mr. W. is a member of the United 
Brethren Church and a Republican. 

Albert L. Yates, deceased, was born in New York in 1828, and 
died in 1865. He was married in this county in 1849 to Mary M. 
Saunders, and they have 6 living children, — Mary C, wife of 
Elias Agnew; Christopher E., Charles H., Gracie C, Carrie B,, 
and Everett L. Mr. Yates had but little to commence life with, 
but by industry, perseverance and economy he accumulated consid- 
erable property. He owned 500 acres of land. His widow lives 
.on the old homestead on sec. 14. 

Henry A. Young, harness-maker, on the west side of Main 
street, Augusta, is a son of Col well and Mary Young, both of Eng- 
lish descent. He was born in Virginia, January 27, 1820. At the 
age of 14 he learned the harness trade, which he has since followed. 
Pie came to Augusta in 1844, was married in New York in 1840, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 529 

to Abigail D. Graw, born in N*ew Tork in 1S22 and died in 1852. 
They had 5 children; 2 are livins^, — Henry W. and Mary E. The 
deceased are Julia Susan^and Abigail. Dec. 29, 1853, Mr. Young 
married Mary A. Van Brunt, a native of 'New York, born in 1828, 
and their children are Alexander, Alnilda, Julia, C )lwell, Benja- 
min and George. Mr. Young has been School Director and 
Trustee ; has been President of the Town Board, and High Priest of 
the Eoyal Arch Masons. Is a Christian and a Republican. Owns 
three lots with dwelling and one lot with shop ; keeps a good stock 
of harness on hand. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

Here is a schedule of the principal town officers of Augusta 
township since its organization, as fully as the returns enabled us 
to compile: 

SUPERVISORS, 

James Stark 1850 .James Stark 1876 

P. P. Newcomb 1861 P. P. Newcomb 1877 

Wm. H. Mead 18G5 H. L. Beard 1880 

Andrew J. Winfleld 1874 

CLERKS. 

Giles Hawley 1858 E. W. Wood 1871 

I. B. Leach 1861 Ell Gillett 1874 

William Cassaday 186-5 W. H. Watson 1877 

A. B. Crooks 1866 I. B. Leach 1880 

Jas. C. Beitholflf 1869 

ASSESSORS. 

Giles Hawley ;1858 E. P. Hawley 1868 

J.R. Combs 1861 A. G. Bacon 1870 

B.J.Long 1863 E. P. Hawley 1871 

J. C. Bertholf 1863 John W. Browninc 1874 

J. A. Dexter 18(i4 E. P. Hawley. .. .7. 1875 

F. M. Kinsey 1865 John Avery 1876 

Wm. Rowland 1866 E. P. Hawley 1880 

Wm. J. Pitney 1867 

COLLECTORS. 

Benjamin Bacon 1858 Robert Booker 1875 

E. P. Hawley 1861 A.J. Winfield 1876 

Henry A. Young isr.8 D. "E. Belden 1877 

W. J. Pitney 1864 Wm. McGilvery 1877 

A. J. Winfield 1866 Abner Mnrpby 1878 

A. L.Weed 1867 D.J. Kniss 1879 

Wm. C. Cassaday 1873 A. J. Winfield 1880 

I. B. Leach 1874 



CHILI TOWNSHIP. 

Township 3-6 received its much-mispronounced name from the 
little village of Chili, near its southwest corner. This village was 
laid out by Elisha Worrell, Esq., one of its early and much 
respected pioneers, in the year 1836. The township is composed 
mainly of prairie land, though the head waters of Bear and 
Panther creeks supply it with some small bodies of wood land. 
Considerable of it is rather flat prairie, while other portions are 
rolling and well drained. It contains much valuable farm land, 
and a large proportion of well-improved and productive farms. 
This township is settled by an intelligent and enterprising class of 
emigrants from many of the States of the Union. 

Its only villages are Chili, before mentioned, and Bowen, of later 
origin, built on the line of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Rail- 
road. These towns are both in the midst of thriving communities. 
The former has grown but little and begins to show age, and prob- 
ably contains no greater population than it did twenty years ago. 
Bowen was laid out in 1863 by Mr. Peter C. Bowen, from whom 
it derives its name. It is six miles due west from Augusta, and 
about fourteen southeast from the county seat. 

The postoffice was established in Chili when Amos Kendall 
was • Postmaster-General, Moses Stevens, postmabter, and Elisha 
Worrell assistant, and performing the duties. After liim came 
George N. Crowley, then Alfred T. Dickinson for a year or so, 
then Mr. Crowley again for several years, then J. Clarkson Caine 
for a year or two, then Mr. Crowley again, who still holds the 
oflice, having 'held it for from thirty to thirty-five years — one of 
the oldest postmasters in the county. 

Among the earlier settlers in this township we ma}' mention 
Stephen Owen, Sr., and his sons Ainsley, John L., B. C, Archi- 
bald C, Isaac and William, who were immigrants of 1831 ; William 
Pike and his sons John, Thomas, William aud James, who were 
settlers of 1832; Joseph Stevens and his sons John, George, 
Joseph and Frank, 1833; S. Garner and Evan Bettisworth and 
his sons David, Charles and Evan, Jr., in 1833. Then we have 
among those whose date of settlement we cannot exactly fix, the 
names of Rev. Joseph Worrell, David F. Parker, and his son 
Samuel C. Parker; Wm. Sullivan, Stephen Tripp, John Wilhite, 
Joseph Harter, David Todd, Alpha Forsythe, John and James Prutz- 
man, Zachariah, Henry, David and Woods, and Geo. 'N. Crowley. 
There may be others whose settlement in the township was as 
early as some of these, but whose names we cannot now recall. 
Many of these pioneers are since deceased; others have removed 

(530) 



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■,;jfi>^- 





% 





(^^—x/a 




CHILI T.P. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 533 

from the township to make homes elsewhere, while a few of the 
vonno-er class, with here and there a white head among them, 
remain, 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Revs. Oliver, Elliott 
and Griggs are remembered as being among the earliest. The 
date of their ministry is not fixed. Meetings were held in houses 
of members, or in such school-houses as were in existence. Rev. 
Peter Cartwright, so well known everywhere, is remembered as 
having held services there in early days. The histoiy of the M. 
E. Church in Chili, other than as above, we have failed to obtain. 
Concerning the Presbyterian we have been more successful. To 
Mrr J. Clarkson Caine, deacon in said hurch, Cwe are indebted for 
the following sketch of its historj^: 

" In 1S41 Rev. Joseph Buffington came and preached here and at 
Woodville, in Adams county, where there was a Congregational 
Church organized (he wasXew School Presl)yterian). During his 
stay here there was a brick house of worship built of 20 by 30 
feet, then supposed to be large enough to accommodate the place 
for some time; this was in 1843. 

" In January, 1847, Rev. Edward HoUister, assisted by Rev. 
Warren Nichols, organized a Church here, called the First Presby- 
terian Church of Chili, consisting of the following named persons: 
Levi "Weldin, John Slater, David F. Parker, Samuel C. Parker, 
Stephen A. Eckley, George J. Weldin, Jonathan W. Todd, David 
G. Todd, Joseph C. Caine, Eliza AVeldin, Jemima Todd, Mary 
T. Hollister, Tryphena Ilolden, Elizabeth Eckley, Sarah E. Todd, 
Mary A. Caine, Mary T. Hollister, 2d, Emily G. Hollister, Eliza J. 
Dee, Eleanor Howell, and Sarah Ann Worrell, and soon after, 
Elisha Worrell. 

" In May, 1847, Daniel F. Parker was chosen an Elder. Rev. E. 
Hollister continued to preach here until Dec, 1850. The Church 
was then supplied with occasional preaching by Rev. Henry Aber- 
nethy till 1857. Rev. Joseph Worrell took charge of it at that 
date, and continued till April, 1868, when Rev. James T. Bliss took 
charge, and continued with it till 1870. In 1872 Rev. John C. 
Wagaman came and preached for the ])eople till Sept., 1877. 

''In 1878 Rev. Bloomfield Wall took charge of the Church, and 
is its present supply." 

JElders. — John Mills and Joseph C. Caine, 1857; Wm. Kennedy, 
1855; David G. Todd, 1860; Alex Cochran, 1879. 

The Society used the little brick house till 1867, when a much 
larger frame was built, and is still in use. 

In Bowen there is a Congregational and also a Methodist Episco- 
pal Church; both been built since the town was begun in 1863. 
We have no data concerning them. 

Up in the northwest corner of the township is a Church belong- 
ing to the Second Adventist denomination, and in which they wor- 
ship. No statistics of this congregation obtained. 

32 



534 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

We refrain from dwelling longer on the general history of the 
township, or any of its villages, choosing rather to devote the space 
to giving personal sketches of the more prominent citizens, believ- 
ing such sketches are of equal importance and afford greater 
interest. 

E. W. Bennett^ farmer, was born in Vermont in 1819, the son 
of Oliver and Mary (Rice) Bennett, natives of Yermont, and of 
English descent. He was educated at the academy at Waterford, 
Penn.; spent his early life in teaching; in 1843 he married Mary 
Pratt, and of their 3 children 2 are living: E. J. and Mary 
L. Mrs. B. is a member of the Presbyterian Church in CUiili. 
Mr. W's father moved from Yermont to Pennsylvania, and in 
1856 E. W. came West and settled near Lawrence, Kan.; in about 
six years he came to Fulton county. 111., and in 1863 to Hancock 
county, settling at Chili; while in Kansas he was robbed by the 
border ruffians. He is a Republican, has been Commissioner of 
Highways, Justice of the Peace in Chili tp, 10 or 12 years. He 
owns SO acres of land joining Chili and 40 near Bowensburg, and 
has been successful as a farmer; he has a nice herd of short-horn 
and other cattle and raises large-size Berkshire swine. 

Fraiiklin Carlln, farmer, sec. 18; P.O., West Point; was born 
in Maryland Oct. 27, 1844, son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Hughes) 
Carlin, natives of Maryland, and of French descent; received his 
education in the common schools; Jan. 5, 1868, he married Hannah 
Brian, and they have one son and two daughters. She is a member 
of the M. E. Church in Chili; he is a Republican. He came from 
Maryland to Illinois in 1865, settling near Columbus, Adams 
county, where he worked on a farm by the month till he was 
married; after that he rented a farm; he came to Hancock county 
in 1876, locating on sec. 18, this tp., where he owns a farm,and has 
been moderately successful. He is now serving his second term 
as School Trustee, and is a Justice of the Peace. In 1862 he 
enlisted in Co. H, 8th Md. Inft., and was discharged August 27, 
1863. 

Elijah Crossland^ farmer and butcher, sec. 14; P.O., Bowen; 
was born in Fayette county. Pa., in 1821, the son of Elijah and 
Catharine (Smith) Crossland, natives of Maryland, father of English 
descent and mother of German. In 1850 he married Margaret 
Strickler, and they have had 6 sons and 2 daughters, all of 
whom are living. Mrs. C. died Dec. 10, 1871, a member of the 
M. E. Church. Mr. C. came to Illinois in 1862, settling in Adams 
county, where he followed farming, and in 1869 he came to this 
county, settling in Chili, where he owns two farms. He is really 
one of the neatest farmers in the county. In politics he is a 
Republican. 

Richard Eells, farmer, sec. 24; P.O., Bowen; was born in Adams 
county, 111., in 1837, the son of William E. and Eliza (Bester) Eells, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 535 

natives of Connecticut, and of English ancestry. Dec. 11, 1860, 
he married Susan Gabriel,, and the}' have 5 children living. 
She is a luetnber of the M. E. Church, and he is a Republican, and 
has been School Director and Trustee and Road Commissioner, 
He came to this county in 1862, and now has 284 acres of farming 
land. He has made all that he now owns since 1863, except a team ; 
he buys and ships hogs; has run a threshing-machine 18 years, 
and at present owns and runs a steam thresher; he ran the first 
steam thresher ever operated in this part of the county; he has 
also been selling agricultural implements in Bowen. 

S. E. Elliott^ farmer, was born in Union tp., Butler county, O., 
in 1816, the son of C. and Elizabeth (Enyart) Elliott,natives of the 
Empire State; Mr. E's grandfather settled in Butler county, O., in 
1801. The subject of this sketch has been successful as a farmer, 
but at present has sold all of his farming land, retaining a neat 
and substantial residence in Chili. In 1867 he married Catharine 
Newland, and they have a son and a daughter. Mrs. E. is a Pres- 
byterian, and Mr. E. is a Republican. 

Shivered Garner, farmer, sec. 3; P. 0., Denver; was born in 
Morgan county, -111., Feb. 1, 1832, son of William and Sarah 
(Robertson) Garner; father was born in 1794, in the South, has 
lived in Illinois nearly half a century; can see to read without 
spectacles, walks almost erect, retaining the soldier step which he 
learned in the war of 1812; in that war he served a year with the 
Rangers; he has spent the most of his useful life as a farmer, and 
is now the oldest man living in Chili tp. His son Shiveral has also 
been a successful farmer, owning at present 285 acres of land, 45 ot 
which is timber. At the age of 24 he married Miss Cynthia A. 
Jackson, and they have had 9 children, 7 of whom are living. He 
and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church, and in 
politics he is a Republican. He has been School Director several 
terms in the district where he now lives. 

T. N. Gillis, farmer; residence, Bowen; was born in East Ten- 
nessee in 1835, the son of John and Mary (Register) Gillis, the 
former a native of Virginia, and of English descent, and the latter 
of Delaware, of Irish descent; received his education in the com- 
mon schools of Iowa; in 1859 he married Miss R. E. Haworth, and 
their children are William T. and Ella May. He emigrated to 
Adams county. 111., in 1858, and into this county in 1864, settling 
northwest of Bowen; for four years he kept a general store at 
Denver, and in 1870 he moved it to Bowen. Pie and his brother 
bought the mill in Bowen, ran it two years, sold out, and went to 
traveling. At the present time he is dealing in grain, and enjo^'ing 
fair success. He has 55 acres of good land. He is a Republican, 
and while at Denver he was Postmaster; is also a member of the 
M. E. Church. 

John M. Graham, farmer, sec. 17; P. O., Bowen; was born 
in Ohio March 16, 1833, the son of Theodore and Elizabeth 
(Meekens) Graham, the former of Irish descent, and the latter of 



536 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Scottish, and born in Ohio. In 1858 he married Sarilda E. Stewart, 
and of their 2 children Emma is living, wh(j was born Dec. 27, 
1860, and was married in 1877, to Alvin Sf'.ott, a farmer in this 
county. Mrs. G. is a member of the Adventist Church. Mr. G. 
is a Democrat, has been a School Director nine 3'ears, and School 
Trustee three _years. He came to Illinois in 1851, settling in 
Adams county; in 1853 he came to this county, settling on sec. 
19, Augusta tp.; thence in 1863 he moved to section 17. Chili tp. 
He has 160 acres of good land and is entirely out of debt. He is a 
public-spirited man, believes in modern enterprises and scientific 
farming, employing intelligent help. 

JoJin Griffitts, grain and stock-raiser, sec. 14; P. O., Bowen; 
was born March 4, 1S30, son of William and Mary (Cain) GrifRtts, 
natives of Teniiessee, father of Prussian descent, and mother of 
German ; he received no education; was brought by his parents to 
this county when only one year old. Oct. 15, 1865, he married 
Amanda Ilopson, and of their 3 children 2 are living. Mr. G. 
was present in 1843 when the first threshing-machine was started 
in Hancock county by Mr. Robison; it was a " chaff-piler."' Mr. G. 
also owned and ran the first thresher in Chili tp., in 1850, and he 
continued business with it for 11 years. In 1844 he helped to run 
the first reaper he ever saw. He has made all he owns by his own 
exertions, having had to run in debt for his first machine. He has 
split more rails than Mr. Lincoln ever did. Mr. G. is a Democrat, 
and is now School Director. He owns 250 acres of land, which he 
fenced and improved when there was no improved laud joining him. 

J. V. Harter, farmer, sec. 5; P. O., Denver; was born in Yir- 
ginia in 1829, the son of Christian and Orpah (Wilson) Harter, 
natives of Virginia, father of German and mother of Irish ancestry; 
was educated in the common schools of this county; in May, 1852, 
he married Barbara Ann Summers, and of their 9 children 7 are 
boys. Mr. Harter's emigration to this county was in 1835, and he 
has lived here ever since, except that he ran a saw-raill in Wiscon- 
sin a short time, and a grist-mill in Iowa; and he also kept store 
three years. When he first came to St. Mary's Prairie there was 
nothing to ripple that tall grass besides the wind, and now and then 
a deer's tail could be seen above the grass sailing along. Mr. 
Harter started with 100 acres of land, but he has now 480 acres. 
He has the best stock-farm in the county. jSTear the center of his 
farm is a natural curiosity in the shape of an ever-living spring, 
which occasionally sends up bubbles of sulphureted hydrogen gas, 
that can be lighted with a match. In politics Mr. H. is a 
Democrat. 

Joaeyh Harter. farmer, sec. 6; P. O.. Denver; was born in 
Franklin county, Va., May 9, 1809, son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Young) Harter, natives of the same county, and of German descent. 
The Harters first settled in Maryland, and the Youngs were early 
settlers in Virginia; one of the latter was a Captain under General 
Washington in the war of the Revolution. Joseph's father came to 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 537 

this county about 183-i or 1835, settling in St. Mary's tp., where 
he followed farming; he died in 1S56, aged about SO years, a mem- 
ber of the old Baptist Church. His wife died in 1865, a member 
of the same Church; thev are both buried on the old farm. In 
1833 Mr. Joseph Harter married Susannah Dodd, a native of Vir- 
ginia and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Dodd, probably of 
English descent. Sixteen years after his marriage he sold out 
everything except two span of horses and some household goods, 
and, with them and his family of a wife and 8 children, emi- 
grated to this county, arriving late in the fall of 1849, and he rented 
a quarter of land east of Warsaw, which he worked the following 
season; in 1850 he bought the northeast quarter of sec. 6, this tp,; 
on the south part of this quarter there was a log house about IS 
feet square and nearh'two stories high; into this building he moved 
his famih" in 1851, and here they lived eight or ten years, making 
some additions to the building; in 1857 Mr. II. built his present resi- 
dence, of brick, 20 by 40, two stories high, and the L 14 by 24 feet, 
with good barns and outbuildings. The old homestead now consists 
of 720 acres of fine land, and Mr. H. has about 150 acres in other 
places. He came to this county with a property of only $1,500; 
he is now one of the most prosperous and extensive farmers in the 
connty. In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat; and although 
taking considerable interest in political matters, he has never 
allowed himself to run for office. Himself and wife are members 
of the old Baptist Church, and have been for many years. Mr. H. 
has always been liberal in his contributions to the support of relig- 
ion and education, probably more than his proportion. Children — 
George; Mary, dec; Caleb, who died in California at the age of 27; 
Henry. Sarah, Joseph, Harvey, Alverda, Isaac Foster, who is prac- 
ticing medicine in Illinois near Burlington, Iowa; Ballard; William, 
who died in infancy; and Leander Douglass. The first 8 were born 
in Virginia, and were brought by their parents in emigration to 
this county; and the last 4 were born in this county. We give 
Mr. Harter's portrait in this volume. 

William Herring^ farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Denver; was born in 
Brown county. 111., Dec. 7, 1835, the son of John C. and Lucinda 
(Rush) Herring, father a native of Alabama and of Irish ancestry, 
and mother a native of Kentucky and of German and English de- 
scent; received his education in thecommon schools of Brown county 
and Perry, Pike Co.; April 22, 1860, he married Rachel Ingram; 
their 3 children, Nelson, Mary F. and Harvey, are all living. 
Mr. and Mrs, H. are members of the Adventist Church, which 
meets at the Antioch liouse of w'orship, in Chili; and Mr. II. is a 
Democrat. Pie came to Hancock count}' in February, 1865, and 
now owns 130 acres ol l?Tid, besides seven shares of the home place, 
amounting to 184^ acres 

Joseph Ivins, nurseryman in Bowen, was born in Butler county 
O., in 1828. and is the son of Daniel and Theodocia (Cuberla) Ivins, 
natives of Kew Jersey; he received his education principally in 



538 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Franklin College, Indiana; in 1859 he married Hetty Fordyce, and 
of their 7 children 6 are living, 3 of each sex. He and wife are 
members of the M. E. Chnrch, and he is a Democrat. He came to 
this count}' in 1855, stopping in La Harpe a short time, and then 
went to Basco, and in 1862 to Boweu and engaged in raising Osage 
orange hedge plants, but has extended his business to that of a gen- 
eral nursery, in which he is successful; he has more orders this 
year than he can supply. He seldom employs an agent. 

Samuel H. Kelley, farmer, sec. 18; P. O., AYest Point; was 
born in Adams county, 111., in 181:7. The eldest son of Joseph 
and Jane (Seaton) Kelley, natives of Kentucky, father of Irish and 
German ancestry, and mother of English; father was a farmer all 
his life. The subject of this sketch received his education in tlie 
common schools, and at the graded schools at Cam]) Point, 111. 
Dec. 4, 1873, he married Clara E. Truitt, a native of Kentucky, 
and a good cook. Of their 3 children these 2 are living, Eden 
Irene, born Jan. 8, 1875, and Warren Ebert, May 8, 1879. 
Mr. Kelley is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife ot 
the M. E. Church; in politics he is a Republican. He came to 
Hancock county in 1876, and he now owns 80 acres of land on sec. 
18, Chili tp. 

A. T. King., farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Bowen; was born in Ohio 
in 1836, and is the son of William and Mary (Boude) King, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. King was in the dry-goods 
business four years in Ohio. In 1850 he married Miss T. W. Pome- 
roy, who is a member of the Congregational Chnrch. He is a 
Republican. Hecame to this county in 1851, settled in St. Albans 
tp., and in 1853 in Chili tp. Oct. 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 
10th Mo. Inf., and was transferred to Co. C, where he served nearly 
two years, when he was commissioned Captain in the 50th U. S.C. 
T., and was mustered out March 25, 1865, at Vicksburg. In 1877-'8 
he kept hotel in Keokuk. He now has a farm of 65 acres. 

Wdliam S . LinUy physician, sec. 21; P. O., Bowen; was born 
in Ohio in 1829, and is the son of John and Nancy (Gant) Linn, 
father a native of Pennsylvania, and mother of North Carolina. 
He received his education in the common school in Adams county, 
111., and his medical education at Iowa Universitj^, where he gradu- 
ated in 1852; after practicing one year in Adams county he came 
to Chili, but since 1868 he has been on sec. 21, where he owns 230 
acres of land. In 1855 he married Mary Ann Smith, and they 
have 4 children living. Mrs. L. is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. The Doctor is a Republican, and as a physician has an 
extensive practice. 

Wilford W. Manlove., was born in Knox count}'. 111., April 4, 
1841, and is the son of J. H. and Susan (Cecil) Manlove; father a 
native of North Carolina, and mother of Kentucky, and both of 
French ancestry; attended school but three months in his life, and 
is a self-made man. Nov. 10, 1871, he married Sarah Waggoner, 
and they have 2 boys, Lawrence L. and George S., about eight and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 539 

seven years of age respectively. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the 
M. E. Chnrch. and he is a Republican. Mr. M. came to Hancock 
county in 18G7, settling on sec. 29. Aug. 14, 1862, he enlisted in 
Co. D, 78th 111. Yol. Inf., under Captain Black, of Carthage, and 
was discharged May 18, 18G5. He was teamster the first year, and 
after that was in all the battles. A brother of his was killed at 
Kenesaw Mountain. He was in the same Co. 

William B. Marvel^ farmer, sec. 21; P. O., Bowen; was born 
in Delaware in 1836; the son of Thomas J. and Sally Ann (Broad- 
way) Marvel; attended Middletown Seminary in Delaware. In 
1864 he married Mary Powell, and of their 7 children 6 are living. 
He came to this county in 1865, and now owns 280 acres. He is a 
Democrat, and both himself and wife are Presbyterians. 

Dr. Arch. E. Mo Neil was born near Goshen, Clermont 
county, Ohio, in October, 1827, son of Arthur McNeil, a native of 
Lancaster county, Penn., who was a descendant of a Scotch High- 
lander t'f the same name and a leader in the Rebellion of 1745, of 
the house of Stuart against the British Crown. The Doctor's mother, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Boyer, was a native of Wash- 
ington county, Md., and of German parents. They emigrated in 
1811 to Ohio and settled in the then small town of Cincinnati, 
later, in 1828, locating in the town of Goshen, Clermont Co., Ohio, 
where they engaged in mercantile pursuits till accumulated years 
obliged them to retire from active life. They were ardent followers 
of John Wesley in their religious beliefs and forms of worship, as 
are all their children save the subject of this sketch. Their family 
consisted of 9 children, 4 boys and 5 girls, 7 of whom are now 
living, viz: Dr. A. B. McNeil, Columbus, Adams Co., 111., aged 
70; Rev. M. M. McNeil, Bowensburg, 111., aged 68; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Brunson, Bowensburg. 111., aged 65; Mrs. Matilda Myers, 
New Hartford, Pike Co., 111., aged 59 years; Mrs. Permelia Hall, 
Barry, Pike Co., 111., aged 57; Dr. Arclu E. McNeil, aged 52 years; 
and David F. McNeil, Esq., Bowensburg, 111., aged 47 years; Mrs. 
Susan Bell dying Dec. 1844, aged 27, mother of 4 children, all 
living, the other and 9th child dying in infancy. In later years 
the parents abandoned all domestic pursuits and came to Illinois, 
spending their last days visiting and enjoying the society' and loving 
attentions of their children. The mother died July 3, 1865, and 
the father the following April at the home of their daughter, Mrs. 
Matilda Myers, in the ripeness and fruition of a well-spent life, 
and with an abiding assurance, through faith in the written promises 
of their God, of eternal life and ha])piness. 

Dr. McNeil was educated in thfe common schools of Ohio and at 
a private select school under the management of one Prof. Gains, 
nearGoshen, Ohio. Began the study of medicine in 1846 with one 
Dr. Isaac N. Thacker, and completed a collegiate medical course 
of lectures spring of 1850, at Starling Medical College, Columbus, 
Ohio. AVas the recipient also of the honorary degree of medicine 
from the faculty of the Iowa Medical College, at Keokuk, Iowa, 



540 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

February, A. D. 1868. Has been twice married: First at Dayton, 
Ohio, September 22, 1849. to Miss Martha A. Deal, a native of 
"West Charleston, Miami county, Ohio, and who died October 20 
1867. Of this marriage there were born 3 children, 2 boys 
and one girl, only one of which, viz., George E. McNeil, born July 
20, 1856, at New Hartford, Pike county. 111., is now living. Was 
married the second time Nov. 11, 1868, at Keokuk, Iowa, to 
Miss Mary E. Hutchinson of that city, and a native of Washington, 
AVashington county, Penn. Of this marriage there are 4 
children, one girl and 3 boys, all living. The Doctor began 
the practice of his profession the spring of 1850 in the place of his 
nativity, and October, 1858, moved to Adams county. 111. The 
following year, July 22, settled at New Hartford, in Pike county, 
this State, where he practiced medicine successfully up to Septem- 
ber, 1862, when he enlisted in the 99th Regt. Inf'try Yols., and at 
the organization of the regiment was chosen by the unanimous 
voice of both men and officers, and subsequently commissioned by 
Gov. Richard Yates, a Surgeon of the regiment, in which capacity 
he labored zealously and acquitted himself with credit, as the sub- 
joined highly complimentary expressions of his associates plainly 
indicate, until from physical disabilit}' he was forced to leave the 
service : 

COPY OF EXPEES8I0NS OF COMKADES. 

14th Division, Hospital of the 13th Army Corps of Miss., 

IN REAR ViCKSBURG, JUNE 4tH, 1863, 

Arch E. McNeil, M. D-, Senior Assistant Surgeon, 99th Megt., III. Vol: Infantry. 

Dear Sir: — It is with pleasure I hand you the enclosed resolution. It was the 
promptings of friends and Surgeons who appreciate your worth. You leave vis 
with the I'cspect and confidence of every Surgeon belonging to the Division, as 
well as their regrets. Hoping to hear of your restoration to health, I am your sin- 
cere friend, ' WM. H. WHITE, 

Surg. 23d Iowa Infantry and Chairman Division 

Operating Board of Surgeons. 

(RESOLUTION.) 

Hospital 14th Division, 13th Army Corps, rear Vicksburg, June 4, 1803. 
Having learned that our associate. Arch. E. McNeil, Senior Assistant Surgeon of 
the 99tli Regt. Infantry Vols., owing to cause beyond his control, finds it necessary 
to leave the arm\', therefore. Resolved, That we consider him a gentleman of 
fine feelings, of noljle sympathies, a true friend and one of the most accomplished 
surgeons and physicians iu the army. That we deeply regret his departure, and 
his loss to the department. 

H. P. Strong, Medical Director. 

Wm. H. White, Suro.'^Sd Infantry, Iowa. 

Geo. p. Rex, Surg. 33d Regt. 111. Vol. Infantry. 

Alfred B. Lee, Asst Surg. 22d Iowa Infantry. 

Wm. L. Orr, Surg. 21st Iowa Infantry. 

J. H. Ledlie, Surg. 99th Regt. 111. Infantry. 

Henry T. Antis, Asst. Surg. 33d 111. Infantry. 

O. Peabody, Surg. 23d Iowa Infantry. 

Edwin May, Senior Asst. Surg. 33d 111. Infantry. 

J. W. BiGELOW, Senior Asst. Surg, in charge of 

8th and 18th Indiana Vol. Infantry. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 541 

After the Doctor's return to civil life in 1865, he moved to Han- 
cock county and purchased the farm originally settled by Peter C. 
Bowen and a part of the original town of Bowensburg, where he now 
resides, and is engaged in the mixed pursuits of agriculture, medi- 
cine and milling with a fair average of success. For the benelit of 
his health in 1S71 he moved to Greenwood county, Kansas. There 
he engaged in agriculture and stock culture,but after four years' expe- 
rience, with unsatisfactory results, returned to his former home in 
this county. In 1848 became a member of the order of Masons. 
In 1875 a member of Odd Fellows. Of his own choice is not now 
affiliated with either order. Is not a member of any religious 
or2:anization. Thinks for himself on all subjects. In politics is 
now and ever has been intensely Republican. Prides himself on 
his early abolition proclivities. Began voting in the interest of 
humanity as against organized oppression under color of law, and 
is still voting that way. Was a candidate in 1864 on the Republi- 
can ticket for the Legislature from the Legislative district composed 
of the counties of Pike and Green of this State, and though not 
elected was beaten by a smaller majority than any one on the ticket. 
In 1874 was again made a candidate for the Republican party ot 
Greenwood county, Kansas, for the Legislature, but withdrew his 
name, and refused to suifer himself voted for by the people, because 
the nominating convention passed a resolution instructing him how 
to vote on certain local issues. In all matters of general interest 
for the public good, he is ever full of ardent zeal. To this pecul- 
iarity of character, the!present very elegant and commodious school 
building of the town of Bowensburg, in which is now taught one 
of the best of graded district schools, may very justly be cliarged, 
as the volumes of abuse and hard words of the tax-payers toward 
him at the annual period for collecting taxes would testify, while 
the debt incurred for the building and its beautiful decorative sur- 
roundings were being liquidated. Chief among the business insti- 
tutions of the town of B. is the Excelsior Flouring Mills, which, 
though erected a dozen years ago, ever fell short of its intended 
mission in the interest of the public or benetit of proprietors, till 
since recently it was purchased by the Doctor, and by dint of his 
energy and native ingenuousness , has been improved and modern- 
ized till it is now the pride of the owner and is rapidly becoming 
the subject of praise and patronage from the people of a large region 
of surrounding countr}'. The Doctor is the owner of one of the 
best improved farms in this neighborhood, and in the highest state 
of cultivation. Is also owner of considerable town property of 
value; also quite a body of wild land in Greenwood county, Kansas. 
His untiring industry and perseverance, progressive and aggress- 
ive spirit in anything he undertakes, makes him a most valuable 
factor in the realm of a citizen. 

M. McNeall^ carpenter, mercliant, etc.. Chili, was born in Ohio 
in 1812, the son of A. and Elizabeth (Boyer) McNeall, the former a 
native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and the latter of 



542 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 

Maryland, of German ancestry. Mr. McNeall has followed several 
vocations successfully, but has liad the misfortnne to break up, 
paying, however, every cent of his indebtedness. In 1S33 he mar- 
ried Elizabeth Brown, and of their 8 children 5 are living 
and are married, the daughter living near Blandinsville. Mr. M. 
has been a member of the M. E. Church since 1824; has been an 
exhorter and preacher 45 years. His wife is also a member of the 
same Church. He came to this county in 1864, and was agent at 
the railroad depot 13 years; was known as 'the "railroad preacher." 
In 1866 he started a furniture store in Bowen. Besides the store 
he owns 258 acres of land, a substantial residence, and other town 
property. His son, however, is part owner of the land. Mr. McN. 
is a Democrat, and has acted as justice of the Peace, Police Magis- 
trate, School Director and Supervisor. 

James W. Iforris, farmer, sec. 29; P. O., Chili; was born in Bal- 
timore county, Md., Feb. 17, 1840, the son of Walter W. and Cath- 
erine (Stabler) Ills orris, father a native of Maryland, and mother ot 
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Dec. 2, 1875, he married 
Elizabeth Sterrett, daughter of R. C. Sterrett, a native of Maryland, 
who is now living in this tp., the owner of 200 acres of good 
land. J. Harvey is their only child, born June 27, 1877. Mrs. N. 
is a member of the M. E. Church and Mr. N. is a Republican. His 
father came to Adams county, 111., from Maryland, in 1854, and 
lived there until 1876, when he came to this county and settled on 
sec. 29. The subject of this sketch and his brother have 20Q acres 
of land in good cultivation. 

David F. Parker^ farmer, sec. 29; P. O., Chili; was born in York 
county, Pa., in 1806, son of Samuel and Ann (Cunningham) Parker, 
natives of the same State, father of English and mother of Irish 
descent, education in the subscription schools of his native State. 
In 1848, in this county, he married Sarah E. Todd, a native of 
Vermont, and of their 4 children 2 are living — Alice, wife ol 
C. W. Clinefelter, and Benjamin Francis. Mrs. P. was, and Mr. P. 
is yet a Presbyterian. In 1837 he came "West and settled in this 
tp, Mrs. P. died in 1868. In politics Mr. P. is a Republican. 
He owns a total of 167 acres of land, and is a good, honest farmer 
and successful ; is well posted in the history of the county. 

Henry K. Ramsey, farmer, sec. 2; P. O., Bowen; was born in 
Indiana in 1826, the son of Samuel and Eleanor (Kime) Ramsey, 
father a native of Kentucky and of English descent, and mother of 
German ancestry. In 1845 he married Mary A, Garner, daughter 
of Wm. Garner, who came to Illinois in 1831, settling in Adams 
county. She is also a native of Indiana. Their 4 children are — 
Mary Susan, Samuel Henry, Hattie E. and Eva Iv. Mr. R. was a 
farmer all his life. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and 
in politics is a Republican; was Supervisor and School Director, 
and was the owner of 2,000 acres of land. He died Oct. 31, 1875, 
Mrs. R. is also a member of the M. E. Church, Her father is living 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 543 

with her at the present time. He was born in 1T94; was in the war 
of 1812, and came to this State in 1S31. 

D. P. RohinsQn, farmer, sec. 28; P. O., Bowen; was born in 
Korth Carolina in 1819, son of John and Cynthia (Bell) Robinson, 
natives of that State, father of Irish and mother of English descent. 
His father came to Illinois in 1833. May 10, 1849, he married 
Theresa Ham, a nati\'e of Missouri, and a daughter of John C. 
Ham. Of their 4 children 2 are living, John W., born Sept. 
8, 1852, and Thomas Jefferson, born April 16, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. 
R. are members of the Congregational Church. He came to this 
county in 1851, settling on sec. 18, Chili tp., and now lives 
on sec. 28. He has been School Director three years and Road 
Commissioner one year. He owns 160 acres of good prairie land 
in good cultivation. 

John P. Rowland, farmer, Chili, was born in Ohio in 1816, 
the son of Philip and Rebecca (Perlee) Rowland, of French 
descent^ father' a native of New Jersey and mother of Ohio. In 
1839 he married Sarah R. McComas, and of their 10 children 9 
are living. Two sons and one son-in-law were in the late war. 
He came to this county in 1864, settling in Augusta tp., and 
removed to this tp. in 1869. Has been a successful farmer, now 
owning 103 acres of good land. Has been Road Commissioner; 
is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he has been Deacon in the Church. 

Daniel T. Scott, farmer, sec. 4; P. O., Bowen; was born in Cass 
county, 111., in 1835, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Martin) 
Scott, father of Scotch descent. In 1861 he married Miss Nancy 
S. AVoods, and they have 5 children, 4 of whom are girls. Mrs. S. 
is a member of the M. E. Church. He was reared in Beardstown, 
111. He did not have a cent of money when he commenced for 
himself, but he now owns 200 acres of good land. He is a 
Democrat. 

G. K. Seaton, farmer, sec. 7; P. O., West Point; was born in 
Kentucky Aug. 16. 1829; son of C. D. and Elizabeth (Payne) 
Seaton, of English descent, father a native of Kentucky,and mother 
of Virginia. In 1B55 he married Elizabeth Harding, who died in 
May, 1865. In 1866 he married Adeline Bartholomew, and 4 of 
their 6 children are living, 3 of whom are boys. He and wife are 
members of the Christian Church at AVest Point, but attend 
Church at Denver. He came to this county in March, 1853, 
settling in St. Alban's tp., and came to Chili in 1857, settling on 
sec. 7, where he now resides. He is a Republican, and has been 
School Director eight years and Road Commissioner three years. 
He owns 270 acres of land. Has made most of his property by 
his own hard earnings, and is a very neat farmer. He had one 
brother, 5 brothers-in-law and one nephew in the late war. He is 
the owner of one of the best dwellings in the t]>. His father 
came to Adams county in 1844. 

Z. P. /Slate?', farmer, sec. 18; P. 0., West Point; was born in 



544 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Yermont in 1S34, and is the son of John and Ruth E. (Nutting) 
Slater, of Eno-lish descent, father a native of Vermont, and mother 
of Connecticut. In 1855 he married Sarepta S. Stone, and they 
have 4 daughters and one son. Two of the daughters were educated 
in Carthage College, and are teachers. Mr. S. was ordained as a 
minister in the Free-Will Baptist Church in 1868, and followed the 
ministry until 1869, since which time he has been farming. He 
is a Republican, and is School Director and Trustee; was Clerk ot 
the Central Division of this Church several years. His father 
came to this county in 1834. 

Jose'pli C. Stevens, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., Chili; was born in 
this county in 1837, and has spent his life here. He is a son ot 
Joseph and Almira (Dee) Stevens, father a native of New York, 
and mother of Yermont. In 1860 he married Miss Thamzin 
McLean, a member of the M. E. Church. He is a Democrat and 
has been Collector and School Director. His father came to this 
county in 1833, and died here in 1846. Mr. S. well remembers 
the experience of pioneer life m the prairie West, the great iires, 
etc., one of which burned up all his fences, and he let the farm for 
a term of three years to a party who should reph.ce them. 

William T. Stratton, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Be wen; was born in 
Connecticut in 1833, and is the son of G. W. and I'atience (Aikins) 
Stratton, father a native of Massachusetts and of English descent, 
mother of New York State and of Scottish descent. In 1853 he 
married Harriet Stevens, and they have 6 children. He came to 
Illinois in 1865, settling in Knox county, and the same fall moved 
to Hancock county, settling on the northeast of sec. 10. When 
he lirst came to this State he had only $20, but he now owns 200 
acres of land. He is a Democrat. 

George TTivasher^ farmer, sec. 21; P. O., Bowen; was born in 
Ohio in 1827, son of Charles and Malinda (Hicks) Thrasher, both 
natives of Connecticut and of English descent; he was married in 
Hamilton county April 11, 1852, to Hester Ann Hubbard, and 
4 of their 6 children are now living. Both are members of 
the Congregational Church in Bowen. He came to this county in 
1854, and now owns 260 acres of good land. He is a Republican. 

Gilbert Tillajpaugh, farmer, sec. 5; P. O., Denver; was born 
in New York State in 1830, and is the son of John and Hannah 
(Kniskern) T., natives of New York, and of German descent; 
educated in the common school and at Schoharie Academy; in 
early life was a school-teacher. April 4, 1865, be married Eliza- 
beth Machene, and they have 2 daughters living, Hattie L., 
graduate of Carthage College in 1879, and Helen E., also an 
attendant at the same college. Mr. T. and wife and eldest daugh- 
ter are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church at St. Alban's. 
He came to this county from New York in 1854, settling on sec. 
15, and moved here in 1869, locating on sec. 5. He owns 160 
acres of well improved land. He is a Republican, and has been 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 5i5 

Clerkof his tp. four years, Collector, School Trustee and Director, 
and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school at Denver. 

David G. Todd, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Chili; was born in 
1835, son of Jonathan and Jemima (Warner) Todd, father a native 
of Vermont, and mother of Connecticut, and both of Eng'lish 
descent. Attended common school and Knox College a short time; 
has taught school some, but has followed farming principallv; 
came to this county in 1837, where he has lived ever since. He 
has been moderately successful as a farmer. He is a Republican, 
and gave Lincoln his iirst vote. His father was born Sept. 6, 1T96, 
and died in this county in 184:3; his mother was born May 8, 1798, 
and is still living with her son David and her daughter Charlotte 
on their farm, which consists of 100 acres of good land. 

David N. Van Brunt, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Augusta; was 
born in the State of New York in 1831, son of Isaac and Hannah 
(Lnckey) Van Brunt, natives of the Empire State, the father of 
I)utch,and the mother of Irish, descent. In 1858 he married Irene 
Campbell, and their 3 children are all living. Mrs. Yan B. is 
a member of the United Brethren Church. In 1862 Mr. Yan B. 
enlisted in Co. K, 119th 111. Yol. Inft., under Capt. Johnson, and 
was in all the battles except two in which the regiment was 
engaged; he was captured at Batford Station in Tennessee; at the 
close of the war he was discharged at Mobile, and was mustered 
out at Camp Butler. He came to this county June 2, 1852, settling 
on sec. 25, where he owns 80 acres of land and made nearlv all 
the improvements. 

Alexander Waggoner, farmer, sec. 20, was born in Fayette 
county. Pa., in 1840, and is the son of Lewis M. and Mary 
(McLain) Waggoner, natives of Pennsylvania, father of German 
and mother of English descent. In 1868 he married Sarah A. 
Overman, a native of Adams county. 111., where she was born Oct. 
31, 1811:. They have 2 daughters, — Aines Ethel, born Aug. 8, 
1872, and Alma Berenice, Aug. 10, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. W. are 
members of the M. E. Church, and he is a Democrat. He came 
to this county with his father from Pennsylvania in 1841, settling 
near Chili, on sec. 20, where he now resides. His father im- 
proved the first farm l)etween Chili and Augusta. In 1863-'4 he 
was in Nevada and Colorado Territories. As a farmer he has been 
successful. 

John William Willhite, farmer, sec. 7; P. O., Denver; was 
born in Yirginia March 4, 1824, and is a son of William and Sarah 
(Weaver) Willhite, natives of the old Dominion, and of German 
descent; he never went to school more than three months. Dec. 
14, 1843, he married Eliza Miller, and of their 12 children 11 are 
living, 3 of whom are boys. Five of the children are married. 
Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Adventist Church at 
Antioch. He is a Jackson Democrat. He came to this county 
in 1839, settling on sec. 36 in Harmony tp. As a farmer he 
has been moderately successful, owning 223 acres of land; located 



546 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

on his present place about 1866; when he married he was not 
worth $50. His daughter Arinina has attended Carthage College 
and is teaching school. Mr. W. was in the Mormon war, and was 
in Carthage the day the Smiths were killed. He sajs the Mor- 
mons ran one way and the citizens the other. 

L. 8. Worman, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Augusta; was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1850, son of D. D. and Catharine (Myers) Wor- 
man, natives of the Keystone State, and of German descent; he 
attended the University at Otterbein. Feb. 23, 1877, he married 
Rebecca S. Smith, and both are members of the United Brethren 
Church, at Washington Chapel. He came to this county in 1873. 
Has been a farmer all his life, now owning 80 acres of land. 

John H. Wristen, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Bowen; was born in 
Christian county, Ky,, in 1822. His father, Thomas Wristen, was 
a native of Kentucky, and his mother, Hannah Boggess, was a 
native of Virginia. He came to this county in 1851, settling with- 
in three miles of where he now lives. In 1874 he married Rachel 
Griffitts, his last wife. Both are members of the Baptist denom- 
ination at the Providence Church. He is a Democrat, and has 
been School Director several times, in this district five years. He 
commenced life with a pair of ponies only, and he now owns 150 
acres of good land. He has 9 children living, 7 at home. 
Thomas C. and William Lee are school-teachers. 

Joseph!^. Yarnell, farmer, sec. 28; P. O., Bowen; was born 
in Lancaster county. Pa., in 1841, son of David and Margaret 
(ISTell) Yarnell, natives also of the Keystone State; father was 
raised a Quaker, mother of remote Irish ancestry. In 1872 he 
married Mary E. Bosheu, and they have two sons and two daugh- 
ters. Mrs, Y. is a native of Illinois, and is a member of the M. E. 
Church at Chili. In 1862 Mr. Yarnell enlisted in Co. D, 78th 
Reg., under Capt. R. M. Black; was discharged in 1865; was on 
detached service for some time afterward. His politics is Repub- 
lican. He owns nearly 100 acres of land, all under cultivation, and 
bids fair to rank as one of the neatest farmers of the township. 

TOWN OFFICERS. 

Those who served the township in the four leading official capaci- 
ties are as follows, as completely as the list could be made out from 
the returns: 

SUPERVISORS. 

GilmoreCallisou 1850 Albert Holmes 1866 

Elisha Worrell 1851 A. E. McNeall 1867 

Levi G. Patchin 1853 T. C. Clayton 1868 

Elisha Worrell 1855 Jos. C. Caine 1870 

Milton K. Pomeroy 1856 Eugene B. Davis 1873 

Levi W. Pomeroy 1858 Henry K. Ramsey 1874 

Joseph C. Caine 1859 Joseph C. Caine 1876 

George W. Mm-phy 1863 Mathias McNeall 1877 

Levi G. Patchin 1864 CharlesCook 1878 

Joseph C. Caine 1865 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



547 



CLERKS. 



William Sullivau 1855 

Nicholas Hanson 1856 

Jonathan W. Todd 1858 

Gilbert Tillapaugh 1862 

Joseph Ivins 1864 

L. W. Pomerov. 1865 

William Prescott 1867 

Wm. J. Dimmock ' 1869 



Geoi-ge W. Nash 1870 

Charles C. Marsh 1873 

Jol^n F. Williams 1874 

H. B. Nash 1876 

Oscar Weisenberg 1877 

H. B. Nash 1878 

T. N. Gillis 1880 



ASSESSORS . 



A. T. Dickersou 1855 

Levi Pomeroy 1856 

A. T. Dickerson 1858 

Geo. W. Stevens 1864 

D. G. Todd 1865 

Samuel E. Elliott 1866 

Joseph C. Caine 1867 

A. Holmes 1868 

John J. Worley 1870 



Levi W. Pomeroy 1871 

Daniel Smith 1873 

Sam'l E. Elliott 1873 

Benj. C. Edwards 1874 

David Van Brmit 1876 

Wm. B. Marvil 1877 

Clark Caine 1878 

J. C. Caine 1880 



COLLECTORS. 



A. T. Dickerson 1855 

Levi Pomeroy 1856 

A. T. Dickerson 1858 

Daniel Smith 1865 

Gilbert Tillapaugh 1866 

A. T. King 1867 

J. A. Cunningham 18G8 

Adam Reeves". 1869 

Isaac Newland 1870 

David P. Worrell 1871 



Jesse Palmer 1873 

John F. Williams 1873 

David P. Worrell 1874 

J. R. Fordyce 1875 

C. B. Taylor 1876 

Oliver Stevens. '. 1877 

Wm. Palmer 1878 

Henry Garner 1879 

Thomas Tateman 1880 



ST. ALBAN'S TOWNSHIP. 

Centrally on the south line of the county lies St. Alban's — num- 
bered 3 north, 7 west. This township is prettj"- nearly ecj^ually divi- 
ded between woodhmd and prairie, — the former predominating in 
the west half, and the prairie over the east half. It contains many 
iine farms and much good farming land, and considerable bluff and 
broken woodland. This last is to be found on the borders of the 
Bear creek branches. Its two towns are — 

Westpoint — laid out in March, 1856, bv David Wigle; and 

Stillwell— laid out Dec, 1S70, by VVm.'H. Zinn and Arthur Still- 
well; both on the Quincy, Carthage & Burlington Railroad, and 
six or seven miles westwardly from Bowen, on the T. W. & W. 
The former road runs dii*ectly south through this township, near 
its centei'. 

Among the early settlers of the county, and who were here pre- 
cedent to organization, we have the names of John Harding, and 
Robert and Aaron (Abel) Harding, who are supposed to have been 
his brothers or more distant relatives. John Harding transferred 
his claim, lying due west of and adjoining the village of Chili, to 
Elisha Worrell, Esq., in 1835, having occupied it for seven years. 
Through Mr. Worrell we have the statement that this same claim 
— north half of section 25, St. Alban's township — had been owned 
and occupied since 1823, by Col. Daniel B. Whipple, late of Ad- 
ams county, at a date when his nearest neighbors were Fort Ed- 
wards, Ru^ville and Quincy. If so, Col. Whipple must have been 
one among the very earliest settlers in Hancock county — indeed, 
the earliest of whom w^e have any account, if we except the officers 
and people at the fort. Col. W. and his uncle, Barnabas B. Whip- 
ple, were the patentees of the claim, having been in service in the 
war of 1S12-'1-J:, with Great Britain. 

Among the other early settlers of this township were Garrett 
Bean and his brother-in-law, Mr. Mills, wlio came to where Mr. B. 
now resides in 1836. [For a very interesting narrative of Mr. 
Bean, see another chapter.] He resides below Stillwell on the 
county line. Mr. Mills moved to Missouri over 30 years ago, and 
is now deceased. Other pioneers were, Jonathan Todd, Wm. Pike, 
Jesse Richardson, Dr. Cook, Noah Stokes, J(ihn Slater, Wm. Bride, 
Benoin C. Bride, Truman Kinney, Joseph Kinney, James E. Moore, 
Wm. Owen, Eldridge Renshaw, C. W. Hicks, Alexander McDon- 
ald, David Wigle, Bradley Hecox, James Knott. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

The well-known Peter Akers is mentioned as among the first 
itinerant preachers in this township, and is said to have visited and 

(548) 






ST. ALBANS T,.. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 551 

preached in private houses as early as 1837 or '38. The new towns 
of "West Point and Stillwell each have churches, data concerning 
which we liave been unable to obtain. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

In connection with the foregoing historical sketch we give brief 
biographies of the old settlers and prominent persons of the town- 
ship. They will be found to form an interesting feature of this 
volume. 

Garrett Bean was born in Kentucky in 1807. At the age of 
20 he emigrated to Pike county, 111., where he lived one year, then 
to Galena, 111., for a short time, and then to Quincy, III., where he 
worked one winter for John Wood, afterward Governor of Illinois, 
for whom JMr. B. made 4,000 rails and 2,000 shingles. After living 
in Adams county one year, Mr. B., in 1836, came to Hancock county, 
111., and located in St. Albans tp., on the farm where he now lives. 
Although placed in the wilderness with nothing excepting willing 
hands and a noble wife, he has accumulated a handsome fortune. 
He has a farm of 316 acres of good timber and prairie land. 

He was married in 1831 to Miss Nancy Crow, of Adams county, 
111., and 1 boys and 1 girls were born to this union, — Sarah E., 
William, John, Martha, Mary A, and Henry are those that are 
living. Mr. B. has held the office of School Trustee and is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. 

Jesse W. Brown, miller at Stillwell, is a native of the Buckeye 
State and was born in 1817. His father was Isaac C, native of Ohio 
and born in 1809. His mother was Rachel Hurt, who was born 
in Vermont in 1801. Jesse W. remained with iiis parents till 1861, 
when he enlisted at Camp Butler in the 32d 111. Inft., under Col, 
Logan. He did his lirst fighting at Kingston, Georgia, where he 
got hurt and was not able to do an}' more active service. After 
returning home he was at Chili, then he went to Burlington, Iowa, 
M'here he was engaged in the shingle factory for a short time; then 
he worked for the C.,B. & Q. bridge contractors, and helped build 
their bridge over the Mississippi river, and then he returned to 
Chili ; then acted as foreman over a company of men who were en- 
gaged in moving houses for the railroad company. He next was 
engineer at the mills at Stillwell, 111., for 2^ j'ears, then in the same 
business at La Harpe, 111., and has been in the milling business at 
Stillwell since 1874. He is a Freemason, being a member of Dills 
Lodge, Xo. 205; is also a Methodist and a Republican. 

iV^. B. Butler, farmer, was born in Kentucky in 1827. His 
father, Hezekiah Butler, was a native of Maryland, and was born 
in 1799; his mother, Margarette, nee Payne, was born in 1808. At 
the age of 24 he was married to Apphia Seaton, who was a native 
of Kentucky, and died in 1864. There were 3 children by this 
union. Mr. Butler came to his present farm in 1852, and has lived 
there ever since. He owns a farm of 190 acres of land, valued at 

33 



552 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

$40 per acre. Mr. B. takes unusual interest in his family, neatness 
and thrift being manifested in all the surroundings. In educational 
matters Mr. B. takes great interest in giving his own children the 
benefits of schools, and also in advancing the interests of education 
in any way that he possibly can. He was married a second tijne, to 
Hannah Clark, of Hancock county, 111., in 1867, and their 2 chil- 
dren are Frank and George F. 

Henry 6?Z«^-^, farmer, sec. 5; P. O., "West Point; was born in 
1823, in New York. His father, Calvin Clark, was a native also of 
New York, and was born in 1799; was weigh-master in the war of 
1812, at Sacket's Harbor. His mother's maiden name was Fannie 
Searles, and she was born in Bennington, Vt,, in 1804, and died in 
1835. Grandfather Searles was born in 1764, in Rhode Island. 
His grandmother Searles was born in 1766 in Rhode Island. Mr. 
C. lived with his parents until IS years of age, then lived in Oneida 
county for the next two years, then emigrated to Wisconsin, 
remaining till 1858, when he came to Hancock county. 111., and 
moved into the same house where he now lives. Before locating on 
this farm Mr. Clark spent several years clerking in stores. He 
owns 120 acres of land, most of which is improved. In 1848 he 
married Gertrude M. Striker (since deceased), who bore him 2 chil- 
dren. He married his second wife in 1860, Abby B. Striker, a sister 
of his former wife, a native of New York, and born in 1825. Of the 
2 children by this union Ruth E. is living. Mr. C. has been asso- 
ciated with many Indian tribes in his early history with the West, 
and can speak several Indian languages. He is a Democrat. 

Dr. Y. B. Corey., West Point, was born June 3, 182S, in Penn 
Yan, Yates county, N. Y. ; his parents were Joseph A. and Mer- 
cy (Andrews) Corey, natives of Rhode Island. The grandparents 

of our subject were Joseph A. and (Briggs) Corey, of English 

descent. The parents of Mercy Andrews were Samuel and Waty 
(Briggs) Andrews, of Providence, R. I., and of English ancestry. 
The subject of this notice left home at the age of 14; learned the 
blacksmith's trade, whicli he followed until 22, but at the ao^e of 20 
he commenced the study of medicine, having the use of the library 
of Dr. Andrew F. Oliver. In 1854 he came West, visited several 
States, and located first at Quincy, 111., where he read medicine in 
the oifice of Dr. John Parson for two years, when he came and 
settled at West Point, this county, and established himself in a 
good practice. Being a strong Republican and a [Tnion man, he 
enlisted Aug. 28, 1862, as a private in Co. C. llSth 111. Vol. Inf , 
to serve three years; the regiment was organized at Camp Butler, 
Springfield, 111., and the Doctor was appointed Hospital Steward 
of the regiment; May 16, 1863, at the battle of Champion Hills, 
Miss., he was detailed to act as Assistant Surgeon, which position 
he continued to hold until the regiment was mustered out in Oc- 
tober, 1865. The Doctor was in the battle of Chickasaw BluflP, 
Miss., Dec, 1862, and the engagements at Arkansas Post, Jan. 11, 
1863; the regiment was then in camp at Young's Point, La., until 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 553 

March 9 next, when it was moved to Milliken's Bend, and April 2 
it was ordered to the rear of Vicksburg, in the siege of which it 
participated, imder Gen. Grant. May 1 they met the^ enemy at 
Port Gibson, then at Champion Hills; but previous to the last the 
Doctor had been sent back to the hospital at Raymond, Miss. At 
this place lie was taken prisoner, but paroled, and afterwards re- 
turned to the regiment as Assistant Surgeon, at Black River Bridge, 
in ^le rear of Vicksburg. The regiment was transferred to the 
Department of the Gulf under Gen.. Banks, then ordered to Port 
Hudson, La., in January, 1864, and July following to Baton Rouge, 
where in October, 1865, they were mustered out. The Doctor then 
returned to West Point, where he has since resided, in the enjoy- 
ment of a lucrative practice. 

He was married in Quincy, 111., Oct. 29, 1855, to Miss Mary O. 
Conyers, a native of Missouri and a daughter of John Conyers, 
who was a native of Kentucky and of Iris-h and German descent. 
The Doctor has had 5 children, of whom 4 are living — Martha J., 
now the wife of G. G. Lohr, residing at Columbus, Adams county, 
111. ; John T. ; Charles F. and Agnes A., the last living at home. Dr. 
Corey is a Freemason, a Republican, and was Postmaster four years 
in Pike county. His portrait is given elsewhere in this volume. 

Francis Eghers, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., West Point; was born in 
New Orleans, La., in 1835. He was a son of Charles and Magdalen 
(Amons) Egbers, both of whom were natives of Germany. The 
former was born in 1800 and the latter in 1812. The subject 
of this sketch was brought up under the parental roof until his 24th 
year, when he emigrated to the mountains in the West, and for a 
year and a half engaged in various kinds of work; in 1860 he 
returned home and remained one year, and then, in 1861, took unto 
himself a wife in the person of Elizabeth Wilcox, who was born 
in 1820 in England. Unto them have been born 4 children, 3 of 
whom are still living; viz., WiberS,, Robert C. and Guy F. After 
marriage Mr. E. located on his father's farm in Rocky Run tp., and 
then on a farm of his own in same tp., where he lived seven years, 
and then located in St. Alban's, near West Point, and was there 
until he located in Stillwell, where he was engaged in the flouring 
business for one year, and then he purchased the farm on which he 
now resides. His farm of 110 acres is valued at 84,000. Mr. E. 
and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Church. 

William H. Felgar, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., West Point. In 
the subject of this sketch we have one of St. Alban's most active 
business men. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1841. His 
parents were from the same State. His father, John Felgar, was 
born in 1818. During the first 28 years of his successful life he 
remained at home; then was united in marriage to Mary A. Hardy, 
of Adair county, III., in 1868. They have been blessed with T 
children — May I., John B., Minnie G., Harry IL, Oliver H., 
William S. and Olive A. (dec). After marriage Mr. F. located on 



554 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

his present farm of 240 acres, This home is vahied at $10,000. 
Mr. F. is a Lutheran and a Democrat. 

F. L. F aimer, farmer, sec. 9; P. O. West Point; was born near 
Niagara Falls, in Canada, in 1840. His father, Jacob Fulmer, was 
a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1804. His mother was 
a native of New York State, and was born in 1808. Her maiden 
name was Mary J. Merrill. After he was 21 years old, Mr. F. 
came to Jacksonville, 111., and was employed in the Insane Hospital 
for two years. He then married Miss Mary J. Bay less and moved 
to Wisconsin, locatinoj at Iron Ride, Dodd Co.. and farmed two 
years. Then he moved to Hancock conniy and located near AVest 
Point, and has resided here most of the time since. Was in 
Keokuk two years as bridge-keeper, then in Carthage one year, 
having charge of the poor iarm, Mr. F. owns 1 10 acres of well 
improved land. He is one of St. Alban's representative farmers. 
He is a member of the M. E. Church at West Point. Their chil- 
dren are Lee D. and Maud. 

J. J. Gidlirie, grocer. West Point, was born in Kentucky in 
1835. He was the son of John and Sarah (Johnston) Guthrie. 
Mr. G. remained at home until 21 years of age, receiving more 
than an ordinary education, enabling him to teach school for several 
terms. He was married in 1858 to Sarah Crampton, who was born 
in Schuyler county. 111., in 1837. She has borne him 10 children, 6 
of whom are living — Wm. L., Ella, John F., Adie, Charles L. 
and Henry. Mr. G.' owns a beautiful home in the village, besides his 
well-stocked store. He is a member of the Lutheran Church; has 
been Supervisor, and for 15 years Justice of the Peace, and is now 
School Treasurer, which office he has filled with unanimous satis- 
faction for live years.* 

Green Harding^ farmer; P. O., Still well; M^as born in 1820, in 
Adair county, Ky. He is a son of Abel and Julia (Bettisworth 
Harding; his father was a native of Kentucky, and was born in 
1798. His mother was born in Yirginia in 1791. The subject ot 
this sketch is the eldest of 12 children. He came to Hancock 
county, 111., with his parents, in 1831, which makes him one of the 
earliest settlers in this county. When his father settled here there 
were only four families in St. Alban's tp. His father lived the rest ot 
his long and useful life in the county. He died in 1861. At the 
"age of 17 Mr. Green Harding left home and lived with an uncle 
for three years, giving most of his time to hunting. He was united 
in marriage in 1842, with Miss Sarah A. Stokes, who bore him 9 
children, h boys and 4 girls. She died in Oct., 1862, He married 
his present wife, Elizabeth Bucklew, of Hancock county, III, in 1871, 
who was a native of Ohio and born in 1840. Julia R., Weslian 
G. and Edwin Irvin G. have been born to them. Mr. H. first 
located on land on which a part of the town of Stillwell now stands. 
He lived there 20 years, when, in 1863, he sold out and purchased 
the farm on which he now lives. Mr. H. owns 166 acres of im- 
proved land. His home surroundings are such as will make his old 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 555 

age a pleasant one. He has been School Trustee for 20 years and 
Justice of the Peace 10 years. He bei^an his Christian life with 
the M. E, Church, but now he is a believer in the Universalist 
doctrine. 

J ohti Hicks, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., West Point; was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1844, and was the son of Constant W. and 
Susanah (Kelly) Hicks. The former was born in Vermont in 
1820. and died in 1878. His grandfather Kelly was in the war of 

1812, and died in . His grandmother Kelly died in 1793. 

His great-grandfather Kelly was born in 17(36, was in tlie Revolu- 
tionary war and died in 1850. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1874. He began accumulating for himself on the farm 
where he now liv^es, and now owns 166 acres of improved land. 
He enlisted in the late war in 1864, in the 28th HI. Inft. ; was in 
the battle of Spanish Fort, Ala. His 2 children are, Susanah, born 
Sept. 13, 1875, and Constant B , born March 16, 1878, 

ITenri/ Hmlde, farmer, sec. 14; P. O., West Point; is the 
son of Andrew and Catharine (Shew) Hinkle, and was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1827. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, 
and his father is still living at the age of 85. Mr. H. assisted his 
father until he attained his majority, when he took nnto himself a 
wife in the person of Sophia Frantz, who was a native of the Key- 
stone State, and born in 1828;, 5 of their 9 children are living, 
Samuel A., Catharine D., Elijah E., Mary M., Franklin A. Mr. 
H. resided in Pennsylvania till 1858, working at his trade, which 
was blacksmithing. He then came West and located in Adair 
county. 111., where be lived four years, then came to St. Alban's tp. 
where he has farmed ever since. Mr. H. owns 130 acres of 
good land, and has the reputation of being one of St. Alban's rep- 
resentative farmers. He and his estimable wife are members of 
the Christian Church, 

Elliotts. Hoffman, farmer, sec. 22; was born Jan. 7, 1826, in 
Madison county, Va. ; his])arents were James and Mary H. (Finks) 
Hoffman, natives of the same county, and of German and English 
ancestry; the former was born in 1800 and the latter in J806. 
Elliott Finks, the grandfather of Mr. Hoff'man, was a Major in the 
war of 1812. The subject of this notice commenced life for him- 
self at the age of 24; lived in Virginia several years, then in Mary- 
land four years,and about 1860 came to Hancock county. In October, 
1864, lie enlisted in Co. C, 42d 111. Vol. Inf , and served one year, 
being in the battles of Franklin, Spring Hill, Nashville, etc. Since 
the close of the war he has resided in this count}^ except six or 
seven years in Adams county, 111., four years of which time he lived 
ten miles south of Quincy. By trade Mr. H. is a carpenter and 
joiner, but since his marriage he has followed farming. He was 
married in October, 1866, to Mrs. Mung, nee Isabella Gregory, 
daughter of John Gregory, of Adams county. 111., and formerly of 
Virginia. She was born in 1828. Mr. G. was of Irish descent and 
his wife of Scotch. Mr. Hoffman has a farm of 154 acres, valued 



556 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

at $30 per acre, in this tp., on sec. 22, where he resides, and he has 
also 45 acres in Livingston county. Mo., and 320 in Adams county, 
on sec. 22, Fall Creek tp,, valued at $100 pei- acre and yielding a 
rental of $1,000 a year. In politics Mr. H. is a Democrat; was form- 
erly an old-line Whig. He is also a member of the Advent Chris- 
tian Church, at Antioch, of which he and his wife have been mem- 
bers for about five years; they were formerly Baptists. 

Geo. M. Jones., farmer, sec. 26; P. 0., Stillwell; was born in 
Ohio in 1833; when IS years old he went to the Golden State where 
he mined and farmed for four years; then he returned to Hancock 
county, 111., in 1855, where he has lived ever since excepting the 
three years he has served his country in the war for the suppression 
of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the 10th Missouri Infantry, under 
Col. Holmes, and was in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, 
among which are the first and second sieges of Corii;tli, and the 
battle of luka, and was wounded in the battle at Jackson, and was 
then taken prisoner, sent to Richmond, Ya., and cast into Libby 
prison; but was soon removed from there to Annapolis, Md., and 
placed in the navy hospital; was sent from there to the parol camp 
at St. Louis, Mo. After going to the front again he was doing- 
garrison duty most of the time and was in the battle of Resaca, Ga. 
He was discharged at Cartersville, Ga., in 1864. Since his return 
home he has lived on his present ^arm. He has been twice mar- 
ried. His first marriage was with Miss Eliza Stokes, in 1855 ; names 
of the children are Wilson J. and Delia E. His present wife is a 
sister of his former wife and a daughter of Noah Stokes, whose biog- 
raphy ie given further on. Mr. J. is School Trustee at this time. 
In politics he is a Republican. 

Charles H. G. Kessler, farmer, sec. 17; P. O., West Point. 
This gentlenjan is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1817. 
He is the 10th of 11 children born to John and Marj' (Wies) Kessler 
His parents having died when he was young, he was raised by an 
uncle until he was 14 years old, when he was apprenticed for three 
years to learn the book-binding trade. Completing his apprentice- 
ship, he emigrated to America in company with his brother John, 
in 1836. He first lived in the south part of Missouri for 10 years, 
then he came to Hancock county, and resided in Warsaw for two 
years, then to the bottoms for two years, then to the bluffs for seven 
years, and finally to the farm where he now resides, which consists 
of 190 acres of mostly improved land. Mr. K. was married in 1841 
to Elizabeth Benner. of Missouri, but a native of Germany. 11 
children have l)een born to this union, only 4 of wliom are liv- 
ing ; viz., Charles W., Elizabeth, Philip and Annie. His children 
have more than an ordinary education. Charles has attended the 
Wesleyan College of Missouri. Methodist. Republican. 

Joseph R. Kinny., deceased, well and favorably known, and none 
more honored or loved, was born in Erie county, N. Y., June 23, 
1820. In 1837, when 17 years old, he came to Illinois, and located 
in St. Alban's tp. with his parents. At the age of 23 he was 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 557 

■anited in marriage with Miss Ann J. Graham, who was a native of 
Pennsylvania, and born in 1827. He leaves to mourn his loss his 
aged widow and 6 of 11 children. Mr. Kinny, although never 
aspiring to become wealth}^ accumulated a handsome fortune to 
leave his family. This was accomplished, too, by his own unceas- 
ing industry, and strict honesty. He began the strifes and toils 
of life with only $200, which was given to them by Mrs. Kinny's 
grandfather Graham. He first purchased 50 acres of land, wdiich 
is the part of his present farm ou which are the home imj:)rove- 
ments. He owned 1G5 acres of land, most of which was well im- 
proved. The names of the 6 living children are — Mary P., born 
in ISttO; Minerva A., born in 1851; Sylvia A., born in 1853; 
Lutina J., born in 1855; Emma L., born in 1857; Charles O., born 
in 1866; and Albert T.. born in 1870. Mr. Kinny early embraced 
the Savior, and, together with his young wife, united with St. 
Alban's Free-Will Baptist Church, of which ht^ remained a faithful 
member until his death. " He was a noble Christian, a tender 
husband, a loving father, a kind neighbor." 

John M.Kitiel^ farmer, sec. 16; P. O,, West Point; is one of the 
pioneers of Hancock count}', and also of St. Alban's tp. He has 
been a resident of the county for 28 years, and 18 years in this tp. 
When Mr. K. located where he now lives there were but few im- 
proved farms in the county. He has made all of his large fortune 
of 430 acres of good land, by the sweat of his brow and strict hon- 
esty. Mr. K. is not only one of St. Alban's wealthy men, but he is 
known as one of the solid men of Western Illinois. He is a native 
of Germany, born in 1824; came to America in 1850, and first 
located in Adair county, N. Y. ; thence to Quincy, 111., and was 
there till 1852, and then he went to Warsaw, where he lived for , 
10 years, teaming most of the time. In 1862 he came to his 
present farm, where he has resided ever since. He was married in 
1852 to Margaretta Geits, of Quincy, 111., but a native of Germany. 
The children by this union are 7, — 4 boys and 3 girls. His 
second union was with Miss Margarette Kittel, in 1868, and they 
have 4 children living; viz., Sophira, Elizabeth, Martha, and Peter. 
Mr. K. has more than an ordinary education, and is able to read 
German and English fluently. Methodist, llepublican. 

G.W. Linn, druggist, West Point, was born in Indiana in 1832. 
His parents were natives of Ohio; his father, John Linn, was born 
in 1803, his mother was born in 1805. Mr. Linn at the age of 18 
began learning the blacksmith trade, and continued in this employ- 
ment until 1860, when he enjjaijed in mercantile business for the 
next 5 years. In 1873 he moved to Hancock county. 111., and 
commenced the drug business, in which he has been ever since. 
This is the only drug store in the village. Mr. L. has a large stock 
of goods, and not only enjoys a lucrative trade, but by his social 
qualities and courteous treatment of customers he is universally 
esteemed. He was married to Mary E. Carter, of Ohio, in 1853. 
She has borne him 3 children; viz., Mary A., Emma C, and Nettie 



558 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

F. Mr, Linn's wife died May 20, 1873. He was married to his 
second wife,Mrs. Irene Taylor, of Liberty, 111., in September, 1863. 
There are 2 children by this union, — George II.,born in JN'ovember, 
1874, and Cory G., born in July, 1879. Mr, L. is a member of 
Masonic and Odd Fellow orders. Has been Collector. Methodist. 
Republican. 

James W. Madison was born in Schuyler county, 111., in 1873. 
He was a son of Roland T. Madison, whose sketch is given elsewhere 
in tliis work. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Amy, who 
was born in Virginia in 1824. James remained with his parents 
till lie was 27 years old, when he enlisted in the army at Camp 
Douglas, December, 1861, in the 57th 111. Yol. Inf., and served 
most of the time as a recruiting officer under Lieutenant Christo- 
pher of the regular army. Mr. M. was in the battles at Pittsburg 
Landing and Corinth, where he was discharged in 1863, because of 
injuries received. In 1868 he entered Abingdon College, and con- 
tinued there three years completingthe Biblical course . After gradu- 
ation he engaged with the Christian Church, and labored for them for 
10 years, when he became dissatisfied with the doctrines of that 
denomination and united with the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, 
and was appointed to West Point Circuit in SeiDtember, 1879. 
Mr. M. is a very zealous worker among his people. He was mar- 
ried in 1864 to Fanny Doty; 5 of tlieir 7 children are living; viz., 
Edmund H., Louis A., Amelia S., Mestyl and Blanche. Mr. M. is 
a Master Mason; has been Assessor of St. Alban's township. He 
owns some town property. 

eZ. K. Mason, dealer in groceries, produce, notions, etc., West 
Keokuk, Iowa, was born in Adair county. Mo., in 1840, when that 
♦county was almost a wilderness; came to Hancock county in 1844, 
settling in 1845 on the farm where Basco now stands; here he at- 
tended his first school; in 1853 he went to his father's store in Ti- 
oga, thence to Warsaw in 1859, where he learned the cooper's 
trade; in August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 19th Iowa, and fought 
in the battle of Springfield, Mo., Jan. 7 and 8, 1863; was in the 
army on the frontier, where long marches were common, until June, 
1863, when he went to A'^icksburg and was in the trenches during 
the siege; was in the battle and capture of Yazoo City; was taken 
prisoner at the battle of Morganzie, or Sterling Farm, La., in Sep- 
temlier, 1863. Of his escape from the rebel prison Mr. Mason has 
published a detailed account which is too long for insertion here. 
The prison pen was at Tyler, Smith Co., Texas, from which he es- 
caped on the niglit of Nov. 24, 1863. The distance to the nearest 
Union forces was 260 miles. This long and perilous journey was 
undertaken with only one day's rations of corn bread and four bis- 
cuit to sul)sist upon; he seemed to suffer all the hardships possible 
for nian to suffer and live. He reached Ellis Clifl\ 12 miles below 
Natchez, Dec. 24, 1863, where he was taken aboard the Union Mon- 
itor Osage. He was then in the hospital at New Orleans until the 
3d of July next, when he crossed the Bluff to Brazos, Santiago' 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 559 

in a small 65-ton sailing vessel, being eight days out of sight of land; 
reached Brazos July 12, and joined tlie regiment at Fort Brown on 
the Rio Grande; had a skirmish at White Ranch, Texas, in Au- 
gust; went from there to Pensacola, Fla.. where he was detailed for 
a while in the Provost Marshal's office; from there he went to Fort 
Gaines, Ala., thence to Pascagoula, Miss., then to Fort Morgan 
and wound up at Mobile, Ala. Carried collai'S at assault and dur- 
ing the 12 daj's' siege of Spanish Foi't; was wounded, a part of his 
lower jaw being carried away by a piece of sliell. Pie was linally 
discharged from the hospital at Mound City, 111., June 22, 1865, 
He carries also a wound in his breast. 

After stopping in Warsaw awhile he went to La Grange, Mo., 
where he engaged for a time with B. R. Lafton in the grocery busi- 
ness; in the spring of 1867 he moved to Warsaw, where he mar- 
ried his present wife, Rachel L. Markley, of Wittsburg, Ark. Her 
only child, Nellie was born Feb. 14, 1863. Mr. Mason moved to 
Keokuk from Wythe township in 1873, engagiug in the grocery 
business at the lower end of 5th street, where he has built up a 
prosperous trade. In 1879 he was elected Alderman by a majority 
of 1878 in a total vote of 482. He is now a member of the City 
Council, where he stands as high as any other member in the esti- 
mation of the people. 

Jose])}i McKenzie, merchant and Postmaster, Stillwell, is one of 
St. Alban's pioneer settlers. He was born in Lexington, Ky., in 
1S25, of Scotch and American ancestry. His parents were John 
and Sarah (Mi lligau) McKenzie. At the early age of 13 he left 
home, and for the next few years traveled most of the time. From 
1843 to '46 he lived in Parke Co., Ind. When he was 21 years of age 
he came to Hancock Co., 111., and located eight miles south of Car- 
thage; followed farming there till lS57,when he went to Texas; thence 
to the Rocky mountains, and then back to McDonough Co., 111. 
for three years; and in 1865 he located in Hancock Co., where he 
has resided ever since. He has been in the village of Stillwell since 
1873 engaged in mercantile business. He has also been Postmas- 
ter for six years. His first marriage was to Miss Ellen Pike, daugh- 
ter of William Pike, one of the pioneers of Hancock county. He 
was a native of Kentucky, and located in Hancock county in 1830, 
when it took all the men in the county to make a jury. At one 
time for eight weeks he never saw the face of a white person except 
those of his own family. Mr. McM. was married a second time 
to Mrs. Brenneman. Henrietta and Freddie W. are the children 
living by this union. Mr. McM. is a Freemason, and a Free- Will 
Baptist. 

Joseph McMillan^ farmer, sec. 10; P. O., West Point; was born 
in Ireland in 1822. His parents were Alexander and Jane (Oliver 
McMillan, born in 1800. Joseph remained in his native land unti 
1847, when he came to America and worked in Adams county. 111., 
near the town of Liberty. Then he was employed for one year as 
cattle drover, and at the outlook of the California gold fever he 



660 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

went to the mines and was there eight months; in 1851 he returned 
and purchased the farm where he now lives and also a farm at Lib- 
erty, where he farmed for one ^^ear in partnership with a Mr. 
Henrj. He then sold his interest to him and came to where he 
now resides; has lived on this farm 27 years. By untiring indus- 
try and good management Mr. McMillan has accumulated a hand- 
some fortune. He owns about 600 acres of good land, most ol 
which is well improved. He is a member of the Adventist Church. 
He took for his life partner Mary J. Morgan in 1852; she was a 
native of Kentucky and was born in 1832. They have been the 
parents ot 7 children, i of whom are living; viz., Charles M., Vtorn 
in August, 1853; Julia A., born December, 1S60; Elizabeth, born 
October, 1863 and Milo L.,born February, 1866. Charles M. grad- 
uated at Carthage College in 1878 with the highest honors as math- 
ematician, — higher than those of any one who had ever graduated 
at that institution. He is now Principal of West Point schools, 
under whose administration this village has one of the best schools 
in the county. 

F. G. Mourning, lumber merchant, West Point, was born in 
Kentucky, and is a son of John and Hannah (Ball) Mourning. 
The former was a native of Ireland, and the latter of Virginia; he 
died in 181:6, and she in 1837. The subject of our sketch was one 
of the pioneer settlers of Hancock county, having come here in 
1839, and resided in the county ever since with the exception 
of two years, during which time he lived in McDonough county. 
Mr. M. has experienced the trials and hardships of Western life, 
but by honesty and hard labor he has secured a good home and a 
-flourishing lumber business. Mr. M. has followed carpentering 
most of his life, until the last six years, during which time he has 
been a lumber dealer. He was united in marriage with Miss 
Nancy Watson in 1839. She was a native of Adair county, Ken- 
tucky. They have had 6 children; viz., Joel W., Adaline H.. 
Elizabeth J.,' Miranda M., Nancy and Charles W. Mr. M. has 
served as Supervisor, and Town Clerk two terms. Has been a Free- 
mason for 25 years. Mr. M. enlisted in Co. C, 12th Cavalry; 
transferred to 118th 111. Inf. and was made Captain of Co. H. He 
is a Republican. 

Tobias A. Olson, shoemaker. West Point, is a native of Norway; 
born in 1846. His parents were natives of Norway and were born 
respectively in 1825 and 1826. Mr. O. at the age of 22 left his 
native home, came to America and located first at Oswego, Kendall 
county. 111., in 1868; then at Aurora, Kane county, and was there 
1^ years; then at West Point in 1871, where he has been ever since. 
He learned his trade at the age of 15 and has continued at it his 
whole life, and now enjoys an extensive custom. Mr. O. was mar- 
ried in 1872 to Nancy J. Hughes who was born in Adams county, 
111., in 1852, since deceased. They have had 3 children, 2 of whom 
are living, — Ida J., born in August, 1876; and Orville A. in Octo- 
ber, 1877. Lutheran. Republican. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK CO>UNTT. 561 

H. C. Stephen, \vao-on-makei\ AVest Point, is a son of Christopher 
and Elizal^eth (Wolf) Stephen, and born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1842. 
His parents were natives of Germany, and his father a wheelwright 
by trade. H. C. assisted his father in the shop until he was 20 
years old, at which time he began for liimself, working for a year 
first at Warsaw, 111., and then engaged in wagon-making in Burling- 
ton for about seven years. lie then was in Warsaw two years, then 
at Burlington again for a year; and in the fall of 1872 he located 
at West Point, where he has been ever since. By his industry Mr. 
S. has met with abundant success, having purchased a good home, 
and also owns his shop. Mr. S. has been twice married. His first 
marriage was to Miss Carry L. Hentz, of Berlin, Pa., in 1873. 
There were 2 children by this marriage, Arthur and William, both 
of whom are dead. His second wife was Christina Kassell. of Bur- 
lington, Iowa, married in 1876. One child, Harry C. , was born 
to them, Aug. 2, 1877. In politics Mr. -S. is a Republican. 

Noah Stokes, retired fartner. came here in 1838, when there was 
only one house between his present home and Warsaw. He is a 
native of Caroline county, un the eastern shore of Marj'land, where 
he was born in 1798. His parents were also natives of Maryland. 
His father, William, was born in 1757. His mother, Sarah Cohee, 
was born in 1760. After he obtained his majority he went to 
Chester county. Pa., where he lived till 1838, and then emigrated 
to Illinois, near where he now lives. He was married to Mary 
Willson in 1819, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799. Ten 
children have been born to them, only 3 of whom are living; viz., 
ituthana (Jones), Avitli whom he now lives, Emma (Jackson) and 
Harriett (Cox). Although ''Grandpa" is 82 years old he still 
possesses a strong meraorj-. He is a man who has been and is yet 
iirm in his opinions on all subjects. About two years since he lost 
his sight entirely. He has always been a Democrat. 

Joseph L. Sullwan, blacksmith and engineer, Stillwell, was born 
in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1831. His parents were natives of 
the same State, the former born in 1808, and the latter in 1809. 
His mother's maiden nan^e was Eliza Quigley. He remained at 
home till 22 years old, and then emigrated to California and was 
there 17 years, mining and blacksmithing. In 1870 he returned to 
Hancock county, and has made it his home here ever since. He is 
at present engineer in the grist-mill at Stillwell. He is a Metho- 
dist and a Democrat. 

Enos S. Tattle^ deceased, was a native of Connecticut, and i)orn 
in 1796. He was a miller by trade. Jlis wife, nee Rhoda 
Benson, was born in New York in 1803. He moved to Indiai>a 
in 1817, in which State he was a ])rominent man; served one term 
as County Commissioner in 1845-'6. He was elected Representative 
from the counties of Fulton and Marshall in 1848, and served in 
the session of that year. He died at the age of 54, in Hancock 
county. 111., in 1850. He was an intimate friend of Hon, Schuyler 
Colfax. 



562 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Eno8 B. Tuttle, wagon-maker at Stillwell, is a sou of the pre- 
ceding, and was born in Clarke county, Ind., in 1837. When 21 
years of age he went to the Rocky mountains and remained a year; 
then came to this county and enlisted in the war, at Quinc}^ under 
Capt, Anderson, and served three years; was taken prisoner at Mul- 
drough Hill, Ky., and was prisoner nine months. He participated in 
the battles of Missionary Ridge, Cold Water, Resaca and Nash- 
ville, with many others. Mr. T. was married in I860, to Miss 
Mary J. Tamer, who was born in 1842, and is a native of Indiana. 
OnW one of their 5 children is living, namely, Enos W., born 
October, 1878. In 1871 Mr. T. located "in Stillwell, and has been 
working at his trade ever since. He is one of the best workmen 
in the count}^ and enjoys a lucrative trade. He has held the 
offices of Town Clerk and Assessor. Is a member of the Adven- 
tist Church. 

James O.Ward^i'cwmQY and stock dealer, sec. 13; P. O., West 
Point; is a native of Adams county, 111., and was born in 1841. 
His father's name was James Ward, and he was a native of Eng- 
land, and born in 1784. By occupation he was a blacksmith and 
wheelright. He emigrated to America in 183'i and located in 
New York city, where he lived for 5 years. AVuile residing in 
this city he took unto himself as a partner in lito Mary Truelock, 
who was a native of St. John's JSIew Brunswick; she was born in 
1804. In 1841 he came to Payson, Adams county, 111., and erected 
a mill, which has never been surpassed in this section of the coun- 
try. After 12 years' residence in that county he moved to Hancock 
county, where he resided until his death in 1876. He was a mem- 
ber of the English Church. Although he knew nothing of figures, 
with a slate and pencil he could calculate the cost of anything with 
great rapidity and exactness. The subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried in 1862 to Miss Harriet Wigle, of Adams county. 111. Mr. 
W. owns 90 acres of land, which he farms, besides a block in AVest 
Point. He deals extensively in stock, having shipped to the south 
over 2,000 mules and horses to this date, 300 of which have been 
shipped this year. He is keeping a line stallion known as " Young 
Montezuma;" he is eight years old; was sired by James M. Nelson's 
"Whip Horse." His dam was " Diomede " and "Bertram." 
Weight 1,600 lbs. 

LeviWolf^ farmer; P. O., West Point; was born in 1829 in 
Adams county. Pa.; is a son of John and Julia (Sowers) Wolf. The 
former was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1801. He was 
a shoemaker by trade; his mother was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and was born in 1806. Levi remained at home until 1850, when 
he was united in marriage to Mrs. S. L, Corbin, who was a native 
of New York, and born in 1813. She had 4 children by her former 
husband 2 of whom are living; namely, Parker, now of Kansas; and 
Jacob S., now of Quincy. John H. and Geo. W., have been born 
to this union. Mr. W. first located on his farm seven miles south- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTr. 563 

east of Qiiincy, III., and lived there 16 years; went to West Point 
in 1867, where he has been engaged in mercantile business most of 
the time since. In the lirst four years of this business Mr. W. was 
first in partnership with Mr, Franks, and then with Mr. Corbin, 
after wliich Mr. W. continued the business alone until lately, when 
he sold out to his son Geo. AV. Mr. AY. owns 160 acres of land, 
besides valuable town property. He held the office of Collector 
in Adams county two years. He is a Freemason, a Methodist and 
a Eepublican. 

J. W. York, farmer, sec. 5; P. O., West Point; was born in 
Kentucky in 1821. His parents were natives of the same State. 
His father, Jesse York, was a farmer. His mother's maiden name 
was Betty Wright. He lived at home until he reached his majority, 
■when he farmed and coopered for 12 years, and then took to him- 
self a life partner in 1827. His wife, Neoma Morris, was a native 
of Ohio, but was married in Jacksonville, III. Of their 7 children 
5 are living; viz., Laura J,, Anderson D., Arthur, Harry and 
Fanny. Mr. York first located near Tioga, where he farmed for 15 
years. He then sold out his farm there and came to St. Alban's 
tp., to the farm where he now lives, four miles northwest from 
West Point, and has lived there ever since. He owns 270 acres of 
good land, and improved. Mr. York began the battle of life with 
only $16 in money, and has accumulated his present wealth and 
comfortable home by hard labor and good management on the 
part of himself and his industrious and amiable wife. Mr. York 
and wife are both members of the Conorrea-ational Church of West 
Point. 

William IT. Zinn, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Stillwell; was born in 
1838 in West Virginia. His father's name was Samuel G.. and he 
was born in 1805. His mother's maiden name was Mary Dawson, 
and she was a native of Virginia. Our subject had the pleasure 
and benefits of parental influence till he was 22 years of age, when 
he came to St. Alban's tp.. in 1862, where he has resided ever 
since. Was united in the bonds of holy matrimonv in 1862, to 
Martha E. Short, of St. Alban's. She died in 1865. " There are 2 
children by this union living— Mary A. and Henrietta. His sec- 
ond marriage occurred in 1866, and was to Florence A. Craw- 
ford, of Walker tp., native of Illinois. Nellie M., Wm. G. and 
Harry C. are their cliildren, Mr. Z. owns and has under cultiva- 
tion 245 acres of land, valued at $10,000. He has held the 
office of Township Supervisor for three years. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

The Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors and Collectors of this 
township are as follows, with perhaps some unavoidable omissions: 



564 



HISTOET OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



SUPERVISORS. 



Alexander McDouald 1850 

David Wigle 1851 

Sylvester H. Crouch 1858 

M. T. Hart 1861 

Charles Overman 18G3 

S. H. Crouch 1864 

David Wide 1866 

John J. Guthrie 1867 



J. C. Knott 1871 

John J. Guthrie 1873 

Bradley Hecox 1873 

James M. Nelson 1875 

James B. Moore 1876 

Wm. H. Ziuu 1877 

Wm. P. Sutherland 1880 



CLERKS. 



William Hart 1855 

Alexander McDonald 1856 

A. B. Crooks 1858 

W. B. Stanton 1861 

Marcus L. Fite 1863 

W. B. Stanton 1864 

Geo. W. Guthrie 1866 

James Wide 1867 



E. B. Tuttle 1871 

3Iilan Smith 1873 

Calvin S. Clark 1873 

Georo-e W. Wolf 1874 

Geo.^W. Guthrie. . . ., 1875 

Wm. A. Davis 1878 

Charles 31. McMillan 1879-80 



ASSESSORS. 



James Knott 1855 

William Fite 1856 

Samuel Ziun 1858 

Lavalette Kinney , 1859 

James McClintock 1861 

J. F. Hart 1863 

Aaron O. Daj'ton 1866 

Peter Frey - 1868 

Lavalette Kinney 1870 



J. W. 31adison 1871 

B. B. Tuttle 1873 

Peter Frey 1873 

R. W. Hardino- 1874 

John F. Hart 1875 

Samuel W. Layton 1876 

E. B. Rhodes 1877 

Lewis Martin 1878 

Elijah B. Rhodes 1879-80 



COLLECTORS. 



Lavalette Kinney 1855 

J. F. Hart 1863 

Levi P. Bissell 1864 

John F. Hart 1866 

S. L. Svmmonds 1868 

Peter Frey 1869 



Sam'l W. Slavton 1873 

Geo. W. Wolf. 1874 

Arthur F. Day 1877 . 

Geo. W. Linn 1878 

Ai-thm- F. Day 1879-80 



WALKER TOWNSHIP. 

The township No. 3-8 was named Walker, from Hon. George 
"Walker, one of its earliest and most honored citizens. Its north 
half is a most excellent tract of rich prairie country, and well settled 
by well-to-do farmers. Its south half is principally timbered, on 
the waters of Bear crepk, and considerably broken, though contain- 
ing good farms and farming lands. This township contains two 
villages: 

Breckenridge, on the east side, was laid out by C. P. Smith and 
C. X.- Gentry, March, 1857; and, 

Tioga^ laid out by George Ensminger, in March, 1855, near the 
south line of the township. This latter occupies the site of what 
was Yelrome, or Morley Town, in the Mormon days, and which was 
so ruthlessly burnt out in the fall of 1845, and its inhabitants driven 
away. [See Chapter VI.] 

The first settlers in this township were Hon. George Walker, 
from whom it was named. Col. Levi Williams and sons, John Harris, 
Elder Joseph Ilatchett and his sons, Enoch Hankins, Kobert and 
Eli D. Gillham, Harrison Grant, B. F. Howes, Harrison Kan es, 
and others. 

Mr. Walker was a conspicuous man in the county, having served 
in the Board of County Commissioners and several times in the 
Legislature, as will be seen in other chapters. Mr. Williams was 
also a conspicuous leader in the Mormon war, was Colonel of one of 
the regiments at the time the Smiths were killed, and was one of 
the nine indicted for that offense. [See Mormon History.] He 
was a settler of about 1832, and on coming to the county first located 
at Calamus Spring, below Fort Edwards, in the cabin that Major 
Marston had occupied. He soon afterward took a claim up in 
Green Plains, where he resided till his death. 

Esquire Wtilker and Col. Williams were neither of them educated 
men, yet were each leading men in the community — the one an 
unswerving Democrat and the other as pronounced a Whig of the 
old school. 

Rev. Joseph Hatchett was a Virginian, a descendant of the 
French Huguenots; was reared in Kentucky; emigrated to Indiana 
in 1821, to Illinois in 1833. Has children now residing in the 
townsliip. Logan Hatchett, a young son, went, about 1834, across 
the river to help build Fort Des Moines, where he died and was 
buried, Dec, 1834. His brother Livy, and brother-in-law, John 
Harris, went to Montebello, crossed the river in a skiff with liazen 
Bedell and Cyrus Felt, in the ice, saw the body buried, and returned 
the same evening. 

(565; 



566 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Of Enoch Hankins the least said the better. He has the reputa- 
tion of being the first murderer in the county. His story is told, 
however, in another chapter. 

The first school taught in the township was probably by Rev. 
Hatchett, in 1833 or 1834. The first school-house built was of logs, 
located on Col. Williams' farm, and in it the first teacher was Mrs. 
Kinney, the mother-in-law of John R. Wilcox, at Fort Edwards. 

The first deaths were probably two of Col. Williams' children; 
Mrs. Joseph Hatchett died near tiie same period — 1833. 

The first child born is supposed to hav^e been Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Harris) Vaughn, now of New Mexico, in the spring of 1834. It 
is claimed that one of Mrs. Williams' (Mrs. Hardin Massey) was 
earlier. John E. Walker, now of Warsaw, was born in 1835. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

As stated, Revs. Hatchett and Knox were the earliest preachers 
about Green Plains. They each held meetings in the neighborhood, 
at the houses of settlers; often at the residence of Col. Williams. 
Mr. Walker was also an occasional exhorter. It is stated that Rev. 
Norman Parks, a Missionary Baptist, was ordained to preach at 
.the Colonel's house, what year not recollected. Of later Church 
organizations and work we are not informed. 

In continuance of the local history of the township we will crive 
personal sketches of many of the old settlers and prominent men 
of the same: 

Lafayette H. Frazer was born in Harrison county, Ky., Sept. 
11, 1818, and is a son of George Frazer, deceased, so well known 
in the early history of Adams county, 111. George Frazer emigrated 
with his family to Adams county in the spring of 1827, where he 
labored hard, and, like other pioneers, endured many privations in 
preparing the way for the prosperity of future generations. The 
Indians at that time were numerous, and the wild animals were to 
be seen on almost every hill, and in every valley of the land. While 
these pioneers endured untold hardships, they never lacked meat. 
Wild honey was also to be found in great abundance. Our subject 
was raised a " farmer's bov," and is now engaged in farming and 
stock-raising, and resides on section 30, Walker township. He was 
married Feb. 10, 1818, to Miss Caroline Wilson, daughter of Isaac 
Wilson, deceased, an early settler of Adams and Hancock counties. 
This union has been blessed with 2 children; viz., James C. and 
George W. 

Win.. Guymon was born in North Carolina Jan. 23, 1815, and is 
a son of Thomas and Sarah Guymon, deceased. He came to Edgar 
county, 111., in 1827, where he remained nntil 1833, when he 
removed to this county. He was married in 1831 to Miss Sally H. 
Hanks, daughter of Cornelius Hanks, deceased. They have had 
13 children, of whom but 6 are living; viz., Julia A. (now Mrs. 
Robert F. Laughlin, of this county), Washington, Jefferson, Alonzu, 




PRAIRIE TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 569 

Charles H. and John E. Mr. Guymon has always been a farmer, 
and now resides at Breckenridge; P. O., Hickory Ridge. 

Bazel D. Howard was born in North Carolina Oct. 13, 1817, 
and is a son of Leven and Tabitha Howard, deceased. He came to 
Adams county about the year 1844. He was married Feb. 17, 
1848, to Leah M. Brenneman, by whom he had 9 children. Of these 
but 3 are living; viz., William, Jasper and AValter. Mrs. Howard 
died Oct. 2, 1871. She was a consistent Christian and worthy 
member of the M. E. Church. She was a kind wife and tender 
mother, and none knew her but to respect her. Mr. Howard resides 
on sec. 36, Walker tp., and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. 

Dr. Vin/il Kingsley, physician and surgeon, Tioga, III. The 
Doctor is a native of Hancock county. 111., and was born April 7, 
1852, in the old Montebello House, near Hamilton. His parents 
were A. S. and Cynthia Kingsley, who came to Illinois about 1845. 
The former was a prominent farmer of this county, and was sadly 
missed after his death, which occurred Feb. 3, 1878, at the ao-e of 
70 years, 9 months and 17 days. Our subject is related to the 
well known Piggotts, who were among the first settlers of St. Louis. 
The Doctor graduated at the Keokuk College of Physicians, June 
11, 1877, with high honors. He also attended lectures in the St. 
Louis Medical College during the session of 1875-'6. He be^an 
practice July 25, 1877, in Tioga, this county, where he now has a 
good patronage. He was married Sept. 15, 1874, to Miss Pearle O. 
Howes, daughter of F. M. Howes, of Montebello tp., an early 
settler of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley have 2 children,— 
Chester H. and Cleo M. The Doctor has also made a very tine 
collection of geological specimens, and is still pursuing this study 
with energy. During the winter of 1878-'9, he delivered a 
course of lectures to the citizens of Tioga, on the subject of human 
anatomy, the laws of health, and hygiene. 

Dr. Isaac Lockwood, P. O., Hickory Ridge. The Doctor is a 
native of Cayuga county, N. Y., and was born April 27, 1805. His 
parents were Daty and Anna Lockwood. He removed to Penn- 
sylvania in 1834, to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1838, to Indiana in 1845, 
to Kentucky in 1857, to Iowa in 1859, and to this county in 1861. 
He is a physician of the Eclectic School, and has had a large prac- 
tice. Being very old he does not ride much now, but makes the 
curing of cancers a specialty. He has never failed to cure the 
cancer in a single instance. He cures them without cutting or 
burning. He was married in 1837 to JNEiss Elizabeth Baird, by 
whom he had 7 children (all dead). He married a second time in 
1846, this time Anna M. Riggin. This union was blessed with 
3 children; viz., Cordelia J., Nancy A; and Laura Bell. 

James Ramply was born in Hartford county, Md., Aug. 11, 
1803, and is a son of Thomas and Christiana Ramply (dec), natives 
also of Maryland. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated 
in a subscription school, lie came to Adams county. 111., in 1847, 

34 • 



570 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

where he reiiuiined for two 3'ears, when he removed to this county 
and settled on sec. 24:, Walker tp., where he sfill resides, engaged 
in farming and stock-raising. He also carried on the coopering 
business in connection with farming, for several years after he 
located here. He was married in 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Cheney, 
by whom he has had 7 children, of wliom 5 are living; viz., 
Thomas, Kiley, John, Martha and James. Martha is now Mrs. 
John Loft, liiley, John and James were soldiers for Uncle Sam 
during the late Rebellion, and fought nobly for the stars and stripes, 
and won laurels that will ever be remembered. 

J. W. Rankin was born in this tp, March 26, 1849, and is a son 
of J. S. Rankii\ (dec), an early settler of Adams county, 111., and 
who came to this county in 1847. He was a farmer and resided on 
sec. 2o, Walker tp., where Mr. J. AV. now resides. The latter was 
raised a farmer's boy and educated in the common school*. He 
was married March 29, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Symmonds, daughter 
of Dr. S. L. Symmonds, of Breckenridge. This union has been 
blessed with 2 children, Sanford and Sarah E. 

Adam Snyder (^dec.) was born in Washington county, Ind., Feb. 
i), 1815; was a brick-molder and worked as such until his death, 
lie came to Indiana in 1838, where he married Miss Cathai'ine 
Burns, Jan. 21 of the same yenw They emigrated to this county 
in 1840, where ]\[rs. Snyder still lives on the old home place on sec. 
30, Walker tp. They had 5 children, of whom 3 are living; 
viz., John S., Mary J. and Geo. Thomas. Mr. Snyder died June 
27, 1852. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

Below is a list, somewhat imperfect, of the Supervisors, Clerks, 
Assessors and Collectors of the past and present Boards of Walker 
township: 

SUPERVISORS. 

Allen 1850 B. F. Rankiu 1870 

George Walker 1851 Eli D. Gillham 1871 

Jackson Ewing 1856 VV. II. Shepherd 1872 

Thomas CM-awford 1858 Geo. W. Barnett 1874 

.John B. Hill 1863 Philip Ensminger 1875 

George Walker 1864 Geo. AV. Barnett 1876 

Jacksm Ewing 1866 A. N. Cherry 1877 

B. F. Kankin 1868 William Guvnion 1879 

Philip Ensminger 1869 A. N. Cherry 1880 

CLERKS. 

John S. Jenifer 1855 W. H. Shepherd 1870 

G. Ensminger 1856 Eli D. Gillham 1873 

Georce Carnes 1858 Washington Guymon 1873 

James Harrison 1862 Jos. H. Ensminger 1875 

Eli D. Gillham 1866 Richard Stringer- 1877 

J. T. Hopkins 1868 D. Anderson 1879-1880 

A. W. Simmons 1869 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



571 



ASSESSORS. 



Pliny Elatchett IBjS 

S. Sutton.. l"")*! 

Pliny Ihitcbott 1858 

B. F. Kiinkin 1863 

Eli I). Gillliam 18H8 

L. P. liisscll 18f)0 



A. J.Ewing 1872 

L. P. Hissell 1873 

O.J. Reese 1874 

Jesse Berry 1877 

O.J.Reese 1878 

L. Weiler 1879 



George W. Berry 1870 J . L. Wesler . 



,1880 



COLLECTORS. 



M.J, 
B. F. 
And. 
E. I) 
Beuj 
R. F. 
G. W 
A.J. 
B. F. 



Jenifer 18.55 

Ra,nkiu 1856 

Lindsay 1863 

Gillliam 1H65 

F. Rankin 180G 

Laughlin 1808 

. Barnett 1869 

Ewing 1870 

Rankin 1871 



James T. Frazee 1872 

Geo. W. Ewing 1873 

J. H. Oliver 1874 

I.N. Harris 1875 

J. II. Oliver 1876 

Cbarles Ilumke 1877 

J. T. Battles 1878 

J. H. Ensminger 1879-1880 




ROCKY RUN TOWNSHIP. 

This township at the present writing (July 1, 18S0) about half 
under water, embraces No. 3 north, 9 west, and what the Missis- 
sippi has left of 3-10. It receives its name from a stream that runs 
through it from the prairie of "Walker to^vnship. Three-fifths of 
this township is bottom land, composing the rich alluvial bot- 
toms bordering the river, and subject to overflow in seasons of high 
water. It is intersected bv numerous bayous (called sloughs) from 
"Warsaw down through AVilcox and Rocky Run, and emptying into 
a broad pond on the south line of the county, called Lima lake. 
This bottom land is generally warm, sandy and rich; and the best 
and most productive corn land in the county. A portion of it was 
covered with a fine growth of valuable timber, most of which has 
now been cut off by its owners, thousands of cords in old times 
having been sold to steamboats, or sawed into lumber. 

An'effort has been made to reclaim this land from overflow, by 
leveeing, under the State Drainage act, with encouraging prospects. 
I-n ordinary spring rises, this will be probably ample protection; 
but when the Father of Waters gets on a boom, such as we have 
witnessed four or five times within the last forty years, it will be 
found that his efforts to spread himself will not be so easily con- 
trolled. 

The portion of the township on the bluff' is mostly broken tim- 
bered land, among which are some good farms and thrifty farmers. 
It is excellent for wheat, and cannot be excelled in the county for 
fruit, a fact which its citizens are not slow to profit by, as the in- 
crease of orchards there will testify. 

Among the early settlers of Rocky Run may be named several who 
were in the county previous to organization; viz., Luther Wlritney 
(resided at one time in MontebelTo), Daniel Crenshaw, Davis Hill, 
Curtis Caldwell, Henry Nichols, Leonard L. Abney and Charles 
Hill; others later are Henry Newton, Stephen S. AVeston, Charles 
C. Stevens, Hiram AYoodworth, John i>anks, John Harness, Luther 
Ferry, William Shipe, John A. Morrison. James Carmean, Daniel 
P. Clark, John Fletcher, A. Daugherty, Joseph Caldwell, the Jen- 
ifers, Fraziers, Fredericks, Bolts, AYorthingtons, etc. 

Andreas' Atlas of Hancock county states that Luther Whitnej^ 
built the first house in Rocky Run in 1822: a statement that needs 
confirmation. That was two years before the evacuation of Fort 
Edwards by the soldiers; and we nowhere meet with any evidence 
of a settlement below the fort previous to that event, xl relative 
of Mr. Whitney informs us that he came to the county just previ- 
ous to the Black Hawk war, a statement wide of the mark, as he 

^572) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 573 

was a juryman in Adams previous to the separation, and had a 
ferry license granted him at Montebello soon after organization in 
1829. 

If, however, Mr. "Whitney was a settler in 1822, he was the earli- 
est one in the county of whom we have any account, antedating Col. 
"Whipple of St. Alban's by one year, and Capt. "White and John 
"Waggonner, of the rapids, by two years. 

The son, Edson "Whitney, so long Sheriff of the county, resided 
for many years on a farm about nine miles below the fort, near 
where Judge Henry Nichols, his brother-in-law, also resided. The 
first marriage in the township is said to have been Mr. Nichols to 
Miss Sophronia "Whitney. The Crenshaws were early settlers, the 
elder being one of the first officials; and the first death reported is 
said to have been a member of the family. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS, 

The first preaching in this township was doubtless by those same 
pioneers who led in AValker and "Wythe, namely, \Valker, Hatchett 
and Knox, as they were in close proximity. Of this we have no 
data. There are two or three church organizations in the township, 
with church buildings, but we fail to obtain statistics concerning 
them. 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

The personal mention of any community forms a most interest- 
ing feature of its history; therefore, as part of the history of 
Rocky Run tp., we make mention of the following early settlers and 
prominent citizens: 

David Ayers, deceased, was a native of Ireland, and came to 
America in 1S36, and to this county in the fall of the same year, 
settling in Rocky Run tp., where he resided, engaging in farming 
and stock-raising until his death, which occurred in June, 1876. 

David Clair ^ the subject of this sketch, was a native of West- 
moreland county, Penn., and was born Sept. 20, 1829, the 
son of Benjamin Clair. He was married in the year 1857, to Miss 
Martha J. Martin, of Indiana, by whom he had 7 children; of these 
6 are living; viz., Benjamin, John, Mary A., Joseph W., Jennie 
M., Jessie M. Mr. Clair came to Adams county. 111., in 1850, and 
to this county in the year 1851, and located in Rocky Run tp., 
where he has since resided. He was here during the time of the 
Mississippi overflow, and when game was very plentiful, such as 
deer, wolves, turkeys, prairie chickens, etc., and he participated in 
many a hunting expedition in the forests of this tp. He owns a 
farm of 154 acres, located on sees. 2 and 3. 

Benjamin F. Crenshaw, sec. 26. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of Jefferson county, 111., and was born Sept. 30, 1818. His 
father, Daniel Crenshaw, was a native of Virginia, but resided in 
Georgia a short time, and then started for Illinois, placing all his 
chattels on a keel-boat, which sank on the way, and all his goods 
were loet. He was one of the first settlers of Jefferson county, and 



574 HISTORY OF HiXNCOCK COUNTY. 

did mach toward improving and making that county. In a few 
years he removed to Jeiferson county, Mo., where he remained 
until 1827, when he returned to 111., and settled in Hancock county. 
He is the youngest of 8 children, 6 boys and 2 girls; was raised a 
farmer's boy, but spent a portion of his time in mining, selling 
goods and blacksmithing; but his general vocation is farming and 
stock-raising. He was manned in 1845, to Miss Teresa A. Allen, 
a native of Jefferson count}^ 111., and they have had 6 children, of 
whom 3 are livjng, — John T., Joel F., and Celatha A. Mrs. Cren- 
shaw died Sept. 28, 1860, and Mr. C. again married in December, 
1861, Miss Martha A. Ellis, by whom he has 6 children; viz., Lucy 
J., Wm. D., Charles L., Sarah E., Henry W. and Isaac W. 
When Mr. Crenshaw first came to this county the Indians were 
very numerous. He traded a great deal with them, and learned to 
speak their language. He took part in driving the Mormons from 
this county during the Mormorn war. 

David Frederick was born Jan. 22, 1831, near Lancaster, Fair- 
field county, O., and was of German descent. His parents, Abra- 
ham and Catharine Frederick, were Germans. Our subject was 
married Dec. 28, 1858, to Miss Harriet Iluse, by whom he had 10 
children. Of these, 9 are living; viz., Henry C, Waldo S., Flora A., 
Willargl T., Edwin P., Maurice H., Charles K., Harriet A., Fred. 
C. Mr. Frederick came to this county April 11, 1848, and located 
in this tp., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. Our subject owns a farm of 287 acres; of this, 160 
acres are in the Mississippi valley and the rest are in two different 
lots. 

William W. Jones is a native of Hancock county, and was born 
March 17, 1852. His parents are Thomas and Nancy Jones, of 
Rocky Kun tp. Mr. Jones is a farmer and stock-raiser, and resides 
on sec. 11, this tp. IJe is the present Constable for this tp,, and 
performs the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of his 
many constituents. 

Oeo. IF. MoKimie was born in Clarke county, Mo., March 28, 
1838, and is a son of James McKinzie, deceased, who emigrated to 
Clarke county. Mo., from Henderson county. Ivy., in the year 1832. 
James McKinzie and a brother, Wm. H., were in the Black Hawk 
war. The McKinzies were among the first pioneers of Clarke 
county. Our subject's grandmother, AVebb, lived to the age of 104. 
Mr. McKinzie came to this county in 1852, and worked as a farm 
hand for Mr. John Morrison, now of Rocky Run tp. His mother 
died when he was but two 3^ears old, and at the age of about five 
years, his father obtained a new mother for him, who did not seem 
as a mother to him. He therefore left home to battle with the cold 
and heartless world. He first resided with his brother-in-law, A. 
A, Weston, for two years. He then worked with Mr. O. Freeman, 
at eight dollars per month, for nearly a year. Then he went to 
Winchester, Mo., where he engaged in breaking prairie; returned 
to Illinois and labored for J. A. Morrison until 1856, when he emi- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 575 

grated to Lake Pepin, Minn., where he engaged in driving and 
herding cattle until autumn, when he returned and worked for Mr. 
Morrison again until 1S5S. lie then went to the Rocky mountains 
in the spring of 1859, and while on the head waters of the Republican 
river, was captured by the Ute Indians,and was held by diiferent tribes 
until August, when he escaped in the night and arrived at Fort 
Riley, Kan., and remained in that vicinity until in September, when 
he returned and began work for Mr. Weston. He remained here 
until 1861, when he went to Alexandria county. III, but he soon 
returned and enlisted in the army, in Co. E. 7th Mo. Cav., and 
fought for Uncle Sam until Nov. 20, 1864. Of 136 who went out 
in that company but 15 returned. They were known as the " South- 
western Missouri Scouts" -in tlie service of the United States. He 
was married Sept. 17, 1865, to Miss Lucinda AYorthington, daughter 
of Samuel J. Worthington, of this tp., and they have liad 8 children, 
of whom 5 are living; viz., Clarissa S., Willis H., Yiola, James S. 
and Arthur. Mr. McKinzie is engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing, on sec. 15. 

James H. Morrison. — The subject of this sketch was born in 
this (Rocky Run) township, Nov. 23, 1852, and was married Feb. 
18, 1875, to Miss Florence B. Richardson, by whom he has had 
2 children; of these, one is living, Alfred M. Mr. Morrison is 
engaged in bee culture, and is very successful. 

William S. Shipe is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born 
July 12, 1832, the son of John and Sarah Shipe, and was married 
Nov. 7, 1853, to Miss Mary 0. Shipe, by whom he has had 8 chil- 
dren; of these, 6 are living; viz., Martin L., Rebecca E. (now Mrs. 
Frazier), Emma J., Coi-a A., Hattie G., and Catie. Mr. Shipe came 
to this State in 1842, and in 1852 came to this county, locating in 
thi.-^ tp., where he has since resided, engaged in agriculture, stock- 
raising, and fruit-tree culture. Mr. Shipe is a very prominent man 
in this vicinity, and has been elected to some of the most important 
township offices, but declined to till them. He owns a valuable 
farm of 280 acres on sec. 25, and his residence is the finest in that 
vicinity. 

James M. Shipe was born in Hancock county. 111., in the year 
185t), and is a son of John and America Ships, of this county. He 
received a common-school education, and was raised a farmer's boy. 
He was married Jan. 20, 1876, to Miss Susan E. Quick, by whom 
he has one child, Rosa. Mr. Shipe is engaged in farming and 
raising stock. He has two very fine horses, — one, Eureka II., sired 
by Eureka, of French Perciieron stock. The latter was imported 
from France about the year 1872 or '73. His other horse is Romeo, 
sired by same. Eureka II. is four years old and weighs 1,450 
pounds. 

II. C. Parker was a native of Kentucky, born March 14, 1834; 
was the son of William and Rebecca Parker; was married March 
23, 1851, to Miss Eliza E. Weaver, by whom he had 10 children; 
of these 7 are living; viz., Mary A. (now Mrs. Peoples), Gustina II., 



576 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Susanah H., Emmit J., Lewis E., Annetta B., and Florence L. Mr. 
Parker came to this county in the year 1851, and afterward located 
in this tp., where he has since resided, engaged in agriculture and 
stock-raising, and owns a very fine fruit orchard. Mr. Parker lives 
in one of the finest residences in that part of the tp. 

George A. Trautvetter is a native of Germany, and was born 
Aug. 16, 1842; was married Jan. 20, 1869, to Miss Anna Schildt- 
mann, by whom he had 4 children; viz., Elizabeth, Anna S., Henry 
Harman, and Francis L. Mr. T. emigrated to America July 3, 
1853, and located in this township Sept. 10 following, where he 
has since resided. Mr. Trantvetter was a soldier in the late war, in 
Co. H, 14th 111. Yol. Inf., under Col. Hull and Gen. Stallbrand; 
served one year, during which time he traveled over Virginia 
and North Carolina, When he was on his way to Kansas to pro- 
tect the white settlers on the frontier, on arriving at Ft, Scott the 
army was disbanded and he returned home and resumed his former 
occupation, farming and stock-raising. Mr. Trautvetter has in his 
possession a sword which his great-grandfather used at the battle of 
Waterloo, under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Morris A. Weaver^ sec. 2, is a jolly bachelor, residing on his 
little farm near the Mississippi river. He was born in Clermont 
county, O., Nov. 29, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Weaver 
of this county. He came to Hancock county with his parents in 
the spring of 1852, where he has since resided, and is now engaged 
in farming and stock-raising. 

William C. Worthington was born July 26, 1852, in Lee county, 
Iowa. His father's name is Samuel J. He was married in No- 
vember, 1874, to Miss Martha E. Clark, and of their 2 children one 
is living, William C. Mr. Worthington came to this county with 
his father in the year 1856 and located in this tp. Farming has 
been his occupation. He owns a farm of 280 acres, a part of sec. 
10, which is one of the finest farms in the Mississippi valley. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

Below we give a list of the township officers serving since its 
organization, as completely as we could obtain them: 

SUPERVISORS. 

John Banks 1850 Joseph Bolt 1870 

Hiram Woodworth 1854 Aquilla Daugherty 1872 

Stephen S. Weston 1858 Alfred N. Cherrj^ [ ., q„ . 

Hiram Woodworth 1859 Aquilla Daugherty j ^ * 

Daniel P. Clark 1863 Aquilla Daugherty 1875 

Hiram Woodworth 1865 John A. Morrison 1877 

Daniel P. Clark 1868 Daniel'P. Clark 1878 

Hiram Woodworth 1869 

CLERKS. 

George Smith 1858 Oliver O. Jenifer 1874 

William Shipe 1859 Wm. C. Worthington 1875 

C. W. Banks 1861 Henry R. Smith 1877 

William Shipe 1863 George Smith 1878 

George Siuitli 1870 Wm.' C. Worthington 1880 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



577 



ASSESSORS. 



Luther Perry I808 

Charles Egbers 1859 

James Carmean 1860 

A. J. Strough 1861 

J. D. Stroupe 1862 

C. W. Banks 1863 

Hiram Woodworth 1864 

Daniel P. Clark 1865 

A. N. Cherry 1866 

Daniel P. Clark 1867 



A. N. Cherry 1868 

Daniel P. Clark 1869 

John A. Morrison 1870 

Joseph S. Smith 1871 

Gustiue Parker 1872 

JohnShipe 1874 

Daniel P. Clark 1875 

J. K. Stroupe - 1876 

Daniel P. Clark 1877 

John E. Exon 1878-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Joseph S. Smith 1858 

A. J. Strough 1860 

James Carmean 1861 

John Shipe 1868 

John Gillham. . . . .- 1869 

Joseph S. Smith 1870 

Wm. H. Straight 1871 



Alexander B. Mackie 1872 

John A. Morrison 1873 

James J. Frazier 1874 

Jacob D. Stroup 1875 

John S. Exon 1876 

Alexander Mackie 1877 

Morris A. Weaver 1879-1880 




ST. MARY'S TOWNSHIP. 

St. Mary's township (4 n., 5\v,), second from the south, on the 
east line of the eonntj, is anotlier of the rich and well-settled 
townships. It is well watered and wooded by a section of Crooked 
creek in the northeast, and by Bronson's creek, one of its tribu- 
taries, running through the center. It has much valuable land 
within its limits, about two-thirds being prairie. It derives its 
name from the village of St. Mary's, one of the old towns of the 
county, laid out by Walter K. Hurst and "Wesley Williams in 
1835. 

Among its earlier settlers were Mathew MeltoR and his son 
Allen, and John Trammel, his son-in-law, Ezekiel Bowman, 
Edward Wade, Daniel Cain, Jesse Cain, Jacob Castlebury, Jesse 
Roberts, John and Robert Box, John Shelton, Peter Wood, Uriah 
Dodd,"AbijahTerrill,Iloswell Terrill, Dr. Blackburn, John Atchison, 
Edward Bryant, Wm. Irwin, Benjamin Terrill, John Martin, Mr. 
Lanman, Paul Brattan, Lamarcus A. Cook, Joshua Owen, James 
R. Smith, T. Madison, Wm. Page, Byrd Smith, Samuel Haggard, Si- 
las Griffith, Reuben Graves and sons, Henry Garnett, Frederick 
Walton,*Charles Friend, John T.Johnson, Wm. Darnell, Dr.Jona- 
than Berry, Jesse W. Bell, David Greenleaf, Elias Johnson, Otho 
Johnson, Benjamin Talbot, John Wilson, Jonathan Printy, Dr. H. 
P. Griswold, Wm. M. Kino^. Minor R. Deming, Joim W. Crockett,. 
Geo. W. P. Cool^:, Dr. A. W. King. 

Two of St. Mary's very oldest citiziens are still living in Ply- 
mouth, Allen Melton and Edward Wade; others as early reside in 
the vicinity. John Atchison, in the northwest, a native of Ireland, 
is thought to be one of the oldest settlers now in the county. 
Minor R. Deming is supposed to have been one of the first school- 
teachers in the tp. His career is fully treated of in the chapter on 
Mormon affairs. Jesse Roberts and family reached their new home 
near the village of St. Mary's, the evening the " stars fell," 1833. 
The first elephant show ever in the county was exhibited on Mr. 
Roberts' place, Mr. Roberts died in 1851, His widow was still 
living a year ago. 

Capt. Rowland T. Madison (Lieutenant in the regular service 
U. S. 2Sth Infantry, and previously in Ivy. Militia) was born in 
1794, near Bowling Green. Was at the battle of Fort Meiggs, and 
served under Harrison in the Canada campaign. Came to Rush- 
ville 1836, and to Plymouth, 1840. 

The first cabin built and occupied by the Cains was cut and 
built in a day. Jesse kept liouse ten years without buying a table 

(578) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 579 

or a chair. These as well as the bedsteads were made from punch- 
eons. 

Aug., 1831, Mr. Mathew Melton, his son Allen and John Trani- 
mell, settled on sec. 36, on which Plymouth now stands. Mr. 
Melton's daughter Marissa, afterward Mrs. Ezekiel Bowman, is 
said to have been the first white woman on Round Prairie; and her 
daughter, Eliza Jane, born March, 1833, now Mrs. Waltj, of Ply- 
mouth, the first child born there. 

Joshua Owen and John Box both removed to Lee county, 
Iowa, and each sei*ved a term in the Territorial Legislature. 

John W. Crockett was said to have been a relative of the re- 
nowned '• Davy," of Tennessee and Texas fame. David Green- 
leaf held various public ofiices,araong them that of Probate Judge, 
and now resides in Carthage. 

Crockett, Jauies Clark, Jjcnjamin Terrill and Lamarcus A. Cook 
succeeded the Melton family on sec. 36, and in January, 1836, laid 
out the town of Plymouth. Levier Tadlock erected the first build- 
ing- 
There is a big "snake story" connected with Cedar Bluflf, up 
north of Plymouth, good enough to be told here. 

" One bright spring day in 1833, Mr. Ezekiel Bowman, who but a 
short time before had become the happy father of his first-born 
child, — now Mrs. Walty, — started out, with his infant in his arms, 
for a walk. Led, perhaps, by that intuitive love for nature in her 
wilder forms, so common in the human breast, he found himself 
presently at Cedar Bluft*. Here his wandering steps were suddenly 
arrested l>y an ominous rattle and coiled form, that man never meets 
unexpectedly without being startled. Unarmed for fight, his first 
impulse was to seek a place of temporary safety for his precious 
luggage, and then a weapon of stick or stone for the attack; but 
as he turned another met his gaze, and then another, and another. In 
fact, hecould see snakes all around him without the aid, now required, 
of numerous glasses of strychnine wluskij. Picking his way cau- 
tiously out of the enemy's encampment, the attack was deferred 
until reinforcements could be brought up. Returning with two of 
his brothers-in-law, Allen and Henry Melton, the slaughter began. 
The enemy proved to be strongly intrenched within the rocky ledge; 
their den was inaccessible, but by frequent raids during tliat season 
and part of the next, surprising and killing them as they ventured 
out of the den, over 600 rattlesnakes were killed by these parties at 
that locality." — Yoiuk/k History. Snakes enough for one township. 

Benjamin Whitaker, Esq., now of Wilcox, kept the first store in 
Plymouth; removed from Riverside in 1837. 

Jesse W. Bell kept the first iiotel, and has continued in the 
business almost ever since. A public school-house was built also 
in 1837. 

A postoffice was established in the place in the fall of 1836, 
Carroll O'Xeil being the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by 
Wm. M. King, Esq., who held it from ls39 to '57. Then followed 



580 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

William Melton, John Cleaveland, H. P. Weir, John H. Lawton, 
Samuel Hag.^ard, Mrs. E. S. Haines and E. J. Ellis. 

David Higby, a citizen of Plymouth for several years, had pre- 
viously met with a tragical experience. He and his family were 
passengers on the ill-fated steamer Moselle, which blew up at Cin- 
cinnati, about 1836, with such destruction to human life. By the 
disaster, Mr. H was blown into the air, falling in the water, 
wounded, and maimed for life, and his wife and children killed. 

The first celebration of the Fourth of July in this township, and 
probably the first barbacue in the county, was held in 1837 in Ply- 
mouth, Senator Little orator of the day. 

Mr. L. A. Cook spent a year or two at an early day, in company 
with his wife,asan agent of the Government, among the Winnebago 
Indians, at Fort Atkinson, west of Prairie du Chien; then returned 
to Plymouth, where he still resides, aged about 86 years. 

The people of St. Mary's, like all the rest of the early settlers, 
had more trouble to solve the bread than the meat question. The 
immigrants of the first year or two came mostly from Morgan or 
Sangamon counties, and brought supplies with them; afterward 
they could produce the raw material for bread at home. But to 
turn it into flour and meal was the question. Of course the " hom- 
iny block" was easily made, and most families were provided with 
one, or else with that more elaborate and costly contrivance, the 
Phillips mill. With either of these the ghost of famine was kept 
away. Wild game supplied them with the best of meat, and hogs 
soon multiplied. A mill at Quincy, one at the mouth of the Mau- 
vaisterre, at Beardstown, and later, one at Brooklyn, on Crooked 
creek, were to be reached at great labor and difliculty. Prairies 
had to be crossed without roads, creeks forded, marshes and ravines 
avoided or " stuck" in — all generally on horseback or with other 
poor modes of conveyance. The pioneer, it may well be believed, 
earned his bread by the sweat of his brow. 

At Cedar Bluff are a number of small mounds, and also indica- 
tions of an Indian encampment. We are not aware that the 
mounds have ever been excavated to any extent. 

The village of St. Mary's, so many years the center of business 
for that region, has been outgrown by its more favored rival on the 
railroad. Another station still nearer than Plymouth — Colmar, 
in McDonough county — has also injured its trade in that direction. 
It is beautifully situated, however, and surrounded by one of the 
richest and handsomest farming sections in the county. We have 
no record of its early Postmasters. John R. Nichols, at the same 
time a Justice of the Peace, held the office in 1846. 

The first death in St. Mary's township was probably that of Jane 
Box, a daughter of Robert Box, 14th of May, 1833: buried in 
Augusta. 

The first marriage, that of Hezekiah Cain, son of Daniel, to 
Irene Woodard, in 1833, daughter of Henry Woodard. 

Dr. Orville Blackburn, the first physician in Plymouth prairie, 
removed to Brooklyn, Schuyler county. 



m 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 5S1 

G. "W. P. Cook was born in Conn, in 1801, came to the county 
1834, to Plymouth in 1837, where he died a few months ago. 
Mrs. Sabra (Wilkes) Botts, wife of Rev. Joseph Botts, married 
in Ky. in ISIO, died in St. Mary's in 1865, aged 76, — after a conju- 
gal union of fifty-five years, — and now lies in the St. Mary's 
churchyard. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

Revs. Thomas H. Owen and Bradley were, perhaps, the earliest 
ministers of the Baptist denomination in St. Mary's. We do not 
learn where Mr. Bradley resided, but Mr. O. lived just over the 
line in the Cartilage township. They ministered frequently in St. 
Mary's and other parts of the county. Rev. Joseph Botts, a ven- 
erable minister, now residing near the village of St. Mary's, in his 
91st year, came to the county in 1836, and since his residence here 
has organized and assisted in organizing 12 or 15 Churches of this 
denomination in Hancock and adjoining counties. In 1837 he or- 
ganized the St. Mary's Baptist Church, with the following as mem- 
bers: Reuben Graves and wife, William Graves and wife, Henry 
Garnett, Mrs. Frederic Walton, Cliarles Friend and sister, and 
Joseph Botts and wife — ten members. This was in St. Mary's 
village. For place of worship they used thb old building in town, 
till 1866, when a new church was erected. Present membership 
over 150. 

Mr. B. also assisted in organizino- the Church in Plymouth in 
1857. This consisted of eight members. Present number about 100. 

Providence Church, in the west part of the township, was organ- 
ized about 1835. 

Rev. Mr. Botts tells the following anecdote, which he had from 
his friend Bradley, and as it illustrates "religious progress," will 
do to insert here. Mr. Bradley tells that, in early times, having 
occasion to cross the Mississippi on Amzi Doolittle's ferry boat, in 
offering to pay his ferriage, he was told by Mr. D. that he would 
not charge him anything, as he was a minister; but he would like 
to have him pray for him. Mr, Bradley replied, " I don't like to 
remain in your debt; come out on the bank and I will pay the 
bill." And the bill was settled to the satisfaction of both parties. 

Rev. John Logan, of McDonough county, was also an early min- 
ister of this section in St. Mary's 

The first M. E. class was formed in 1833, but nearly all its mem- 
bers resided out of St. Mary's. Rev. Henry Summers, and Revs. 
Boring, Pitner and T. N. Ralston, were ministers in the early days. 
The noted Rev. Peter Cartwright sometimes ofticiated among them. 
So did Rev. Applebee, now of Hamilton. In 1853 this society 
built their church in Plymouth. Membership at present, about 100. 

The Congregational Church of Round Prairie (Plymouth) was 
organized in 1836, over in Schuyler county. A meeting-house was 
built in 1837. Later, in July, 1855, a neat house in Plymouth was 
dedicated. Among its pastors have been Rev. John Lawton (occa- 



582 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

sioiial), Win. Kinby, Anson Hubbard, Guy C. Sampson, Z. K. 
Hawlev, C E. Murdock and Wm. C. Rankin, Later have been 
Revs. Milton Kimball, N. P. Ooltrin, Wm. B. Atkinson and Wm. 
A. Chainberlin. Later pastors not named. 

The Presbyterian Church at Plymouth, though with a house of 
its own, has for ten years of its life been joined with tlie Congre- 
gational, and for many other years, when separate, has united with 
that in the support of pastors. It was organized in 1836, and of late 
years its membership has ranged between 50 and 80. 

The Christian Church at Plymouth was organized in 1855, with 
28 members; has increased since to over 100 persons. It occupies 
a house built in 1866. It has had among its pastors the following: 
Elders James and J. Carroll Stark, of Augusta; E. J. Lampton, 
George Bre\vster, E. Browning, James R. Ross and others. 

BIOGKAPHICAL. 

As the most essential part of the history of a township consists 
in biographical sketches of its principal citizens, we give as many 
of them in this connection as space will permit. 

Esta Bidwell^ blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements, 
Plymouth, was born i*n New York in 1830, and came to Illinois 
in 1848, settling in Fulton county, until 1855, and then 
came to Plymouth, In 1851 he married Hannah R. Wlialey, who 
was born in Indiana in 1832, and they are the parents of 9 chil- 
dren, 7 of whom are living: Effie, wife of E. J. Ellis, of Plymouth; 
Elizabeth, wife of M. M. Mark, of Plymouth; Anna E!^; Hattie 
and Homer, twins; Minnie; Charlotte, deceased; Thomas L. and 
an infant. Mr. B. owns two lots, with dwelling and shop. He is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Alonzo Blair ^ farmer and stock dealer; P. O., Plymouth; was 
born in Ohio in 182'4, and is a son of Roljert and Mary (Johnson) 
Blair, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio; 
mother still living, at the age of 80. Mr. B. has followed his 
present business through life except for 15 years, in which he 
taught school. He owns about 500 acres of fine farm land. He 
fattens and sells 50 to 75 head of cattle every season, besides some 
hogs. In this county, in 1861, he married Miss Mildred Coke, 
daughter of James and Lucy Coke, nativ^cs of Kentucky, and Mrs. 
Blair was also born in that State, in 1840. The 4 children are, 
Mardula, Edgar L,, Frances M., and Ina. Mr. Blair has been 
Supervisor four j^ears, and Assessor four years. He is a Free- 
mason and a Republican. 

Jacob J. Blair, brother of the preceding, is a farmer on sec. 4, 
owning 160 acres of land; P. O., St. Mary's; he was born in Ohio 
in 1818, married in this county in 1844 to Mary Nichols, daughter 
of John R. and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Nichols ; they are the parents 
of 5 children, — Mary, Robert, Elizabeth, Alice and Alonzo J. Mr, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 583 

B. has been Road Commissioner; he is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. Was in the Mormon war si.x weeks. Politically he is 
a Republican. 

J. D. Botts, farmer sec. 2, owning 2S0 acres of land, was born 
in Kentucky in 1S33, reared on a farm, and has followed farming 
through life; taught school several terms; came with his parents 
to this county in 1836; was married in 1859 to Mary E. Perkins, 
daughter of Jefferson and Charlotte Perkins, natives of Rhode 
Island; she was born in 1839; of their 8 children 7 are living: 
Sarah F., Mary, Miner J., Helen, Harriet, Cora, Carey and an 
infant, deceased. Mr. Botts is a Republican, and has been Town- 
ship Assessor. 

Joseph Botts, retired farmer, sec. 2, was born in Virginia in 
1790; came to this count}' at a verj^ early day; in 1835 he was 
ordained a Minister of the gospel in the Baptist Church, and has 
been in the ministry ever since, although 90 years of age; walks a 
half-mile yet to preach. In Kentucky, in ISIO, he married Sarah 
Weeks, who was born in Kentucky in 1790, and they had 12 chil- 
dren, 6 of whom are living: Matilda, Jane, William (3., Absalom, 
James and Louisa. Mr. B. owns 24:0 acres of fine farm land. He 
is much respected in his neighl)orhood. 

William 0. Botts, farmer and stock-dealer, sec. 11; P. O., Ply- 
mouth, This gentleman was born in Kentucky in 1817, and emi- 
grated to this county in 1842. He has been twice married, the first 
time in this county in 1842, to Mary Darnell, who was born in 
Ohio in 1825, and died in 1850, leaving 3 children — Sidney J., wife 
of Edward Gilcyhurst; and Margaret E., wife uf Robert White, of 
Iowa. Dec. 26, 1850, Mr. B. again married, this time to Mary F. 
Walker, and they have 5 children — Robert W., Joseph J., Myrtle 
A., William G. and Charles. Mr. B. is a member of the Baptist 
Church, is a Republican, has held the offices of Assessor and Col- 
lector, and in earlier days was a participant in the Mormon war. 

William D. Burdett, keeper of livery stable in St. Mary's, was 
born in Castle county, Ky., in 1835, and is a son of Thomas and 
Martha Burdett, both natives also of Kentucky, and of German de- 
scent; he came to this county in ls51, settling in Plymouth, where 
he followed butchering eleven years, but for the past three years 
has kept a livery stable. In 1867, in this county, Mr. Burdett 
married ^[iss Harriet Ellis, a native of this county, and born in 1848; 
she is a daughter of William and Margaret Ellis, natives of Vir- 
ginia^ Mr. and Mrs. B. have 3 children, Charles, Otto and Winnie 
E. Mr. B. has held the office of Constable. He owns four lots in 
St. IMary's, four dwellings and the liver}- stable. 

W. K. Cornell, dealer in boots and shoes and ready-made cloth- 
ing, west side of the public square, Plymouth, was born in Wash- 
ington county, N. Y., in ls20, find came to this county in 1S44; 
in ]s62, in Iroquois county. III., lie married a native of New York. 
Since he has been in this county he has dealt very largely in live 
stock, esjjecially sheep. He owns three lots, with dwelling and 
store-house, in Plymouth. 



5S4 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

J. W. Cox, lanner and dealer in stock; P. O., St. Mary's; was 
born in Virginia in 1822; was brought up in the vocation of farm- 
ing, which he has followed througli life with success; he came to 
this county in 1843. In 1847 he married Julia Wilson, a daughter 
of John and Elizabeth "Wilson, of Scotch descent, who came to this 
county in 1833; she was born In Virginia in 1823, and she is the 
mother of 6 children, 4 of whom are living, namely, "Webster, 
Amanda, Allie H. and Estlier; deceased, George and Belle. Mr. 
Cox owns 500 acres of well improved farm land, and deals exten- 
sively in cattle. He also was in the '* !Mormon war." Politically 
he is a Democrat. 

WiJUam B. Ellis, proprietor of a wagon and repair shop, St. 
Mary's, was burn in Virginia in 181t), and was married in that State 

in 1837, to Miss Elizabeth A. , who was born in Virginia 

in 1819, and of their children, 8 are living — Mary, Frances, Eliza 
A., Harriet J., George "W., Elizabeth A. and David A. Jane is 
deceased. Mr. E. is a Republican, and has been Commissioner of 
Highways. His maternal grandfather served seven years in the 
Revolutionary war; and his father was in the war of 1812. Mr. 
Ellis owns three blocks in St. Mary's. 

John G. J^oUiii, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, is a son ot 
Daniel and Hannah (Ewis) Follin, natives of Virginia, and Avas 
born in Ohio, Oct. 7, 1825; early opportunities for a school educa- 
tion limited; followed farming until he was 21; in 1847, he com- 
menced the study of medicine, and graduated in 1849, at Cleveland, 
O.; he also graduated at the university of Iowa, in 1861; he com- 
menced the practice of medicine in 1850, in Missouri; he settled 
in Plymouth in 1864, where he has had an extensive and successful 
practice. In 1849, near Bowling Green, Ivy., he married a native 
of that State, wlio was born in "l834. Of their 10 children, 5 are 
living, — Mary, wife ofWm. Ramick, of this tp. ; Julia C, Ida B., 
James and Ernest. Tlie Doctor owns fonr lots, with dwellings, 
here, and 60 acres of land in Kentucky, three miles from Bowling 
Green. In politics the doctor is a Democrat. 

JElias Gilhs, farmer, sec. 5, owning i;'0 acres; P. O., St. Mary's; 
was born in Bnrlington county, N. J., in 1819, and came to this 
State in 1842, settling in Schuyler county; came to this county in 
1870. In 1847, in Schuyler county, he married Sarah A. Boder, a 
native of Ohio, born in 1828, and they are the parents of 9 children; ' 
namely, Mary A., wife of Frank Xewcomb, of Missouri; Henry B., 
Smith J., Sarah, wife of "Walter Case, of this tp. ; AVilliam B., 
Philip K.; Xettie, wife of Samuel Coke, of this tp.; Charlie and 
Carl. Mr. Gibbs is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a prosper- 
ous farmer. 

Lewis Graham, undertaker, Plymouth, was born in Ohio in 1820; 
emigrated to this county in 1830; settled in Plymouth in 1854. 
"Was married in 1843, in Schuyler county. 111., to Frances M. 
Lansdon, who was born in Kentuckv in 1822, and thev are the 






4^(^-dJjQ..<^ i^l/aU)-^^^r-^ 






ST. MARYS Tp 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 5S7 

parents of 6 children, only one of whom is living; namely, Henri- 
etta, wife of Samuel S. Fox, of tliis tp. Both of ^fr. Graham's 
irrandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. He has been Town 
Trustee. He owns two lots, one with dwelling and one with shop. 
He keeps a good supply of stock in his line. 

Henry A. Heudi'icks, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., St. Mary's; is a son 
of John and Kancy Hendricks, natives of Tennessee, and of Ger- 
man descent, and was born in that State in 1822; in 1841 he mar- 
ried Melvina Jones, who was born in Kentuck}" in 1826, and they 
are the parents of 10 children, 6 of whom are living; namely, 
William S., James Lavender, George E., Cord and lona; John and 
3 infants are deceased. Mr. U. came to this county in 1851, where 
he owns 14i> acres of tine land. He is a Baptist, a Freemason and 
a Democrat; has been Commissioner of Highways. 

W. S. Hendricks^ physician and surgeon, St. Mary's, was born 
in Kentucky, Jan. 31, 1851; was brought to this county in 1852; 
commenced the study of medicine in 1809; studied and taught 
school for tive years; graduated at the Keokuk Medical College in 
1875; settled in this county in 1S7T, where lie has since been 
practicing. In ISTS the doctor married Mattie P. Johnson, who 
was born in this county in 1854, and they have one child, named 
Pearl. Dr. Hendricks owns five lots in St. Mary's, one with store 
building where he keeps groceries and notions, and one lot with 
dwelling house. He has been Postmaster since 1878. 

John J. Hijiple. merchant, Plymouth, is a son of Henry and 
Catharine Hippie, the former a native of Maryland and the latter 
of Pennsylvania; Mr. H. was born in Ohio in 1821, and came to 
this county in 1855. settling in Plymouth, where he now keeps a 
general store, of dry goods, groceries, etc., on the south side of the 
public square. He owns one lot with dwelling, and 350 acres of 
fine farm land. He was married in this county in 1848, to Miss" 
Caroline Darnell, who was born in Ohio in 1830. and they have 
had but one child, Catharine, the wife of W. E. King, of Plymouth, 
Mr. H. has been Town Trustee six years. Supervisor one term. Both 
his grandfi\thers were in the Revolutionary war, and his father was 
in the war of 1^12. Politically Mr. Hippie is a Democrat. 

Hh'am B. Johnson, tarmer, etc., sec. 14; P. 0.. St. Mary's; is a 
son of John T. and ^[aria Johnson, natives of Ohio, and or" Irish 
descent; they came to this county in 1>39, where Hiram was born 
in 1>44 and raised on a larm; he was married in this county, Oct. 
30, 1872, to Lizzie Hendricks, who was born in this county in 1854, 
and their 2 children are Frankie and Freddie L. Mr. J. is a Re- 
publican. 

J. T. Johnson and wife emigrated from Champaign county, O., in 
1839, to this county, in company with his parents, a brother and 
two sisters, the brother having a wife with him and one sister a 
husband. Mr. J. and wife also had their only child with them. 
Since that time, in 1840, the younger sister married John J. 
Graves, now of Carthage; Mr. J.'s mother died in 1845, his young- 
35 " 



588 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

est sister in 1S52, brother in 1857, and father in 1869, in the 81st 
year of his age. His sister, Mrs. Talljot. and liiniself are the only 
ones left of the family now alive. Mr. Johnson settled on the N. 
E. J of sec. 2. St. Mary's tp., one and a half miles north of 
the town of St. Mary's, a piece of land wliich his father bought of 
Judge Williams, of Carthage. Mr, J.'s house was tlien the out- 
side one of the settlement in that direction, and he and his family 
were very lonely indeed. Mr. Johnson's first work was to make 
400 sugar-troughs, as there was a good stand of sugar trees near, 
which has indeed yielded well ever since. After laying in provis- 
ions for the winter Mr. J. had $50 left, which he loaned to Mr. 
Comer, of Carthage; but he took his uncle's advice, who had told 
him: " John, when you git to Eelinoise, buy calves." He did so, 
has made money, and has not been out of the calf trade since. He 
drove his lot of calves, which he had kept till the fall of 1843, to 
Warsaw, and sold them for $11 a head, or about 75 cents a cwt. 
The first pork he sold was in 1842, which he hauled to Quincy and 
sold for $1.50 a cwt. net; it took four days to make the trip. After 
that he sold his pork to Benny Clark, of Cartheige. While his 
neighbors all consumed the proceeds of their pork sales in store 
goods he could call for money in payment. One day Mr. Clark 
asked: "Johnson, what do you live on at your house? I always 
have to pay you the money." The reply was, " Hog and hominy." 
The old man grunted a little and paid over the money. 

One day in 1840 Mrs. J. came out to the field to her husband, 
with her babe in her arms, and said there was the awfulest big 
snake in the house she ever saw. Mr. J. returned to the house with 
her, and sure enough, there lay coiled up in a corner a big black 
snake over four feet long. 

In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. J. returned to Ohio on a visit, not cross- 
ing a single railroad on the whole route. They repeated the visit 
in' 1851, going by wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have now been 
keeping house 45 years, have raised 7 children, all of whom are 
married and settled in the vicinity. The parents live alone now, 
aged respectively 6S and 65. In 1876 Mr. J. visited the principal 
Eastern cities. » 

Mr. Johnson is a farmer and stock-dealer on sec. 10, owning 
1,300 acres of land; P. O., St. Mary's; was born in Ohio in 1813^ 
and married in same State, in 1836, Miss Maria Wright, also a 
native of Ohio and born in 1816; of their 10 children 7 are living 
— Mason, Hiram, Joseph, Xelson, Martha, wife of W. S. Hend- 
ricks; Orella, wife of Lewis C. Green. Mr. J. has been Road 
Commissioner, is a Republican, a Baptist, and took part in the 
" Mormon war." 

Andrew J. 3fassingill, blacksmith, St. Mary's, was born in 
McDonough county in 1836; was married in this State in 1866, to 
Georgia A. Rankin, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1845, and 
they have 5 children, Hattie M., Andrew J., Anna B., Yiola and 
William R. Mr. M. owns 15 acres joining St. Mary's, and one lot 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 589 

with shop. In 1S61 he enlisted in Co. G, 72d 111. Vol. Inf., and 
served three years; was in the siei>;e of Vicksbare", the battle of 
Franklin, Tenn., and several other hard-fought engagements. He is 
a member of the Baptist Church. 

JK. C. Michaels, local agent of railroad, Plymouth, was born in 
Maine June 21, 1822, and came to this State in 1861, settling in 
Knox county. He married in Maine in 1852, to Charlotte Estes, 
a native also of that State, and the following are their children: 
John R., train-master on theC, B. & Q. R. R. ; Mary E. ; Lewis E., 
agent at Sagetown; Charles E., telegraph operator at Kirkwood; 
and Xellie G. Mr. M. has been agent for the road 16 years; has 
been Township Collector one term, Assessor one term, which office 
he now holds. His paternal grandfather was in the war of 1812. 
He owns one lot with dwelling, belongs to the Masonic fraternity 
and is a Democrat. 

J.W.Moore, farmer and stock dealer, sec. 9; P. O., Plymouth; 
was born in Canada in 1832, and is a son of John and Maria Moore, 
of English ancestry; they came to America in 1831, and to this 
county in 1841, where Mr. J. W. Moore has ever since resided. 
He now owns 200 acres of fine farm land, worth $35 per acre. He 
deals in cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. His first marriage was to 
Catharine McCurdy, in this county, in 1852; she was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1833, and died in 1S75. Mr. M. again married, in this 
county, in 1876, Honore "Wolf, a native of this county, and born in 
1850; their 2 children are Maud and George. Mr. Moore is a Free- 
mason, a Baptist and a Democrat. 

Elmer D. Olmsted, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, was born 
June 6, 1848, in the State of New York; commenced the study of 
medicine in 1872, at a medical college, where he graduated in 1877, 
but he began practice in 1875; he settled in Plymouth in 1878, and 
now has an extensive and successful practice. He was married in 
Knox county. 111., in 1869, to Ella F. Lane, a daughter of John and 
May Lane; she was born in this State in 1852, but died in 1874, 
leaving 2 children, Amy F., and Cary E. Mr. O. is a member of 
the Masonic and Good Templar orders, and in religion is a Liber- 
alist. 

Jefferson Perkins, farmer, sec. 33; P. O., St. Mary's; w^as born 
in New Hampshire in 1809, and came to this county in 1845; mar- 
ried a native of Massachusetts in 1837, and they have had 5 chil- 
dren, of whom 4 are living; viz., Mary E., wife of James G. Botts; 
Charlotte, wife of Thomas Smith, of Macomb; Alia C, wife of 
John W. Wilson, of Missouri; Emma G., wife of R. R. Price, also 
of Missouri; James, deceased. Mr. Perkins owns 130 acres of fine 
farm land. Being in the county during the Mormon troubles he 
had a hand in driving them out of the State. His. father was killed 
in the war of 1812. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church. 

Thomas J. Printyi farmer, sec. 5, owning 90 acres, worth $35 
per acre; P. O., Plymouth; came to this county in 1840; in 1858 



500 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

married ^Iari]::arett Scott, who Nvas born in 1833 in Kentucky. Of 
their S eliiUlren are living: David F., Marcus, Mary E., Lenora 
and Eleanora, twins, and Edward. Mr. P. has been Constable and 
School Director, and is a Republican. 

Stcp/iai E. RobcrU^ farmer and stock dealer, sec. 14; P. O., 
Plymouth; is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Roberts, the former a 
native of Virginia and the latter of Xeutuckv; was born in this 
State in 1830, and came to this county in 1833 with his parents. 
lie now owns 400 acres of line farm land; bu^'s, feeds and ships 
cattle and hogs extensively. In INIcDonough county, in 1852, he 
married Junia A. Smith, who was born in that county in 1830, and 
died in 1858, and their only child is John 31. Mr. R. again mar 
ried in 1865 Nancy E. Robertson, who was also born in McDonough 
county, in 1841, and they have 4 children: Jesse, Eliza, Josie and 
Jose. 3[r. Roberts is a Freemason and a Democrat. 

Nczcell Sapp, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, was born in 
North Carolina in 1825, and came to this State in 1831, settling in 
Rushville; came to this county in 18GG. lie commenced the 
study of medicine in 1840, and graduated in 1864; he has had an 
extensive and successful practice. He owns a larm of 100 acres in 
Schuyler county. 111. AVas married in Galesburg, 111., Jan. 18, 
1855, to Martha L. Payne, who was born in Vermont in 1834, and 
they have 5 children, only one of whom is living, Cora. Mr. and 
Mrs. S. belong to the Congregational Church. He owns one lot 
and dwelling in Plymouth. He was in the " Mormon war'' under 
Gov. Ford. 

Joseph E. Talhott^ farmer and stock dealer, sec. 14, owning 410 
acres, valued at $40 an acre. He is a son oi Benjamin and Cynthia 
Talbott, natives of Ohio. He was born in this county March 7» 
1858, and raised on a farm. AVas married in this county in 1879 
to Miss L. Kate Graves, who was born, in Kentucky Nov. 15, 1857. 
Mr. T's tather was one of the pioneers of this county, having come 
here in 1839. The subject of this sketch is a prosperous tanner, 
and is a Republican. ]?. O., Plymouth. 

Gcoi'ge II. Tuck, dealer in boots and shoes, south side public 
square, Plym<mth, was born in ^lassachusetts Sept. 29, 1849; 
taught school six years; engaged in his present business in 1878, 
and does a lively business. AVas married in this county in 1879 
to Annie S. Bell, who was born in this county in 1854. Mr. T. is 
a Republican in politics. 

Henry TucJc, boot and shoe manufacturer, Plymouth, was born 
in England in 1821, and came to America in 1844 and to this 
county in 1855, settling in Plymouth. In Elaine, in 1849, he 
married ]Miss Perry, who was a native of that State, born in 1823, 
and they have 8" children: George H., Alice J., N"athan H., 
Angelica, Charlie S., Edward P., William O. and Benjamin F. P. 
Mr^ Tuck owns one lot, with shop, one with dwelling, and three 
acres joining town and 107 acres of line farm land. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and is a Repnblican. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUN'TV. 591 

Willvxm D. Wade, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, is a son 
of David and Xancy Wade, the former a native of Virginia and 
the latter of Georgia, and both of English descent. Wm. D. was 
born March 22, 18il, in Schuyler county. III.; passed his boyhood 
days on a farm; commenced the study of medicine at the age of 
Is, and graduated in 1*^69 at Cincinnati; commenced the practice of 
medicine in l>'6'iat Doddsville, Schuyler county; he settled in Ply- 
mouth in 1866, where he has commanded a large practice, attended 
with good success. Was married in Carthage in 1862 to Elizabeth 
Fowler, who was born in Schuyler county, 111., in 181:3, and died 
Dec. 25, 1869, leaving 3 children — Elizabeth M., Lillie M. and 
Jennie. Mr. Wade owns 110 acres of fine land, and one lot with 
dwelling. Is a Democrat. 

Weslet/ Walton, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 36; P. O., Denver; 
was born in Boone county, Ky., Sept. 20, 1^31, a son of Frederick 
M. and Emily ( Picej Walton, both natives of Kentucky, and their 
parents were from Virginia and of Welsh extraction. The grand- 
father of the subject of this notice, William Walton, was a soldier 
in the Revolution. Fred. M. Walton, his father, emigrated to Illi- 
nois in 1^35, bringing with him 2 children, Wesley and John, first 
locating on sec. 3, Augusta tp. This land, except a little more than 
20 acres, had never been cultivated by white man. Here he lived 
until his death. He left about 2^0 acres of land at the homestead, 
but before his death he gave each of his 6 children over \ sec. 
He was a Baptist, a Whig and a liepublican. He was a most worthy 
citizen. At the age of 22 Mr. Wesley Walton married Martha L. 
Browning, Sept. 14, 1854, near Rushville. She was a daughter of 
Absalom Browning, who was born in Virginia and moved to Ken- 
tucky, and thence to Illinois. Mr. W. lives on sec. 31, this tp., 
where he has about 254 acres of fine farm land, and raises stock, 
feeding about all tJie grain that he raises. He has been Collector 
in this tp. one term, and is a Republican, and a member of 
the Christian Church, and now an Elder. His brothers and sisters 
are: Wesley, John. Frances, Matilda A., William C. and Simeon M. 
The deceased are Malvina, aged 2^ years, and Mons. S., who died 
when about grown. We give Mr. Walton's portrait in this volume. 

H. P. TF2^ was born in North Carolina in 1825, and came to this 
State with his parents in 1835, settling in Schuyler county, and 
settled in this county in 1847. In 1948 he married Amanda M. 
Whittington, who was born in this State in 1831, and of their 4 
children 3 are living: Lida, Sandril and Ray; James is deceased. 
Mr. Wier owns one lot, with dwelling. He has been Deputy Sheriff, 
Postmaster, and was Constable several vears. He is a Democrat. 
P. O., St. Mary's. 

William L. Wristen, keeper of a restaurant, west side of the 
public square, Plymouth, was born in this State in 1845; taught 
school 14 years. He is a member of the Christian Church and a 
Democrat. 



592 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

The following is a catalogue of the officers who have served and 
are now serving in St. Mary's township, as complete as returns 
enabled us to compile: 

SUPERVISORS. 

William Darnell 1850 John W. Cox 1865 

Wm. Darnell 1854 John A. Ross 18G6 

Geo. M. Berry 1854 A. T. Cloud 1871 

Bryant F. Peterson 1850 John A. Koss 1872 

Alonzo H. Blair 1858 T. B. Brumback 1875 

John H. Lawton 1859 John J. Graves 1877 

Jonas Aleshire 18G0 John J. Hippie . .1877 

Jacob Castlebury 1802 Douglas Aleshire 1878 

Thomas L. Gannon 1803 

CLERKS. 

Joshua M. Botts 1855 Louis Graham 1868 

Louis Graham 1858 Henry H. Ross 1869 

Geo. W. Ross 1800 James S. Wade 1870 

John A. Ross 1862 J. W. Shaffer 1871 

David Currens 1805 James S- Wade 1875 

Cyrus Elliot 1806 George H. Tuck 1877 

G. W. Kelly 1807 David E. Wade 1878-1880 

ASSESSORS. 

Napoleon B. Lawrence 1855 Samuel Long 1868 

Benjamin Warner 1856 Henry B. Brumback 1809 

William O. Botts 1858 T. B. Brumback 1870 

James Irwin 1859 J. G. Garnett 1871 

Jacob Rich 1800 T. B. Brumback 1873 

John W. Shaffer 1802 Thos. W. Monk :...1874 

Wm. N.Kington 1805 Jas. D. Botts 1877 

James IrwinT 1806 Joel G. Garnett 1878 

J.R. Nichols 1867 R. C. Michaels 1879-1880 

COLLECTORS. 

George D. Chapman 1855 Robert H. Ellis 1870 

David P. Palmer 1858 Jesse Wriu;ht 1871 

George D. Chapman 1859 Jas. W. Huey -. . ...1873 

John^W. Shaffer 1860 Wesley Walton 1873 

H. P. Weir 1863 W. S. Br wning 1871 

John W. Romick 1860 John M. ( .ige 1875 

Merritt Berry 1807 W. S.P.Turner 1877 

G. E. Kelly 1808 A. S. Eidsou 1878 

John W. Romick 1809 W. S. Browning 1880 



HARMONY TOWNSHIP. 

Township J— 6, with a Jiarmonious name, is seven-eighths prai- 
rie-land, there being a few sections of" partly broken and rougli- 
timbered land on the head-waters of Bronson's creek, and another 
small body on another tributary of Crooked creek. A portion of 
this township is rich flat prairie, valuable for meadow; and a large 
part is sufficiently rolling for corn and grain. It has line farms, and 
some rich and enterprising farmers. This townsliip, being so 
largely prairie, was not settled as early as the townships surrounding 
it. It contains two villages on the T., W. & AY. raih'oad, Bentley 
and Denver, both small places but doing considerable local busi- 
ness. 

Bentley lies ten miles west from St. Mary's and five southerly 
from Carthage, and was laid out in August, 1863, by John Sutton, 
Jr., and first called after his name, but for some cause changed to 
Bentley. It lies just south of the well-known Big Meadow. Post- 
masters in Bentley — T. J. Bates, A. R. Robinson, J. A. James, 
present incumbent. 

Denver was laid out Jan., 1864,by S. C. Seybold andG. W. Bush. 
It is distant nine miles from the county seat, and ten miles due 
west from Plymouth. The P. O. was formerly called Rough and 
Ready. 

Among the earlier settlers in this township we may name George 
M. Browning, Trnman Hecox, E. S. Cannon, S. B. Walton, B. F. 
Tucker, George Langford, Samuel Ramsey, Isaac S. Burner, Sam- 
uel Dickenson, Larkin Scott, Wm. Pike, Mr. Peebler, Mr. Wed- 
ding, Mr. CoUison, James Major, ancl the several sons of Samuel 
Ramsey — Enoch, Henry K. and Samuel F. 

RELIGIOUS PROGKESS. 

The oldest Church in Harmony is that known as Mount Pleasant, 
belonging to the Christian denomination, located on sec. 13, near 
tlie east end of the township. It was organized about 1837, and 
tlie building erected as early as ISoO. No statistics. 

The Christian Church in Denver was built about 1873. 

The M. E. Church at Bentley was organized about 1861, before 
the town was built, with the following named members: J. W. 
O'llara, Paulina O'llara, Wm. J. Bates, M.A.Bates, J. A. James, 
Wm. R. Lackey, Nancy Lackey, Barbara Shoup and Wm. A. 
Thompson. The building was erected in 1875. 

The Baptist Church was organized about 1873, with a small 
membership. The edifice was erected about the same period; pres- 
ent number of members about 20 or 25. 



594: HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

BIOGRAPHICAL . 

Following we give personal sketches of the early settlers and 
prominent citizens of Harmony township, which form an impor- 
tant factor in its history: 

Joseph C. Anderson, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1810, son of Jolm and Elizabeth (Conawaj') Anderson, the 
former a native of Maryland, and of Irish descent; and the latter 
of Kentucky, and of German descent. Was educated in the common 
schools of Morgan county. 111.; in 1832 he married Melinda Wilhite, 
and they have had one son and one daughter; the latter is married. 
Mr. A. came to this county in 1833, settling near Augusta, where 
he commenced a poor man, but by industry and economy has been 
successful as a farmer, now owning 190 acres of highly improved 
land ; he is a Democrat. 

M. D. Bal'er, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Washington 
county, Ind., Jan. 14, 1842; is a son of Zephaniahand Polly (Davis) 
Baker, of English descent, the father a native of New York, and the 
latter of North Carolina; he was educated in the common schools 
of this county ; in 1864 he married Mary Frances Scott, and 5 of 
their 9 children are living. Both Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of 
the Christian Church in Denver, 111. Mrs. B. was born April 4, 
1839, in Kentucky, and is of English ancestry. Mr. Baker came to 
this county in 1851 from Indiana, and has lived here ever since. 
He owns 90 acres of land, and resides on sec. 22. In politics he is 
a Democrat, and has been School Director five years, and Commis- 
sioner of Highways. 

B. W. Beyler, farmer, sec. 11; P. O., Bentley; was born in Page 
county, Ya., in 1833, and is the son of Samuel and Eliza (Wood) 
Beyler; has had a common-school education; as a farmer and dealer 
in stock for 15 years he has been successful. In 1856 he mar- 
ried Ann R. Lionberger, a native of Virginia, and they have had 
2 children, Ardella, boru April 7, 1860, and Willie II., June 25, 
1870. His immigration to this county was also in 1856. In politics 
he is a Democrat, and he is a studious reader. His father was killed 
during the last war by some desperadoes because he had said that 
the North would whip the South; lie was taken out and shot down 
like a brute and left lying on the ground for some time. He was 
an intelligent, well-posted man. 

H. H. Black, physician and surgeon, Denver; was born in Todd 
county, Ky., in 1840, the son of James Black, a farmer now of 
Denver. The Doctor graduated in 1^;65 at the Northwestern Chris- 
tian University (now called Butler University), with honor, and 
Feb. 28, 1878, he received a diploma from the Indiana Medical 
College. Dr. Black was a diligent and determined student, and his 
efforts for a high standard of qualification for his work have been 
attended with success. Nov. 18, 1869, he was united in marriage 
with Sarah Jane Kelley, and they have had 5 children, 3 of whom 
are living. They are both members of the Christian Church, in 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 595 

Denver, and he is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E., 71st 
111. Yol. Inf., under Captain Parker, and served during his term. 
He commenced the practice of medicine in Indianapolis, Ind., in 
1878, with Dr. John A. Campbell, under whom he continued his 
studies of the healing art. 

John H. Boston, farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Kentucky, Feb. 27, 1832, and is the son of George and Mahala 
(Southerlin) Boston, natives of Kentucky; he was educated in sub- 
scription schools of this county, having been brought here by his 
parents in 1836. In 1867 he married Charlotte Fletcher, and of 
their 6 children 4 are living, 2 boys and 2 girls. Mr. B. owns 
151 acres of land. Although he is a good speller he cannot 
write. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, 

George M. Browrang, Sr., farmer, sec. 35; was born in Davidson 
county, Tenn., March 25, 1820, son of David and Vashti (West) 
Browning. His father was a native of Virginia, and was the son 
of Edmund Browning, a native of the same State, and his father 
emigrated from England, his native country, prior to the Revolu- 
tionary war, locating in Culpepper county, Va. The parents of 

Mrs. Yashti Browning were John and (Sanders) West, who 

were of English ancestry. Edmund Browning emigrated to Illinois 
in an early day, settling in Wayne county, where he died. David 
Browning came to Illinois in the spring of 1835, locating in 
Augusta tp., this county; he was a cooper by trade, but always fol- 
lowed farming in this county. He brought a family of 11 children 
with him here, only 4 of whom now live in this county; all of the 
11 lived to be heads of families, and nine of them are still living. 
David Browning died in 1839 and his widow Aug. 9, 1864; they 
are both buried in the Providence Church burying ground in St. 
Mary's tp. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and 
in politics he was a Whig. 

The subject of this biography was the fifth child of the preceding, 
and passed his early years on his father's farm; at the age of 22, 
Nov. 25, 1S41, he niarried Ilannali Ramsey, who was born in Clarke 
county, Ind,, July 22, 1821, daughter of Samuel and Eleanor (Kime) 
Ramsey, the former probably a native of Kentucky, and the latter 
of Xorth Carolina. The Ramseys are of Scotch-Irish descent and 
the Kimes of German. Samuel Ramsey's parents were James and 
Betsey (Pitman) Ramsey. He came to this county in the fall of 
1836, locating in Chili tp. for one year, and then moved to sec. 25, 
Harmony tp., where he lived until his death, April 27, 1861. His 
wife died in Dec, 1873, and they are both buried on the old home- 
stead. They brought 4 children with them to. this county, and 2 
others were born to them here; 5 uf these descendants are still liv- 
ing. They were members of the Christian Church, and he was a 
Republican. 

When Mr. George M. Browning was married he located on the 
s. e. ^ sec. 35, which was given to him by his wife's father; they 



596 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. * 

moved into a house on this land, 16 feet square and one story high, 
with frame clapboards inside and out, and niud-and-stick cliimnej. 
Here they lived about five years, and here tlieir first 2 children 
were boi-n — Eleanor Y., born Feb. 19, 1843, and Sarah, Jan. 20, 
1845. Then lie built a part of his present residence on the north 
part of the quarter, where the rest of their children were born, 
namely: Adaline, born Aug. 16, 1847, died at the age of 18; Han- 
nah, deceased, born Dec. 29, 1849; George M., born April 11, 1852; 
Hannah J., born Sept. 30, 1854; Melinda, born March 22, 1858; 
David S., deceased, born Jan. 2, 1861; John J., born July 22, 
1862, and Fannie M., deceased, born June 7, 180S. All the living 
children have families except John J., who is single and living at 
home. 

In 1842 and 1846 Mr. B. hauled pork to Warsaw, selling it at 
$1.25 per cwt. and wheat at 37^ cents a bushel; he hauled 10 bushels 
of oats to market and sold them for just money enough to buy a 
pair of stoga boots and one pound of nails; he had the oats tramped 
out bv horses. He started in life bare-lianded, going in debt for 
a team. 

Mr. Browning's homestead now contains 280 acres of land, and 
he has given all of his children 160 acres or its equivalent, and all 
are doing well. Mr. Browning has been a member of the Chris- 
tian Church for ten years and Mrs. B. about 40 years. In politics 
he is a Democrat, has been Supervisor seven years. Commissioner 
of Highways 10 or 12 years. Assessor, School Director, etc. 

Mr. Browning's portrait will be found in this volume. 

George Madison Broianing, Jr.^ farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Denver; 
son of the preceding, was married in 1874 to Martha J. Brown and 
they have one son. Holla, who was born Sept. 28, 1875. He is a 
successful farmer and stock raiser, owning 240 acres of land; is a 
Democrat. His wife is a member of the Adventist Church. 

J. W. Burton^ physician and surgeon, Bentley, was born in 
Davidson county, JS^ C, Jan. 3, 1847, the son of John Y. and 
Elizabeth (Klinard) Burton, natives of the sunny South, father of 
English descent and mother of German. The Doctor worked on a 
farm with his father in his boyhood, and also worked at carriage- 
making and blacksmithing; and to this day, although having a 
good practice as a physician, he makes many useful articles, having 
ingenuity and skill enough to do almost anything in tlie mechan- 
ical line. He is a man of nerve and ambition and a diligent student. 
During the last war he was a member of the Junior Reserves, tlie 
first regiment of North Carolina, being in the Quartermaster's 
Department most of the time, where he improved his penmanship 
and advanced his general education. His medical education he 
received at AVashington University, in Baltimore, where he gradu- 
ated Feb. 22, 1872, but he had practiced three years previously, 
commencing at Ilighport, Guilford county, N. C. He came to 
Bentley in 1876, where he established a reputation in advance of 
bringing his wife here. In this vicinitv he stands at the head of 
his profession. 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 597 

Rev. A. C. CalkhiH^ B. /iS., a minister of tlie M. E. Church, was 
born near Oneida, 111., Dec. 11, 1849. His father, Edwin Calkins, 
formerly of Columbia county, N. Y., is one of the earliest settlers 
of Illinois, arriving in 1837. His mother, now dead, was a 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Parke, and sister to the noted 
Baptist divine, He v. S. E. Parke, of Clifton Springs, N. Y. Kev. 
Calkins was the fourth child in a family of live, and of course did 
not personally feel the brunt of toil and privations incident to the 
settlers of a new country; yet from his earliest years lie was 
accustomed to bear his part of labor on the old homestead farm. 
Being possessed of maturity beyond others of his years, young 
Calkins was soon recognized as a leader among his fellows, and was 
in danger, from his ardent temperament, of becoming reckless 
and dissipated. His conversion, in January, 1660, was a fortunate 
occurrence, and, wrought a wonderful change in his previously skep- 
tical opinions. After his conversion he remained out of the Church 
about a year, which he much regrets. In January of the following 
year he united with the M. E. Church, at Oneida, 111. Under his 
own convictions as well as the expectations of his brethren of the 
Church, he reluctantly confessed to a call to jjreach the gospel. 
This was a battle, as he had set his heart upon the study of 
medicine. 

Though possessed at tliis time of a good common-school educa- 
tion, he wisely concluded this was not sufficient for a Methodist 
preacher, and in September, 1S67, he was enrolled a student of 
liedding College, at Abingdon, 111. He was enthusiastic in his 
studies, especially of the natural sciences, and graduated with 
honor in the class of 1871. On the day of his graduation (June 15, 
1871), he was united in marriage to one of Abingdon's fair 
daughters, Miss Mary L. Yanvleet, who was also a student of lied- 
ding. This pleasant episode was followed in September by a recom- 
mendation to the "traveling connection" of the Central Illinois 
Conference of the M. E. Church. Ilev. Calkins labored for three 
years in the eastern part of the State, the balance of his ministry 
mostly in McDonough county. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop 
Andrews, at Galesburg, in 1873, and to the office of Elder, two 
years later, at Moline, by the venerable Bishop Ames, now 
deceased. 

Mr. Calkins is an earnest, vigorous speaker, careful, though 
quick in utterance, using correct language, and is a good elocu- 
tionist. Possessed of no extraordinary talent, yet he is a successful 
minister, a pleasant speaker and is very acceptable among the 
people he serves. As this is only his ninth year in his chosen 
profession, it is quite certain that he has not yet reached the zenith 
of his power as a puljjit orator. His ])ersonal a])pear;ince contrib- 
utes to his success. Possessing a well-proportioned body, express- 
ive face, hi^h forehead, long flowing beard, combined with a well- 
stored mino and courteous manners, he certainly can appear well. 
As a friend he is social, thou<i;h not talkative. Though courteous 



598 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

with those of opposite opinions, he is decided in his convictions, 
rendering him an opponent difficult to move. 

As to his family, his wife is a companion in all his work as a 
Methodist preacher, sustaining the shock of frequent removals from 
one appointment to another, enjoined by the itinerant system of 
the Church of their choice, with unflinching courage. Of a pleas- 
ant and social nature, Mrs. Calkins is always a favorite upon the 
various charges that lier husband has occupied. Mr. Calkins and 
wife have been blessed with 3 bright, romping children, — 2 girls 
and a boy, who make the parsonage home complete. 

At the present date (1880) Mr. Calkins occupies an important 
field of labor known as the Bentley Circuit, including Bentley, 
Elm Tree, St. ISEary's and Franklin " appointments." 

George TT. Capron was born in this county in 1843, and is the 
son of George H. and Mary (Read) Capron, of English descent, the 
former of Rhode Island and the latter of Ohio. George "W. was 
educated in the common schools, and attended Hedding College at 
Abingdon, Knox county, 111., one year. In 1870 he married Ellen 
Bickford, and they have a son and a daughter. He is a member 
of the M. E. Church; is a Republican, and has been Road Commis- 
sioner. He owns 281 acres of well-improved land. Like his highly- 
respected father, Mr. C. maintains a high standing in the com- 
munity for industry, integrity, etc. 

31. L. Clark was born in New York in 1837, son of Henry and 
Sarah Clark. Being left alone in the world at an early age his 
advantages for education and a good start in life were rather lim- 
ited; but, contrary to the general rule, he has been steady, remaining 
at one place, namely, with ]\[r. Albert T. Cloud, who certifies to 
the high character of our subject. Mr. Clark, in 1865, married 
Nannie Summers, and their two children are Lawrence R. and 
William Linn. Mrs. C. is a member of the Christian Church, and 
he is a Democrat, and has been School Director three j'ears. He 
has been remarkably successful in business, being a farmer and 
general trader. He ran a store in Carthage; a lumber. yard one 
year about the close of the war, and has dealt in dry goods and 
groceries in Denver nearly four years. He is now a dealer in grain 
at Denver and two other stations, and is prosperous. He came to 
St. Mary's tp., this county, in 181:2. His life has been a peculiar one. 

^Y. 0. Couchman, farmer, sec. 11; P. O., Bentley; was born in 
Clarke county. Mo., in 1838, and is the son of M. and Delia 
(White) Couchman; parents of German and Irish descent, natives 
of Kentucky, the former of Bourbon county and the latter of Car- 
roll county. The subject of this notice was brought to this county 
by his parents in 1843, where he received his education in the com- 
mon schools. In 1868 he married Eliza Metcalf, and their three 
children are all living. Mrs. C. is a member of the M. E. Church. 
Mr. C. is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. He has traveled 
considerably, especially in the West, among the mountains. He 
owns a well-im])roved farm. His father has been County Judge, 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 599 

Sheriff, etc., and lias taken a prominent part in the welfare of the 
county. He is still living. 

Sainuel Dickinson, farmer, sec 2; P. O., Bentley; was born in 
Queen county, Ireland, in 1819, and is the son of Thomas and Jane 
(Deveral) Dickinson, natives also of Erin's Green Isle. He has at- 
tended school but three months in his life, but can read and write 
with ease. He was brought to America when 13 years of age, and to 
this county when 17. He is now 61. He has lived in this county 
nearly all the titne since 1832. He was in Carthage the day Joe 
Smith was killed, and was one of the guards to the jail, being re- 
lieved just before the mob came. He was opposed to that style of 
doing things. His first marriage was to Martha Johnson in ]sl5, 
and of their 4 children only one is living. Mrs. D. died in ls51 or 
'52, and he married again in 1855, Nancy Atchinson, a pioneer's 
daughter. Her father is a liberal, high-minded gentleman, and a 
well-known Democrat, and is still living in St. Mary's tp. Mr. D. 
and wife are both members of the M. E. Church, and tliev have 3 
sons and 2 daughters. Mr. D. owns 311 acres of choice land. He 
has seen many changes in the history of the county since his arrival 
here. He helped to build the first jail in the county. He was 
formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat. He has been Road Com- 
missioner, Commissioner of Highways and School Director several 
years. Is still, and always will be, interested in school matters. 

Sarauel It. Fleming., farmer, sec. 2s ; P. Q., Denver; was born 
March 5, 1835, in Delaware, and is the son of AVilliam and Eliza 
Fleming, natives of Ireland, but mother of English ancestry. He 
was brought by his parents in 1838, to this county, settling in 
Plymouth. He was educated in the common schools here, and 
brought up in the farmer's life that is characteristic of the West. 
In 1865 he married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Samuel Ramsey, a 
native of this county. They have 6 children, all living. Mr. F, 
owns 400 acres of land; is not in debt, and raises and sells stock to 
some extent. In early days he broke prairie with an ox team; ran 
a threshing-machine seven years, and as a consequence of pioneer 
discipline he has been successful. Mr, and Mrs, F. are members 
of the Christian Church in Denver. 

John E. Gerdes^ farmer and stock-raiser, sec, 18; P. 0., Bent- 
ley; was born in Germany Feb. 3, 1823. In 1850 he was married 
in Germany, and has had 2 children, both girls; the eldest died when 
only six months old; the other, Rachel, was born in 1856, married 
in 1874 to Hiram Jurjens, and they have had 4 children, 3 of whom 
are living. Her husband died in April, 1880. Mr. Gerdes lost 
his companion the same month and his daughter is now keeping 
house for him. He owns 425 acres of land, most of it in good cul- 
tivation. Lutherans. Democrats. 

Hiram Geren, farmer, sec. 29; P, O., Denver; was born in Knox 
county, Tenn., in 1825, and is the son of Hiram and Celia Ann 
(Snmpter) Geren, natives also of Tennessee, and of French descent; 



600 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

was educated in the common schools of Indiana ; he has been twice 
married, but both wives are dead. His first wife left 4 children, 
3 of whom are married; the second wife left one child, a son. He 
and both his wives were members of the Adventist Church, He 
came to this count}', Nov. 15, 1S48, settling in Chili tp. As a 
farmer he has been successful, being a hard-working man, attend- 
ing strictly to his own business. He owns 205 acres of good land; 
is a Democrat. 

Truman Recox, proprietor of the Denver House, was born in 
New York, June 21, 1798; his parents, Truman and Sallie (Hos- 
ford) Hecox, were natives of Kentucky and of English descent; was 
raised on a farm, but is able to do many kinds of mechanical work, 
— wagon-making, carpentering, etc. In 1822 he married Martha 
R. Quinby, and they have had 5 children, 2 of whom are living. 
He located in Hancock county in 1836. He is a regular Jackson 
Democrat, has been Constable, School Director and Trustee. 

Eden Hopkins^ deceased, was born in Virginia in 1833, and is of 
English descent; he came to Hancock count}' about 1855. In 1858 
he married Emeline Cox, who was born in this county, and they 
have 3 children, all living. Mr. Hopkins was brought up on a 
farm, and followed farming and stock-raising on sec. 1 in Har- 
mony tp. Mr.^H. enlisted in the 118th 111. Yol. Inf.; was enrolled 
March 17, 1865, and was discharged the following October. He 
died of diseases contracted in the army, in 1866 ; was a Baptist. Polit- 
ically he was a Republican. His sons manage the farm. Mrs. 
H. is the owner of 183 acres of land. The children are: Ernest E., 
born July 7, 1860; Edgar Carlton, March 9, 1862; Isaac Eden, April 
12, 1864. 

William James, deceased, was born in Indiana in 1834; was a 
farmer all his life; in 1855 he came to Hancock, and in 1859 he 
married Mary Wack, who was born in New. Jersey, March 5, 1849, 
of German-English descent; her great-grandfather was a preacher, 
and preached in Geo. Washington's army, in the forenoon in the 
English language, and in the afternoon in German, Mr. and Mrs. 
James had 3 children, 2 boys and one girl. Both members of the 
M. E. Church. He was also a Democrat. Since her husband's 
death Mrs. J. has carried on the farm very successfully. 

Re'o. Thomas Jones, farmer, sec. 15; P. O., Bentley ; was born in 
East Tennessee, in 1811; his parents, James and Nancy (Butler) 
Jones, were natives of the South, the former of Welsh and the 
latter of English descent; he was raised on a farm, and has plowed 
every year of his life since he was 11 years old. Aug. 13,1830, he 
married Harriet C. Haggard, a native also of Tennessee, and they 
have raised 14 children. One son was killed in the Rebellion; 2 
daughters died since their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have 
been members of the Primitive Baptist Church 54 years. He was 
ordained in 1853 by Revs. Jacob Castlebury, Joel G. Williams and 
Geo. Walker. He has preached 36 years; has had charge of the 
Middle Creek 28 years, and is still their Pastor. In Tennessee he 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 601 

was Captain of tlie militia three years, and was then promoted 
Major, which ])osition he held until he came to Illinois in 1851 
and settled in Harmony tp. Has been successful as a fanner and 
is the owner of 100 acres of land. He has been Supervisor one 
term, but will not have any office. He is a Democrat. 

Wilei/ t/ones, t'sirmer, sec. 15; was born in Tennessee April 3, 
1834; his parents, James and Nancy (Butler) Jones, are natives of 
the south; he was first married to Polly Jenkins, and they had 3 
children; only one, a dau^^hter, is living, and is the wife of James 
T. Tucker, of this county. His second wife was Mary Jane Tum- 
mons, and four of their five children are living. Mrs. J. is a good 
cook, and the family seems to be a happy one. Mr. J. owns 172^ 
acres of land on sec. 15. He came to this county in 1850, settling 
six miles north of Carthage. In 1854 he worked out by the month 
for $180 per annum. His father gave him about $800, but his 
house was afterward burned down and he had to commence again 
without anything. He votes the Democratic ticket, and does not 
want any office. 

Rohevt M. Khnhrough v^2i% born in this county April 20, 1844; 
his parents, William and Martha B. (Canthorn) Kimbrough, were 
natives of Kentucky. Jan, 19, 1871, he married Almera Bryant, 
a native of this county, and they have had one sun and one daugh- 
ter. Mrs. K's parents were natives of Virginia. Mr. K, is a 
Democrat; is a School Director. Mrs. K. owns 228 acres of land, 
and they reside on sec. 1, raising stock, etc. P. O., Middle Creek. 

T.J. Lionheroer\ farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Bentley; was born in 
Virginia Dec. 2, 1825, the 6th child of a family of 9 children, all 
living; his parents, Abraham and Anna (Koontz) L. were natives 
of Virginia, and came to Hancock county in 1837. T. J., obtained 
his education in the cabin subscription schools of his time. In 1850 
he married Sarah Tracy, daughter of Elder Geo. Tracy; she died in 
1877; 7 of their 11 children are living. In 1878 he married Eliza- 
beth Miller, and they have one child. Mr. L. has seen as many as 
37 deer in one drove, as he came here in pioneer days. He started 
without money or property^ and is now the owner of 446 acres 
of land, worth $60 per acre. In politics he is a Democrat. His 
wdfe is a member of the M. E. Church. 

John McAllister, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 1; was bonn in 
Ireland in 1848; his parents, James and Barbara (Humphrey) McA., 
were also natives of the Emerald Isle; in 1860 he married Mary Cal- 
lister, and they have one son and two daughters. He came to this 
county in 1861. ISTow owns 90 acres of choice land. Is a Demo- 
crat; has been Steward of the M. E. Church, of which he and his 
wife are members. 

James McAnulty, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Bentley; was born in 
Ohio Feb. 88, 1830; his parents, Wm. and Thnrsy fMcFarlin) Mc- 
Anulty, were natives of Ohio and of Scottish descent, who came 
to Adams county, 111., in 1832; James came to Hancock county in 
1855 and settled on sec. 12, where he has lived ever since. Feb. 1, 



602 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

1852, near Camp Point, he married Susan Robertson, daughter of 
James Robertson, an early settler of tliat county. She is a native 
of Illinois, and her parents are of German ancestry. They have 
had 7 children, 5 boys and 2 girls. Mr. McAnnlt^^'s father was 
in the Mormon war, sickened and died in Carthage from the 
effects of exposure. Mr. McA. owns 140 acres of well-improved 
land, and is one of the leading farmers in this section of the county. 
He raises a car-load of cattle almost every year. 

E. McClure, merchant and Postmaster at Denver; was born in 
St. Mary's tp., this county, in 1847; his parents were Thomas and 
Mary E. (Samuel) McClure, father of Scotch descent, and a native 
of Kentucky, and mother of Polish ancestry and native of Virginia; 
he was educated in the common school, and also attended Abing- 
don and Knox Colleges. He married Mary Scott, and 2 of their 
3 children are living. Mrs. McC. is a member 'of the Adventist 
Church. Mr. McClure enlisted in Co. A, I37th 111. Yol. Inf. ; was 
under ex-Gov. Wood, who was Colonel of the regiment. He came 
to this tp. in 1872. Has taught school three terms. Is noted for 
his genial and obliging manner, and is a Republican. 

Thomas W. Orton. farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 33; P. ()., 
Denver; was born in Kentucky in 1831. His parents, Thomas and 
Mary (Ashby) Orton, are also natives of Kentucky, father of Irish 
and mother of Scotch descent. He came to this county in 1854, 
and in 1858 he married Eleanor V. Browning, and they are the 
parents of 2 children. He owns 190 acres of land, 160 of which 
are under a high state of cultivation. He and his wife are members 
of the Christian Church. He is a Democrat. 

Enoch Ramsey^ farmer and dealer in stock, etc., sec. 34; P. O. 
Denver; was born in Clarke county, Ind., in 1824. His father, 
Samuel Ramsey, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, Eleanor 
(Kine) Ramsej^ was a native of North Carolina, and of German 
descent. He emigrated to this county in 1836. He has been 
remarkably successful in business; owns 1,840 acres of land in this 
State, most of which is very choice and is largely stocked. He 
owns considerable town property, and is also a money-lender to a 
great extent. He pays as much tax as any man in the county, if 
not more. He seldom has any trouble in business; is a happy and 
contented man. He was heir to 160 acres of land, worth, at the 
time, $10 an acre. The rest of his property he has made himself. 
In 1853 he married, and of his 7 children 3 are living. His son is 
a merchant in Denver, doing a good business. He has been Super- 
visor two terms. School Director and Township Treasurer for 20 
years, and School Treasurer and Collector. He is a Democrat. 

xhnos R. Robertson is a man of medium height, and weighs 140 
pounds, is quick in movement and wears a genial sunshine upon 
his countenance, which betokens his natural good hnmor. He 
assumes a plain, business-like appearance, and allows none to sur- 
pass him in neatness; neither in his dress nor in dispatching his 
business. Although young in years, he is the oldest settler in the 




^A^UUr /hl^ ^d n-'t^-U^T^'ifCj -^^^^ 



HARMONY T.P. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 605 

town of Bentlev, where he now resides. • He was born at Camp 
Point, Adams county, 111., in 1842. His father, James Robertson, 
is still living at that place. He is a Hoosier by birth, and has spent 
the most of his life in farming. He married Eliza Downing, for- 
merly a resident of Yirginia, who is a lady much respected in her 
community for her liberality and Christian virtues. The subject of 
this sketch was educated in the graded schools, and began business 
early in life, in his native town. Since his removal to this county, 
15 years ago, he has been in the employ of the T,, W. & W. Rail- 
road Company, where he is still engaged. He has generally been 
successful in his business, and has accumulated a reasonable share 
of real estate in the way of a small farm, town property, etc. 
Among business men he is counted the best financier in the tp. 
He has also been Postmaster, Town Clerk, Colltctor, etc. At the 
age of 18 he married Miss Sarah A. Browning, Neither he nor 
his wife is a member of any particular denomination, yet they are 
hearty supporters of public morals, and make the Churches feel that 
they are tlieir true friends, if not members. Tiiey have 4 children 
living, — Idella, Ollie, "Walter and George. Mr. R. makes home 
comforts and happiness a chief item of his social life, as any one 
can see. In social circles Mr. Robertson is counted the most hand- 
some man, and in politics the most " contrary" one, being a 
staunch Democrat. 

S. G. Rooky farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 34; P. O., Denver; was 
born in Korth Carolina in 1819. His father, Stephen Rook, was a 
native of Maryland, and his mother, Charlotte (Couch) Rook was a 
native of North Carolina. In 1842 and 1844 he came to Illinois, 
settling in McDonough county; in 1849 he went to California, 
where he remained two years; in 1854 he settled in this county on 
sec. 34. He has been married three times; his third wife was 
Mary McCoy, whom he married in 1855; they have had 8 children, 
of whom 3 boys and 2 girls are living. The family are Methodists. 
He owns 520 acres of land, most ot which is in good cultivation. 
When he first settled in Illinois he had but $54.25. He attributes 
a large share of his success to his wife. Her mother, who was 
born in 1789, is living with them. The children are receiving a 
collegiate education. 

Harm Rosenboom, farmer, was born in Germany in 1845; in 
1.S73 he married Mary Klatenberg. Their 2 children are Tonjes 
and Jans. He owns 50 acres of good land. He came to Hancock 
county in 1870; is a Lutheran, and in politics a Democrat. 

Moses Scott, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Denver; was born in Ken- 
tucky, Feb. 2, 1816. His parents, AVilliam and Mary (Ryle) Scott, 
were also natives of Kentucky, father of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
mother's parents were natives of North Carolina. Oct. 20, 1836, he 
married Harriet Rice, a native of Kentucky. They have had 13 
children, of whom 7 are living, and are all married; there are 14 
grandchildren. They came to Hancock county in 1850 and settled 
on sec. 25, this tp. He owns 320 acres of land, most of which is in 

36 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

hig'li Cultivation; he has a good, substantial residence. Mrs. Scott 
is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Scott used to 
be a Whig, and now votes for men, not party. 

Perry A. Scott^ farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Denver; was born in 
Kentucky Oct. 27, 1846. His parents, Moses and Harriet (Rice) 
Scott, were natives also of Kentucky, and of German descent. He 
■ came to this county in 1849. He was married by Rev. Mr. Stark, 
in Augusta, Oct. 1, 1S74, to Miss Hattie Browning, a native of this 
county, and their 2 children are Sir Walter, born Sept. 1,1875; 
Mattie Iva, July 9, 1S78. Mr. Scott belongs to the Missionary 
Baptist Church, and Mrs. S. to the Christian Church. Mr. S. ran 
a threshing machine for live years ; owns '$>Q acres of good land; is 
a Republican. 

Abraham Shoiif), farmer, sec, 10; P. O., Bentley; was born in 
Pennsylvania April 27, 1808. His parents, Michael and Mary 
(Keller) Shoup, were also natives of the Keystone State, and of Ger- 
man-English descent. He came to Fulton county. 111., in 1837, 
settling in Canton, and came to Carthage in 1851; he lived within 
one mile of Carthage 16 years, and then moved to his present resi- 
dence. He has been twice married; his first wife died in 1842, 
leaving 6 children; his second wife was Sarah E. Patterson; they 
have 10 children. He owns 172^ acres of well-improved land. He 
has been School Director, Trustee and Commissioner of Highways; 
is a Democrat. 

William A. Va7ice, farmer and stock-raiser, Denver, was born 
in Pennsylvania April 18, 1835. His parents, Joseph and Jane 
(Cook) Vance, were also natives of that State, and. of English an- 
cestry. He emigrated to this county in 1854 and settled in Chili 
tp.; in ISYl he moved to his present home. In 1862 he mari'ied 
Lydia Dick, who was also a native of the Keystone State. Of their 
5 children 2 boys are living — Sherman Dick, 13 years old, and 
Thomas Cook, 7 years old. In 1864 he enlisted in the 36th 111. Inf. 
and served one year, being engaged in several battles; he was dis- 
charged at Springfield. He owns 465 acres of land, mostly prairie. 
He has been School Director, and is a Republican; he is a man 
who attends to his own business, refraining from public dictation 
and political prominence, 

Simeon B. Walton^ farmer, was born in Kentucky Nov. 9, 1818; 
his parents, Wm. and Barbara Walton, were natives of Yirginia, 
and father of Welsh descent. He emigrated to this county in 1840, 
settling on sec. 13. Jan. 20, 1842, he married Elizabeth Stark, a 
native of Scotland, and they have 7 children, all living and married. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. W. belong to the Christian Church. He used 
to be a Whig, and is now a Republican ; he has been Highway 
Commissioner and School Director several terms, and has been 
elected to other offices which he would not accept. He owns 280 
acres of well-improved land; he gave 5 of his children 80 acres 
of land and the other 2, $2,500 apiece. 

William C. Walton^ farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Denver; was born 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 607 

in this county Ang. 15, 18-44; his father, F. M. Walton, was a native 
of Kentucky, who died April 10, 1880, in Augusta tp.; his mother 
is living; her maiden name was Emily Kice, and her parents were 
also natives of Kentucky. Feb. 14, 186T, married Mary C. Clark, 
and their 3 children are, Frederick M., Emily Ann and an infant. 
Both the parents belong to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. 
W. owns 200 acres of good land, well improved, 40 acres being 
timber. Republican. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

The following is a list of the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors 
and Collectors who have served or are now serving Harmony town- 
ship, with perhaps some unavoidable omissions: 

SUPERVISORS. 

Moses Scott 1856 Jefferson O'Hara 1865 

Samuel Ramsey 1858 George M. Browning 1867 

Sanniel Grove 1859 Isaac S. Burner 1873 

Cortland Vandyke 18G0 Enoch Ramsey 1874 

Jeremiah M. Slusher 1863 Isaac S. Burner 1878 

Joseph Massie 1863 George W. Shinkle 1879 

CLERKS. 

James Dodd 1856 Thos. A. Thompson 1872 

James Black 1858 W. A. Slusher 1873 

Peter Comer 1860 Thos. A. Thompson 1875 

C. T. Cannon 1868 Josephus Huff' 1876 

Isaac S. Burner 1864 W. O. Davis 1877 

A. R. Coffman 1869 T. N. Kinbrou^h 1878 

Thos. A. Thompson 1870 H. R. Robertson 1880 

Isaac S. Burner. 1871 

ASSESSORS . 

George W. Capron 1855 Sam'l S. Waggoner 1867 

Isaac S. Biu-ner 1856 Thomas M. Orton 1868 

Joseph Massie 1858 Sam'l D. Wallace 1870 

Peter Comer 1859 George W. Jones 1871 

Isaac S. Burner 1860 Pleasant Cox ) . j^~f. 

Sanmel S. Waggoner 1861 A. R. Coffman >" ^°'^ 

C. T. Cannon 1863 E. J. Bush 1875 

George U. Brownimr ... 1864 Henry W. Shoup 1876 

Samuel F. Ramsey .V 1865 E. W. McCov 1878 

Thomas Hardy 1866 ]Michael P. Shoup 1878-1879 

COLLECTORS. 

Enoch Ramsey 1855 F. N. Pennock 1871 

S. L. Svmmonds 1800 Enoch Ramsey 1872 

Aaron E. Bvers 1861 James A. Mabry 1873 

G. W. Ewing 1863 Dickerson Thompson 1875 

T. M. Orton 1864 William A. Jones 1877 

And. R. Coffman 1865 James A. Mabrv 1878 

Micliael P. Shoup 1866 William Black'. 1879-1880 

M. M. Buford 1870 



BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Township 4 — 7 received its name from a crooked and ugly stream 
which meanders through it, heading in the township above and 
passing into Walker, enters Adams county, emptying into the Mis- 
sissippi above Quincy. This, like St. Alban's, is about half prairie 
and half timbered lands. The C, B. &, Q. railroad passes about 
centrally through it from north to south. It contains its one vil- 
lage, Basco, lying on said road, near the center of the township, 
laid out Feb., 1871, by Wm. S. Woods. It occupies the same, or 
nearly the same, site as Somerset, a town laid out in 1853 by Abra- 
ham Baldwin, and since vacated. 

Among the names of the earliest settlers in Bear Creek town- 
ship, we recall those of James S. Kimball and his sons, Sidney A. 
Knowlton, Richard Wilton, Thomas Graham, Samuel Russell, 
Thomas Morgan, Nicholas Wren, Elijah Pike, John Pike, Moses 
Yan Winkle, Robert Wilhite, Elder Addis, Jesse Carnes, John 
Carnes, Jesse Gordon, Thompson Frakes, Riley Young, Thomas 
and Edward Daw, James Tweed, W. A. Patterson, Andrew and 
Wra. S. Moore, James and G. W. Wedding, Mahlon Fell, Wm. 
Meredith, Yernon Doty, Peter and John Fry, James Boyles, Cor- 
nelius Elson, Lafford Totten, W. W. Mason, Hiram Simmons, Felix 
G. Mourning, Samuel J\JcGee, Guilford Fuller, Henry Kent, David 
Cole. William George, James M. Charles, Dr. Alvin Thompson, 
William Wallace, John Pavy, Wm, B. Skinner, John Huff, David 
Bedford, Benjamin G. Wright, David Crow. 

Of the above we note specially James S. Kimball and Sidney A. 
Knowlton, the former from New Hampshire and the latter from 
Ohio, who emigrated together in 1835. The Kimballs were Metho- 
dists, the Knowlton's were " Campbellites," but both subsequently 
joined the Mormons and removed to Salt Lake with them, leaving 
this county in 1847. Mr. Kimball died in Salt Lake ten years 
thereafter, and Mr. Knowlton at a later period, each near about the 
age of 70. Their widows were still living as late as 1875. 

Richard Wilton will be remembered as having been elected 
School Commissioner of Hancock county in 1841, the first year of 
contest between the old citizens and Mormons. Mr. Wilton left 
the county a few years afterward. Subsequently his farm came 
into possession of Benjamin G. Wright, Esq., a native of Belmont 
county, Ohio. Mr. Wright was a remarkable man; had been edu- 
cated in the common schools only; was possessed of a strong mind; 
a deep tliinker; radical in his opinions, which he embraced without 
inquiry as to their popularity or orthodoxy. He did not remain 
long in the county. Desiring to settle his family where land was 

(608) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTV. 609 

cheaper, lie removed to Henry county in this State, where he pro- 
cured a large body of land and settled his sons each on a farm 
around him. There he was residing when the Rebellion broke out. 
He had long ago embraced the doctrines of the Virginia and Ken- 
tuck}' resolntions, and hence when these troubles arose he was 
strongly in favor of allowing " the wayward sisters to go in peace." 
His opposition to the war and the war measures of President Lin- 
coln became so violent as to render him extremely nnpopular in his 
county. In 1872 he was put on the extreme Democratic bolters' 
ticket for Governor — of course, with no hope of an election. He 
received but 25 votes in this county. Mr. W. was still living Jan., 
ISSO, at an advanced age of about 80 years. 

The postoffice known as Sylvan Dale was established at his place 
and at his instance. 

Many of the persons named in the foregoing list are long since 
deceased; numbers of others have gone to newer States and Terri- 
torie.-. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

"We have but a meager report of religious matters for Bear Creek 
township. The town of Basco contains its solitary church edifice, 
built by the United Presbyterians, now owned and occnpied by the 
Methodist Episcopal, who have for their pastor Rev. Mr. Madison, 
who has been preaching several years in that and the adjacent 
townships. On the east line, near the northeast corner, stands 
another chnrch belonging to the Baptist denomination, which has 
been in existence somewhere near thirty years. We know of no 
other Church organizations in the township. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

We will now make personal mention of the leading citizens and 
old settlers of this township. 

William H. Allen, carpenter, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 
1833; remained at home until his marriage to Eleanora McGinnis 
1854; she was a native of West Virginia; about six months after- 
ward Mr. Allen moved to Portage City, Colnmbia county. Wis., 
where he remained one year; he then lived in Clarke county. Mo., 
two years, then in Fulton county, 111., one year, then in Bnshnell a 
few years, which place he helped to found; after moving around 
elsewhere he finally located at Carthage, 111., where he has helped 
to build many of the fine residences and pnblic buildings to be seen 
there. In 1878 he moved to Basco, where he now resides and works 
at his chosen profession. His children are, Lorilla R., William D., 
Elmer M. (dec), Frank W., Charles G. and Louisa M. (dec). Mr. 
Allen served in the army during the war, being engaged in many 
hard-fought battles to save his country, as Pittsburg Landing, Vicks- 
burg. Fort Donelson, etc. He enlisted at Fountain Green, this 



610 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

county, in 1861, under Col. Lawler. Mr. Allen's father was a pat- 
tern-nialver by occupation. 

James A. Anderson, fanner, was born in Bottetourt county, Ya., 
in 1840, and was the son of Matthew and Mary A. (McClure) An- 
derson; at 19 he went to Colorado, where he lived four years; re- 
turning, he located on the farm where he now lives. In 1875 he 
married Mary E. Mourning, a native of Kentucky. About this 
time he began business in Basco, a member of the firm of Gordon 
& Anderson. In three years Mr. A. sold his interest in the store 
to his brother, "W. P., for his interest in the homestead, where he 
has ever since resided. Besides farming and dealing in stock he 
now devotes a good deal of his time to Fruit-growing, having an 
orchard of TOO apple-trees. He owns 150 acres of well-improved 
land equal in productions to any farm in the township. Mr. A., 
has been Assessor and Supervisor; the latter position he now holds. 
In 1863 he was made a Master Mason of Basco Lodge jSTo. 618, and 
served three years; he is also a member of Carthage Chapter, Ko. 
33, ofRoval-Arch Masons. His children are Mattie M., born Kov. 
11, 18Y6^ and Clyde, March 7, 1878. 

Charles W. Baldioin, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 10; P.O., 
Basco; was born in the State of New York in 1827; educational ad- 
vantages limited; his father, Abraham Baldwin, a native of New 
Jersey was a hatter by trade, but also followed farming; his mother, 
nee Bridget Yan Waggoner, was also a native of jNew Jersey. He 
remained at home until 21 years of age, when he began business for 
himself in this county, having only $20 in money with which to 
make the first payment on his land; after awhile he sold so as to 
clear $1,000; purchased again and soon made another $1,000 by 
selling; and thus he continued until he accumulated a handsome 
fortune. He now owns a farm of 400 acres, valued at $1,600, which 
is one of the best improved farms in the township. He also ships 
stock extensively every week to Chicago or the East. In 1852 he 
married Mrs. Mary A. McPherson, nee Wiley, and they have had 
6 children, all of whom are married except the son and the young- 
est daughter. Mr. B. has been Supervisor, Road Commissioner, 
School Trustee, and Postmaster at Basco. .1 

Charles Bettisworth, son of Ivin and Drusilla (Bean) Bettis- 
worth, was born in Virginia in 1816; when 25 years of age he left 
home, and in 1843 he married Mary E. Wilhite, of Illinois, and 
moved on a farm near where he now lives; after a few years he 
purchased 40 acres of his present farm of 125 acres, made his own 
rails and fenced the same; paid $12 a ton for prairie hay; and after 
yearsof industrious toil he has made a comfortable home. By his 
first wife he had but one child, Clarkson, born in 1850. For his 
second wife he married, in 1857, Agnes R. Byres, of this county, and 
their 3 children are Andrew J., Charles D. and Amanda. 

Louis JBrault, grape- grower, was born in Southwestern France, 
in 1827; parents were born in 1795 and 1793, and died at the age 
of 73 and 69. At 17 he came to A.merica and located at Concordia, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 611 

La., wliere lie remained two and a half years; he then followed gar- 
dening two years in New Orleans; then was in Arkansas one year 
making staves for European markets; in 1862 he came to this county, 
locating on the farm wliere he has ever since lived. In 1SG6 he 
married Harriet Gavillet, of this county, and their 2 children 
are Augusta E. R. and Harriet C. F. He owns 80 acres of land, 
on which is his fine vineyard. He is one of the Urm of Brault 
Brothers, who own in common a 50-acre vineyard, 16 acres of 
which is controlled by Louis. This vineyard was set out in 1S64; 
there arc 000 vines to the acre, in rows eight feet apart, and six 
feet apart in the row; kept at the height of three feet, only one 
wire being used; they are all of the Concord variety. In 1874 this 
vineyard of 16 acres produced 173 barrels of wine. In this indus- 
try the Brault Brothers are second to none in the West. 

C . Cacheux, farmer, was born in France in 1836;'fatlier was born 
in 1792, and his mother, Catharine (Girard) Caclieux, was a native 
of France. He came to America in 1853, stoppingone year at [New 
Springfield, 111., then located near Cincinnati; learned the cooper's 
trade, at which he worked most of the time until 1868, when he 
came to this county, where he first engaged in general merchandis- 
ing, at Warsaw, and then moved to Basco, where he remained 
eight years. He owns a beautiful farm of 200 acres, where he ex- 
hibits much yjride in the home surroundings. He has a small 
vineyard of 600 plants. His wife, Catharine, nee Clerc, is a native 
of France. Two of the 3 children are living, — Frank, born in 1857, 
and George in 1865. 

Harmon Crea^ farmer, sec. 25, was born in Prussia in 1812, the 
sou of Jasper and Margarette L. S. (Wilborn) Crea, natives of Prus- 
sia; his father was born in 1779. At 26 he married Margarette 
L. Charlotte, a native also of Prussia. In 1852 he came to Amer- 
ica, locating near Quincy, 111., where he remained three 3^ears, then 
purchased a farm of 100 acres, near Basco, where he now lives. 
Having had the advantage of a good early education himself, he has 
given his children like advantages. In 1842 he married, as his 
second wife, Mary Tasen, of Prussia, and they have had 9 chil- 
dren. Mr. C. is one of the best historians in the county. 

John H . Crea^ farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Basco; was born in Prus- 
sia in 1842; in 1869, at Basco, he married Mary A. Eads, a native 
of Iowa, soon after which, he moved to his present farm near 
Basco, where he has remained ever since. Mr. and Mrs. C.'s 
children are, — Mary A., Charles H., John F., Jacob W. (dec), 
Wilmette. Both are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. C. 
takes great interest in his occupation and also in educational 
matters. 

David Crow was born in St. Charles county. Mo., in 1803; his 
father. Wm. Crow, was a Pennsylvania farmer; at 21 he com- 
menced life's battles alone. Capt. Crow commanded with great 
success a coinpaii}' of men in the Black Hawk war. He has been 
Magistrate, Postmaster and Notary Public for several years. He 



612 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

lived in Adams count}' until 1846, when lie came to this county; 
His first wife was Mary Bean, by whom he had 9 children; 
namely, Esther A., born in 1825; William N., dec, in 1827; John 
M., 1830; James L., dec, born in 1832; Lemuel F., born in 1834; 
Nancy J., dec, born in 1837; Fielding M.,dec., born in 1839; Mary 
A., born in 1S41; and Susan A., in 1843. James and Fielding were 
members of the 12tli 111. Cav. in the late war. In 1847 Capt. 
Crow married Catharine Stiles, and their children are — David Gr., 
born in 1848; Thomas L., in 1850; Catharine E., 1852; Abigail L., 
(dec), in 1854; and Hannah J., born in 1858. He is a Republican. 

John Daw, farmer, sees. 7 and 8; P. O., Basco; was a son of 
Edward Daw, who was a native of England, born there in 1809, and 
came to America in 1840, locating in Hancock county, where he 
has since lived; in 1842 he married Eliza Wilson, a native of Dela- 
ware; they had 5 children, of whom our subject was the youngest, 
who was born in this county in 1845, where he has since lived; in 
1870 he married Miss E. A. Anderson, a native of Virginia, and 
their 2 living children are Arthur, born Oct. 4, 1875, and Clinton, 
Oct. 29, 1878. He owns 145 acres of good land and handles some 
stock. He has been Assessor for two years, 

Lyman Doty, merchant, was born in this tp. in 1844; lived 
with his father, Vernon Doty, until 20 years of age, then farmed 
on his own land of 40 acres on sec 15. He came to Basco in 1871, 
engaged in business for himself until next year, when he formed a 
partnership with Mr. Gordon, composing the firm of Doty & 
Gordon, who continued in business live years; then Mr. Doty 
moved to Bentley, where he was in partnership with Mr. Peak two 
years; but now Mr. D. is a member of the firm of Doty & Gordon 
at Basco, who are doing a good business in general merchandise. 
In 1865 he married Miss Jane Jessup, daughter of Samuel and 
Frances Jessup, of this county, and their only child is Emma, who 
was born in February, 1866. Mr. D. is a Freemason and a Repub- 
lican. 

E. S. Freeman, son of Wm. and Margaret (Shaw) Freeman, was 
born in Lebanon, Ohio, in 1801. At 14 he learned the blacksmith's 
trade, which he has always followed; at 21 he moved to Indiana, 
and in 1826 came to Illinois, locating at Quincv in 1828, when 
there was neither brick nor frame house in town; in 1834 he came 
to Carthage, and that year he heard the first sermon ever preached 
in that place; he became a member of the class organized bj^ the 
celebrated Peter Cartwright, and is the only member of that class 
now living. He has lived in Basco since 1853. He was first mar- 
ried in 1823 to Miss Sarah Gruell. His second wife, Mai-y A., nee 
Rose, was a native of Qnincy. and died in 1872, having been a 
member of the M. E. Church 44 years. They had 5 sons and 3 
daughters. Col. Freeman has been very industrious at his trade, 
at which he worked until after he was 70 years old. 

Russell G. Fuller, retired farmer; P. O., Basco; was born in 
Ohio in 1810, the son of Russell and Nabby (Guilford) Fuller, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 613 

Datives of Aslifield, Mass. In 1S34 he married Abby Ackley: they 
lived in Marietta six years, then in Warren county, this State, four 
years, then came to Basco, wliere they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fuller had 10 children — Asa, Rufus W., Mary J., Nabby, Eusebius, 
Andrew, Matilda, Hnlda, Fanny and Lana. Eusebius enlisted in 
the 5th 111. Cav. in 1862, and was in the siege at Yicksburg. Mr. 
Fuller was married the second time in 1863 to Mrs. William 
Homez, and their 2 children are Eosa B., born Nov., 1865, and 
Augustina (dec), born March 9, 1864. Mr. Fuller's father died at 
the age of 84, and his mother at 80. 

George W. Gai'cird, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Penn- 
sylvania August 12, 1825, and was a son of Justus Garard, also a 
native of Pennsylvania. He was thrown upon his own resources 
at the age of 11 years; worked at the distillery business for several 
years, then became proprietor of a hotel at Brownsville, Penn.; in 
two years he returned to his former home and again engaged in the 
distillery business. The next year he emigrated with his family to 
Woodford county, this State, and remained there 13 years, doing 
much toward developing the agricultural and educational interests 
of that county, and in 1867 he moved to Hancock county, where he 
purchased the farm on which he now lives. He has in this farm 
500 acres of well-improved land, which is tilled and managed by 
his sons, while he himself is engaged in the stock commission busi- 
ness in Peoria, 111., under the firm name of Wilcox, Sherman & 
Garard. In 1849 he married Frances J. Minor, of Pennsylvania, and 
they have had 12 children, 7 of whom are living; viz., Minor C, 
William B., John H., Lewis C. Justus F., Mary E. and Charles A. 
Mr. and Mrs. G. have been members of the Christian Church for 
many years. 

George C. Gordon, merchant, was born in this tp. in 1842, and 
was a son of J. J. Gordon, a native of Ohio, and of German parent- 
age. His father died in 187S, aged 67; his mother still lives and 
is 64 years old. George C. taught school several terms in this and 
Adams county with good success. In 1872 he married Miss Mary 
E. George, daughter of William George, of this tp., and their chil- 
dren are Ethel, born in 1874, and Pearly, born January, 1876. _ Mr. 
G. has lived in Basco eight years engaged in general merchandising 
under the firm name of Gordon & Anderson. 

Henry II. Groom, son of AVilliam and Nancy (Haney) Groom, 
natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, was born in 
Park county, Ky., in 1822. He was left at the early age of 15 to 
earn his own support and also assist in the support of his widowed 
mother and her children. In August, 1844, he married Martha 
Simmons, a native of Kentucky; 3 of their 7 children are 
living, — William R., Lucinda and Robert H. Mr. G. remained in 
Scott county two years; came to this county in 1846, locating in 
St. Alban's, and in 1864 settled in Basco, where he now lives with 
his father-in-law, liiram Simmons. Mr. Groom served in the late 
war nine months in the 118th 111. Inf., under Capt. James Logan. 



614 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

He has been a inoniber of the Baptist Cliurch 40 years, and is an 
honest, hanl-working man. 

ir. L. Ilarns^ farmer and stock dealer, was born in Hendricks 
conntv, Ind., in 1834. His father was Riley Harris, born in 1S07, 
and his mother was Matilda (^Bramblet) Harris. He worked on a 
farm at home until 30 years of age, and in 1861 he married Mary 
Dennis, a native of Ohio. He went to Missouri in 1859, working 
on his own farm of 900 acres, thence to Adams county, HI., where 
he remained 9 years and then came to this county in 1873, locat- 
ing on his present farm of 3'20 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the 
parents of 5 ciiildren now living, 3 boys and 2 girls. Mr. H. was in 
the Missouri militia during 18Gl-'2 and in 1864 he went out in the 
51st HI. and remained until the close of the war. He was engaged 
in several battles, among which were Springtield, Columbus, Frank- 
lin, Nashville and Pulaski. 

Jesse E. Iluif, larnier; P. O., Basco; is a son of John and Susan 
(Mathers') llutf, natives of North Carolina, and was born in Schuy- 
ler county, HI., 1837. When he had attained his majority he mar- 
ried Miss Rebecca J^ryant at Carthage, and settled on his farm near 
the same city. Hi two years he sold out and purchased a farm 
near Basco and lived there six years engaged in stock trading. He 
again sold out and moved upon the Qiiincy <Sc Carthage road, five 
miles from J^asco, where he farmed two years, and in 1871 he moved 
on to the farm where he now lives, which is valued at $3,000; he 
also owns property in Basco. Mr. and Mrs. Huif have 3 
children; viz., Lyman B., born Nov. 29, 1861; Charles F., born 
December 28, 186*2 and William L., August 26, 1863. Mrs. Hoff has 
been a member of the M. E. Church 12 years. Mr. H. is an Odd 
Fellow. 

John ICifkpatrick, lai-mer, was a son of John Kirkpatrick, a 
native of Tennessee and born in 1802, and Eliza (^Cocks) Kirkpat- 
rick, born in 1808. He commenced working for himself at the age 
of 21 years, locating at first near Elvaston, farming there about 11 
years and then jnirchased his present farm of 90 acres. In 1871 he 
married Victoria Rohrbough, a native of Virginia, and they have 
one child, Cecil B.,born August 1, 1874. Both are members of the 
M. E. Church of Elvaston. ^ 

William C. Logan^ retired farmer, was born in Kentucky, in 
1805. His father, Joseph Logan, was a native of New Jersey and 
died at the age of 60; his mother, Sarah Logan, also a native of 
New Jersey, died at the advanced age of 85. Li 1822 he married 
Margaret Thomas, of Ohio, and they at once emigrated to Jetierson 
county, Ind., where they remained 36 years, following farming; in 
1859 they came to this county where they have lived ever since. 
Mr. L. has not farmed any since 1870; he is 79 years of age; is a 
very temperate man, never used tobacco, tea or coffee, has not 
tasted drink, except for medicinal purposes for 50 years; has not 
tasted even cider for 20 years, and has been a professor of religion 
for 60 years. Six of their 9 children are living, — Eliza A., Rebecca 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 615 

S., Josepli, James E., Harriet, Margaret and William. Mrs. L. is 77 
years of age. 

W. W. Mason, hotel ])roprietor, Basco, 111., was Ijoru in Buffalo, 
New York, in 1812. Ilis father was a lawyer and practiced in St. 
Louis, lie was raised by John Clark, of Morgan connty, 111., with 
whom he remained until he was 17 years of age; he then went to 
Quincy and worked on a farm; thence to Morgan connty and 
worked in a brick yard; was at Winchester two years, then at Exe- 
ter, Scott connty, in a mill, then at Winchester again, learning the 
cabinet business, then in Adair county. Wis., fonr years. In this 
county, in 183S, he married Poll}', daughter of Thomas Allen of 
the same connty. lie next removed to Quincy and worked for 
John Wood, afterward Governor of the State. He then moved 
near Basco, where he purchased a farm and lived five years; he 
finally located in Basco in 1870, where he has been in the hotel busi- 
ness ever since. By his first wife he had 3 sons and 2 daughters, 
and has had one child by his second wife. For five years Mr. M. 
was Deacon of the Missionary Baptist Church at Warsaw. 

Susan Matthews^ deceased, was born in North Carolina, Sept. 
15, 1803. She was the wife of John Huff, who was born in North 
Carolina in 1799. They were married in 1825 and had 12 chil- 
dren. Mrs. Huff's father died when she was only five years old, 
leaving a widow and 10 children with but little means of support, 
which fact necessitated the older children to be bound out; Mrs. 
M. was bound out to a farmer when only nine years old, and at this 
age she was made to cari-y water for the family sufficient to last 
all day, help do all the morning work and then walk three miles to 
school; after returning home at night she had to help do the 
chores after night, and card wool and^cotton until late, and if seen 
nodding would get ])unished; in the spring she was made to plow; 
having no shoes the briars would cut her feet and make the blood 
run from them; she had to go half a mile to strain milk, go alone 
on horseback to mill, pound flax, and do^many other things fit to 
bedoneonly by old slaves. She remained at this home until she was 
16 years old, when she was bound out to a neighbor, where she re- 
mained two years treated in the same way; but ever afterward she 
had ahap])ier and brighter time; she had a kind husband and loving 
children; every circumstance of her later life was surrounded with 
pleasant recollections. For 57 years she was a true and devoted 
Christian, being a member ot the Baptist Church part of the time 
and of the M. E. Church the rest of the time. She died Jan. 30, 
1880. 

J<(/me8 M. JUcCall, f&riner, was boi'n in Tennessee in 1840, in 
which State also his jjarents were born, Jose])h S. and Melinda A. 
(Craddick) McCall. He first came to this county in 1851, and 
worked as a common laborer for three years on a farm near Car- 
thage; during the next five years he lived in Oregon, teaching 
school and dealing in cattle; in 1869 he returned to this county, 
settling upon the home farm. In lsr;9 he married Mary E. Sur- 



616 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

ber, a native of Oregon, and their children are: Mary M., born in 
July, 1870; Melinda A., Jiil}^ 1872; Fanny, J.,' March, 1874; Leah, 
August, 1876, and George A. in Dec, 1878. Mr. McCall owns 
145 acres of well-improved land, valued at $5,000. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Christian Church at Sylvandale. Mr. 
McCall has some valuable specimens of rock from the mines of the 
West. 

Dorrance Mc Ginnis, Basco. The ancestors of this gentleman 
were natives of Eastern Pennsylvania, living near the Delaware 
river, a short distance from Philadelphia, in the same county; his 
father was of Scotch descent, and mother of German. She was the 
eldest daughter of Robert Burke. . Soon after the Declaration of 
Independence Mr. Burke joined the Federal army under Washing- 
ton, and continued in the service, except at intervals, till the war 
closed. Mr. McGinnis' parents were married May 10, 1789, in 
which year they moved West, crossed the mountains, reached the 
Ohio river, and settled about 50 miles below Pittsburg, in West 
Yirginia, on the Ohio river bottom, a short distance back from the 
river. It was a rough wilderness country, but the land productive. 
The family succeeded in improving a large farm, which produced 
well, especially small grain. There was plentj- of wild game, deer 
in abundance, some bears, and a great variety of other animals. 

The children in this family were, in order, James, George, Dor- 
rance, Louis, Amanda, who died in infancy, and Louis, who died in 
his fourth year. 

At an early day most of the surplus produce raised in the Ohio 
valley found a ready market in New Orleans. It was shipped there 
on flat-boats. It took from two to three months to make the trip. 
In the fall of 1814 Mr. McG. loaded a flat-boat with produce for 
that market, and started, Sept. 2, with two hired hands for assist- 
ants, both strangers, but who appeared to be river men. He reached 
the falls of the Ohio and crossed. Between the falls and the mouth 
of the Ohio river he met with an acquaintance, a river man. At 
that time Mr. McG. was in good health and spirits, but never 
afterward was he or his cargo ever heard from ! There were many 
conjectures regarding his fate. Every exertion was made to obtain 
information as to his fate, but all in vain. Aborit a year previous 
to that, James McG., above mentioned, joined the Northern army 
under General Scott. He served five years, was discharged and 
returned home, to find the old homestead in the occupancy of 
strangers. Some years after the death of Mr. McG. his widow 
married an old farmer, a widower, a resident of Belmont county, 
Ohio, by the name of Farnsworth. By that marriage she had 
2 children, a boy and a girl. George McGinnis had gone to live 
with an uncle in Ohio. Part of the time during boyhood Dor- 
rance lived with his mother, and part of the time was hired out, 
till he reached the years of manhood. He made the acquaintance 
of a young lady, about 17 years of age. Her father was a farmer 
and had come from Germany. Her mother was Pennsylvania 



HIST<:>RY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 617 

German. They lived a short distance from Wheeling, W. Ya. He 
was joined in marriage to Elizihoth Cotts, Nov. IS, 1828. His 
birthday was Augnst 25, 1801); hers, Jan. 8, 1812. Their lirst 
child, Elizabeth M!, was born Dec. 1, 1820, and died Jane 22, 1832; 
George Washington, the second child, was born Oct. 16, 1830, and 
died in infancy; Rosanna Antoinette was born June 10, 1832; 
John Randolph, Jnne 10, 1834; Eleanor Virginia, Aug, 12, 1836; 
Caroline Melissa, Nov. 17, 1838; Mary Louisa, May 22, 1841; 
Elizabeth Clarissa, July 12, 1844. Mary Louisa was married to 
James Hughes, by whom she had 3 children, who are living. She 
died August 7, 1867. 

Soon after Dorrance's marriage he titted up a store-room m South 
Wheeling, near the bridge. The room was of good size, but only 
one story high. The dwelling was a large two-story frame building 
joining store on the west. For several years they had a good trade 
and made money. In the winter of 1S32 there were heavy falls of 
snow. In the valley of the Alleghany it was from ten to twelve 
feet in depth. In February a warm spell occurred and snow melted 
so rapidly that water was from hill to hill. From Pittsburg down 
the Ohio most of the farm buildings were swept away by the flood. 
In Wheeling, on Main street, below the hill, a large steamer floated 
along. Lumber yards were all swept away. From South Wheeling 
there were 38 buildings swept away. Mr. McGinnis' store-house 
and goods, and his large dwelling house were among the number. 
Nothing was saved. As soon as the waters receded he procured a 
dwelling in Middle Wheeling. At. that time the Asiatic cholera 
was raging and carried off scores. In the fall of 1832 it made its 
appearance in Wheeling. A few contracted the disease, some of 
whom died. Mr. McGinnis was stricken down with it, bad as any 
one could have it to recover. He removed to a high, beautiful 
location on what was called Chapman's Hill. In the spring of 
1833 the cholera appeared again. The deaths each day increased 
from a few till they numbered 28 per day, then decreased in the 
same ratio. Something over 300 had been interred in the cemetery 
before the disease disappeared. 

Mr. McG. then purchased a large store-house on the east side of 
Market Square at $5,000; he put in a large stock of goods to suit 
the country trade. There w^ere from 100 to 300 wagons backed up 
to that market house twice a week, unless bad weather or roads 
prevented their coming. Mr. McG. had charge of that market for 
a number of years, for which service he was paid $300 per annum. 
He was also acting City Marshal, for which he was paid a liberal 
compensation. He kept good faithful clerks in the store, which 
did a profitable business. He continued in business there about 
18 years before selling out. 

Jan. 9, 1846, Mrs. McGinnis died, the mother of 6 children. 
For several years after her death the bereaved husband continued 
in the mercantile business. He fitted up a large fine building on 
Market near Monroe street, in which he lived several years; he 



618 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

then rented the property and moved to the island. He sold out 
his store-house and all real estate except his large residence on 
Market street. 

In 1855 he moved to the West, and landed at Alexandria, Mo., 
opposite Warsaw, where he purchased -130 acres of land on the Des 
Moines bottom. A few years later he sold the land, and purchased 
a residence in Warsaw, to which he moved and planted a vineyard. 
Having an offer in 1856 of $5,000 from the Odd Fellows in Wheel- 
ing for his residence there, he returned to transact the sale; but 
they declining certain terms, he sold to another party. After re- 
siding in Warsaw a few years and the vinej^ard had commenced 
bearing, Mr. McGinnis had a good offer for the property, sold out 
and moved to Basco, where he now resides. He purchased several 
farms and tracts of land in Bear Creek tp,, one lying north of and 
joining the old village of Summersett. He had part of the land 
surveyed in streets, alleys and town lots. It is called McGinnis' 
Addition to Summersett. Some of the best residences in the 
village are built on it. 

Dec. 11, 1864, Mr. McGinnis married Matilda C. Downs, nee 
Huff". From that marriage 3 children were born; Eugene, May 
19, 1866, who died in infancy; C. C. Franklin, born Aug. 4, 1870; 
Caroline Isabel, born Oct. 20, 1874. 

In political matters Mr. McGinnis is a Democrat; he has acted 
as Justice of the Peace for many years, has been Supervisor of this 
tp. several years; is a Knight Templar, has served as Mas- 
ter of the Lodge several years; and, having been left an orphan 
when young, he is a self-made man, a man of the highest integrity, 
and we count him as one of the most substantial and worthy citi- 
zens of Hancock county. We give his portrait in this volume. 

Matthew Merriman, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, in 1813, the 9th of 12 children born to Richard and Mary 
(Pitts) Merriman, natives of England. Matthew followed farming 
in the old country until 1855, when he came with -his wife and 
children to the United States, first settling in Pike county, 
III., where he remained for 11 years; he then came to this 
county, where he lived until his death in 1871. By honest labor 
Mr. M. became enabled to leave to his wife and 5 children a farm 
of 285 acres, valued at $15,000. Since his death the management 
oi the farm has been in the hands of his son Joseph, by whose 
energy and business skill has been erected within the last few 
years a large three-story house finished according to the latest pat- 
terns. He has also put up a new and large barn which will hold 
100 tons of hay, besides giving room for small grains 
and stock. He also deals largely in cattle. His marriage to Mary 
Saunders, of England, was in 1843. The children are, Mary A., 
Jane, Elizabeth, dec, Joseph and Elizabeth. Mrs. M. is a member 
of the Baptist Church. P. O., Basco. 

Albert Naegelin, druggist, was born in Kentucky in 1854, son of 
Emile and Annis (Thevenin) ISTaegelin, natives of France; they 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 619 

moved to tlie United States in 1853, and now reside in St, Louis, 
where Mr. X. follows his trade of litliograpliy. When about seven 
years old Albert was taken by his parents in emigration to this 
county, and after mature years returned with them t6 Kentucky ; 
in 1S68 he returned to this county, where he followed farming 
until one year ago, when he. came to Basco and studied telegra])hy 
for awhile, and then purchased a half interest in the drng store 
now known as iS^aegelin & Mourning's, on Main Street, near the 
center of the village. The postomce is in the same building. 
This firm has a full stock of goods in their line, and they are one 
of the leading business firms in the county. In 1875 Mr. M. 
married Eliza J. Tanner, daughter of Doctor Tanner, of Basco. 

Adam Rolirhough^ farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 15; P. O., Basco; 
was born in Yirginia August 6, 1827, the son of George Rohr- 
bough, who was born in Hardin county, Ya., in 1792, and died in 
this county in 1874, leaving 11 children, 61 grandchildren, and 29 
great-grandchildren, in all 101. At 18 3'ears of age Adam left his 
home and married Miss Susan Curtis, of Lewis count}', Ya.; after 
remaining on the home farm for about seven years they moved to 
this county, having $300 in money, one span of horses and a 
wagon; but Mr. R. has been industrious and now owns 567 acres 
of land, valued at $18,000; his farm is near the county-seat and is 
one of the best improved in Western Illinois. Mr. R. takes a 
great interest in education and has given a college course to some 
of his children, and some are away from home now attending 
school. Their names are: Benia E., Marion, who was graduated 
at Carthage College in 1878, and is now professor in Mt. Morris 
College in this State; Lee J., who has taken a commercial course 
at Qnincy, 111., and has the honor of being the second best who 
has ever graduated at the Quincy Business College; George A., 
now a student at Carthage College; and Mary A. Mr. R. has 
also raised an orphan boy named Henry Carpenter, who was in 
118th 111. Yol. Inft., in the late war, having enlisted in 1862 under 
Capt. Mourning; he died at Yicksburg. Mr. R. is a strong tem- 
perance man and has been a member of the M. E. Church 35 
years. He does not rememljer of being guilty of profane swear- 
ing in his life.' 

Samuel Rose was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1809, and is the 
seventh of nine children of James and Phoebe (Coulter) J,Rose, 
the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. 
Mr. James Rose was a Lieutenant in the expedition sent out by 
Washington to subdue the AYhisky Rebellion. Both he and his 
wife died at Lexington in 1813, when young Samuel was taken to 
an uncle, with whom he lived until he was fifteen years of age; 
he then went to Frankfort and learned the confectionery business, 
completing the trade at Lexington in 1829; he then came to Illi- 
nois and was in Quincy in 1830-'l; thence he went to Jacksonville 
and worked at carpentry until ls-t9; was then several years in 
California, meeting with good success; in 1857 he returned and 



620 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

settled on his farm in this county near CarthaojS, since which date 
he has spent most of his time liimtiug and trapping, having 
made as much as $20 in one day, killing deer, trapping mink and 
other animals; he is best known, however, as a wolf hunter, as he 
has killed since his residence here about 250 wolves in Illinois, 
Iowa and Missouri, more than 60 of these in this county. 
Although he does not now follow farming, he owns an excellent 
tract of land of 170 acres near Basco, and has personal property 
worth about $2,000. Although he is now 71 years of age he can 
walk farther in a day than most young men of these times, 
and has a good memory. He has been a member of the Christian 
Church for man}' years. He was never married. 

Samuel Russell, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Denver; is a native of 
Ireland, and ever since he was nine years of age he has been bat- 
tling with tlie cold world, and by untiring energy and strictest in- 
tegrity, he has accumulated a handsome fortune; he now owns 400 
acres of improved land, valued at $12,000. In 1831 he landed at 
Quebec liaving but three cents, English money; about tliree years 
afterward he went to Delaware and learned carpentry; he then emi- 
grated West and settled near Alton, 111., where he worked at his 
trade, although he owned some farming land there; he sold out at 
the end of 12 years, and after stopping one year in Adams 
county, "he came to this county and settled on the farm where he 
now resides; has lived here since 1857. Mr. R. is a very careful 
and painstaking agriculturist. In 1842 he married Jemima A. 
Hickman, who was born in New Jersey in 1823, and of their 10 
children only these 4 are living: James H., Nancy, Mary J. and 
Joseph S. 

JohiiG. Seager was born in New York city in 1807, the son of 
John and Eunice (AUston) Sealer, natives of New York, who lived 
to a good old age. John was a prominent minister of the Baptist 
Church, being connected with the First Baptist Church of New 
York city, and afterward 19 years Pastor of the Church atHaights- 
town. Pa.; he then returned to New York and took charge of the 
Baptist congregation on Long Island. John G. remained at home 
until about 16 years old, receiving a good education, having attended 
the first academy in the city of New York; and because of superior 
qilaliiications he was solicited to attend college at Hamilton, N. Y, 
He learned the cabinet trade, but has spent most of his long and 
useful life in preaching the gospel. He came West in 1839, locat- 
ing at Mendon, Adams county, 111., and after laboring in that vicin- 
ity for about seven years, he came to this county and constituted 
the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, and in a few years more the Basco 
Baptist Church. He now serves these two Churches; he has also 
established many other Churches in this section, among which are 
Mount Vernon, Starr and Jubilee. For his first wife he married 
Rebecca Chamberlain, of Haightstown, N. J.; she died in 1844, 
having had in her life-time 6 children; namely, Charles A., dec; 
Caroline, now widow of Mr. Doty, of Carthage; Lydia A., now of 




1 J^ 





./^^?ZCX^ 



BEAR CREEK Tp 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 623 

Quinc}', Hickory county, Mo.; Enoch C, a member of the 118th 111. 
Yol. Inf., who died at Camp Butler, aged 21; Catherine E., dec, 
who was the wife of Slieriff Dammeron; and John E., living in 
Basco. For a second wife Mr. Seager married Mary Pendergast in 
1854, a native of Pennsylvania, and the^' have had 4 sons and 2 
daughters. Mr. S. owns property in Basco and seems to be happy 
in his old age. His power of vision is nearly as good as ever. He 
has been Town Clerk and School Treasurer ten years each, and Col- 
lector five years; and was recently elected Town Clerk, 

Hiram Simmons^ farmer; P. 0., Basco. Mr. S. is one of the 
early settlers of Bear Creek tp., and has done much to make it and 
the county what they are. He was born in Kentucky in 1803. a 
son of Robert and Flora (Chenworth) Simmons, the former boi*n in 
Maryland in 1779, and the latter in Virginia in 1787. At the age 
of 19 Mr. S. married Nancy Caulkins, of ISTew York, and located in 
Hardin county, Ky., where he remained four years; then he came 
to Scott county. 111., where he lived 20 years; then he came to this 
tp., locating near Basco, where he has ever since resided. Children 
— Martha, born July 4, 1822; William B., deceased, born June 2, 
1824; Mary E., born June 5, 1827; Robert H., Feb. 22, 1829; 
Hiram S., deceased, born Dec. 19, 1831; Franklin, deceased, born 
Oct. 20, 1834; Lucinda, deceased, born July 12, 1837; Isaac C, 
deceased, born June 12, 1840; Nancy J., deceased, born Maj- 19, 
1842. Mr. S. now owns a comfortable home and a small farm join- 
ing Basco on the southeast. His son Isaac was a member of the 
118th 111. Yol. Inf , under James Logan, tor about a year. 

Samuel Staples, farmer, was born in 1818 in Indiana. His par- 
ents were natives of Yirginia, and his mother's maiden name was 
Rebecca Coons. In 1840 the subject of this sketch was united in 
marriage witli Mary A. James, also a native of Indiana; after re- 
maining in Jefferson county, Ind., for two years, they came to this 
county and settled near Augusta. As a specimen of pioneer dis- 
couragements we may relate that at one time he went to a horse- 
mill to get some grinding done, and in the commencement of the 
grinding an accident occurred to his horse, which was at work in 
the mill ; he at once went home, saying he would " eat parched curn 
and potatoes." He then lived in Adams county four years, then he 
settled upon his own farm of 80 acres in this county, which is a part 
of his present farm of 190 aci-es. Of his 3 children only John W. is 
living. Mr. S. has been School Trustee, Justice of the Peace and 
Road Commissioner, which latter office he now holds. He is a 
member of the Methodist Church. 

S. A. Thompson, physician, was born in Tennessee in 1812, son 
of AVilliam Thomj)son, who was a Revolutionary soldier five years, 
and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. At the age 
of 20 our subject began business for himself; in 1832 he went to 
Alabama, where he remained one year and returned to middle 
Tennessee. Here he wa,s an eye witness of the great star-fall of 
1833. He removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., and afterward "^settled 
in this county in 1847. He has 40 acres of i^ood land. He has 

37 



624 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

practiced medicine here IS years, on eclectic principles. For his 
first wife he married Isabel Ogle, in 1S39, and they had 12 chil- 
dren. For his second wife he married Mary A. Saterfield in IS 72, 
a native of Missonri. The Doctor has tiie honor of being the first 
Supervisor of this tp. He used to be a Democrat, but is now a 
staunch Green backer. 

Luster S. Wyckoff, a farmer, was born in Schuyler county. 111., 
in 1S40, the son of Oierritt and Nancy (McKee) Wyckofi", who were 
amonj; the earliest pioneers of the great AVest, there being only 
three white families west of the Illinois river when they came 
here. In ISOO L. S. married Nancy C. Irviu, of Schuyler county, 
who was born in ISio. Of their children only 2 are living; 
namely, Maggie J., born in June, 1S62, and Elizabeth A., in Xov., 
lSti4. The tirst ten years after his marriage Mr. W. lived in 
Schuyler county. 111., then lived in Missouri awhile, and in 1S79 
located at his present home at Basco. 

TOWXSHir OFFICIALS. 

The following is a list of the ofiicers that have served this town- 
ship since its organization, as far as could be obtained from the 
records : 

SUPERVISORS. 

Almon Thompson ISoO David W. Browning 1868 

Felix G. Moumiug 1853 D. 3[cGinnis 7 1869 

Thomas Los^sui. .7 1855 W. C. WiUiams 1870 

C. W. Baldwin 1858 Wm. P. Damron 1872 

Wm. 8. Moore 1S59 Jameson H. Wetzel 1873 

Chas. H. SteSev 1860 Jesse E. Gerard 187-1 

John W. Tatnuin 1861 Wm. P. Damron 1876 

Wm. B. Skinner 1863 Wm. A. Anderson 1877 

John R. McGinnis 1866 Constant Cacheaux 1878 

Wm. B. Skinner 1867 James A. Anderson 1879 

CLERKS. 

John G. Seirer 1855 John G. Seger 1868 

William Hawkins 1858 Albert Naegelin 1879 

William Fleming 1865 John G. Seger 1880 

ASSESSORS. 

John :M. Wetzell 1855 Jjunes Anderson 187'> 

\ndrew Moore 1858 Edward Harrison 1873 

Charles W. Baldwin 1860 A. H. Ca\-wood 1874 

EUsha McGoe 1S63 Geo. H. Damron I ivs-n 

John W. Tatman 1864 A. H. Caywood ) ^"'"^ 

\lmon Thompson 1865 Clark Lewis 1876 

C. W. Baldwin 1866 J. H. Wetzel 1877 

Geo C Gordon 1867 John Daw 1878 

E. Brown. Jr 1S69 Wm. G. Mott 1880 

Wm. P. Damron 1870 

COLLECTORS. 

William S. Moore 1S55 G. C. Gordon 1870 

J. G. Se^er 1S58 John D. Page 1871 

Nicholas Wren 1863 John J. Hawkins 1873 

J. R >[eGinnis 1863 Nathaniel C. Cavwood 1873 

Charles H. Steffev 1864 Jcvsephus Huff 1874 

Wm. P. Damron ". 1866 G. C. Gordon 1875 

J IT Wetzell 1S67 J. R. iNIcGinnis 1876 

Willi:. Drvd-.T 1869 G. C. G^mion 1878-80 



WYTHE TOWNSHIP. 

This township, named after an old Revolutionary Yirojinian, Nos. 
4r-S. It is chietiy prairiejocated between the head waters ofBear creek 
and those dewing westward into the Mississippi, One long branch 
of Bear creek traverses its southeastern corner, supplying some tim- 
ber and some broken country. The remaining portion is well-ly- 
ing, mostly rolling prairie, chietiy owned and occupied by intelli- 
gent, enterprising and rich farmers. 

This township contains the two recorded towns of Elderville and 
Prairieville, containing each a few houses only. Wythe, being 
prairie, was settled later than Walker and Montebello, on each side 
of it. Among ics early settlers were named Benjamin F. Marsh, 
Sr.; Rodolphus Chandler, Mark Phelps, Andrew McMahan, 
William Crawford, Samuel Knox, Davidson Harris, Moses Ham- 
mond, Slocum WooUey, John S. Johnson, Robert Ayers, David 
Ayers, Samuel Chandler, Isaac Bliss, H. P. Griswold, Thomas 
Crawford, Joshua C. Berry, Lyman L. Calkin, Wm. A. Smith, L. 
Horney, Wm. J. Ash, J. D. Browning, William Wallace Reed, ■ 
Wm. Jackson," Alonzo Sauford, Charles Ames, Wm. Shinn, L. L. 
Piggott, and the Robinsons, Yanewines, McGees, Butlers, Dough- 
tys, Livelys and others. 

The early settlement, known for so many years as Green Plains, 
was partly in Wythe and partly in Walker, Wilcox and Rocky 
Run townships, its center being near the corner connecting the four 
townships. Hence, in naming the early settlers in each, some of 
them may be located over the line of the township for which they 
are named, 

Benjamin F. Marsh, named above, was an early settler. His 
farm east of Warsaw was for years the extreme settlement on the 
route toward the county seat, all beyond being an unbroken and 
almost treeless prairie. Mr. M. was born in His Majesty's dominions 
of North America, New Brunswick, we believe, and was until his 
death a man of note in the county. His son, B. F. Marsh, Jr., our 

E resent talented and genial member of Congress, was born on the 
ome tarm in Wythe, and in his boyhood days hunted rabbits and 
squirrels, and gathered nuts and things in the timber brakes ad- 
joining. 

MarK Phelpt was a man of remarkable character in the eastern 
part of the township. Free, jovial, reckless, wild, good-natured," 
always ready for an adventure or a spree, and always on hand in a 
crowd; everybody knew and joked and drank with Mark, — loater, of 
course; lager had not then been imported from Germany, and the 

(6','5) 



•626 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

■country was too new for cider. He still lives, showing the hand of 
time upon his brow. 

The brothers Ayres were natives of the Emerald Isle, came to 
America and settled in Hancock county at an early day. 

IS^umbers of these pioneers have gone. 

William Crawford was probably the first to build a house in 
Wythe township, in the fall of 1832. Andrew McMahan and Sam- 
uel Knox also came in 1832. 

Of the foregoing, Messrs. B. F. Marsh, Wm. Crawford, Thomas 
Crawford, Rodolphus Chandler, Samuel Knox, Robert Avers, Sam- 
uel Chandler, Moses Hammond, and perhaps others, are now de- 
ceased. Andrew McMahan and Silas Robinson still remain, with 
the frosts of over 75 winters upon their heads. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

Elders Joseph Hatchett and Samuel Knox, early residents of 
Green Plains settlement, both residing, we believe, in Walker, 
were the earliest preachers in that section. The first religious 
organization within the limits of Wythe of which we have any 
record is that of the Congregational Church, on the west line of 
the township. This society was organized in 1851, with the follow- 
ing members; viz., Hurlburt P. Griswold, Lucy Griswold, Moses 
Hammond, Elizabeth Hammond, Caroline Hammond, Asaph C. 
Hammond, Ero Chandler, Emeline Chandler, Benjamin Whitaker, 
Eliza Whitaker, William F. Frazee, Isaac Bliss, Elizabeth Bliss, 
David A. Robinson, Edward C. Griswold, Walter R. Glover, Agnes 
W. Glover, John A. Howes, Elinor Howes, and Lorinda Chandler 
— 20. Some of these resided in adjoining townships. The mem- 
bership has since increased to about 75. The church edifice is of 
frame, built about 20 years ago, and has a parsonage adjoining. 
The pastors who have ofliciated there are Rev. George J. Barrett, 
Rev. Mr. Johnson, Revs. Samuel Dillev, Nathaniel P. Coltrin, A. 
R. Mitchell, John H. Shay, W. B. Bachtell, C. C. Irland and 
Joseph Wolf. 

The Wythe Presbyterian Church, on sec. 17, was organized later, 
exact date not stated; it occupies also a neat frame building, erected 
some 10 or 12 years ago. Its membership is not large. Both it and 
the Congregational Church have been in the habit of joining with 
the Churches in Hamilton in support of their pastors. 

Two miles immediately south of the Presbyterian Church, 
stands a neat brick church edifice, belonging to the Campbelliite 
denomination. It was built a few years ago, in the midst of a 
flourishing settlement and beautiful country. We have no partic- 
ulars farther of its membership or work. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In justice to the pioneers and prominent citizens of the city 
and township of Carthage, we wish to speak personally, and short 
biographical sketches of them here follow: 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COVNTT. 627 

Gottlieb Altheide was born Dec. 14, 1S25. His parents were 
Peter and Reaka (^Steffe"! Altheide. He came to Quincj in 1855, 
where he followed tailorino^ tive years. His sight tailing him, he 
removed to a farm in this county and began agricultural life. He 
is now a prominent farmer and stuck-raiser of Wythe township, 
residing on sec. 34, and owns 210 acres of valuable land. He was 
married in September, 1854, to Miss Reaka Hakker, by whom he 
has had S children: of these, 7 are living; viz., Annie, Fred, 
Minnie, Henry, Gottlieb, Caroline and Johnnie. 

TT;;?. e/. ^^A was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, June 6, 
1825, and was reared to manhood in the State of Alabama by his 
parents, Hugh B. and Nancy Ash, the former a native of South 
Carolina, and the latter of Greene county, Tenn. Our subject 
came to this State in the year 1846, and stayed until 1849, when he 
went back to Alabama on a visit, and returned to Illinois in the same 
year. TThile in Alabama he was married to Miss Eliza A.Culpepper, 
by whom he has had 9 children; of these, 7 are living; viz., Sarah 
L. i^now Mrs. King), Mary A. (now Mrs. Paine), Joel B. (married 
to Miss Allen), Louisa A., Amanda J., Alice A. and Arsisa E. 
Mr.Ash has resided here since 'the year lS49,engaged in farming and 
stock raising. He owns a fine farm of 340 acres, located on sees. 
9, 10, and 16 Wythe tp. He also worked at the tanning work for 
seven years. Mr. Ash is of Scottisli ancestry; his great-grand- 
father came from Scotland, and fought in the war of 1776. 

Roht. Ai/ers, deceased, was a native of Ireland, and was born Nov. 
21, 1836. His father's name was also Robert Avers. The subject 
of this sketch was brought to America by his parents in 1838; he 
was reared on a farm and received a common-school education; was 
married April 6, 1859, to Miss Jane Ann Watt, by whom he had 7 
children; of these, 6 are living; viz, Robert W., Chas. D., John 
W., Jesse C, Jennie E. and Maggie M. Mr. Ayers was a promi- 
nent farmer and stock-dealer of Wythe tp. ; he owned 410 acres of 
valuable land. He was killed at Keokuk, Iowa, by a switch engine 
while crossing the railroad track. Xov. 18, 1879. 

Joshua C. Beriy is a native of Pittsfield, Merrimack Co.,N.H., and 
was born Nov. 28, 1811; he is a son of Joshua and Patience Berry, 
both natives of New Hampshire. Our subject was joined in mar- 
riage April 21, 1835, to Mary B. Barker, of Acton, Mass., and they 
have had 4 children, of whom 3 are living; viz., George C, Clara 
E., (now Mrs. Horney), Charles B., deceased, and Mary A. Mr. 
Berry was County Surveyor for three years in this county. Mr. 
Berry, on his father's side, is of English ancestry; his grandfatlier 
and great-grandfather were both Englishmen, Captains in the Rev- 
olutionary war. His grandfather, t)apt. Joshua Berry, was at the 
head of the expedition to export guns and ammunition of war over 
the Green Mountains to Ticonderoga. Mr. Berry has in his pos- 
session a two-dollar bill of Continental money which was found in 
his grandfather's drawer. As was supposed, he had received this 
money for his service in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Berrv's wife 



62S HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUKTT. 

is a descendant of John Adams, once President of the United States. 
Mr. Berrv owns 160 acres of land. 

Isa'-ic Bliss was the second son and fonrth child of a family of 11 
children; he was born in Muskin^rmn county, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1S24:. 
His tather, Samuel Bliss, was a native of Vermont, and diei.1 in 1S52, 
at the acje of 61. On his tather's side he is of English anoest'>rs. 
Two orrand-uneles, both Englishmen, fought in the war of 1776. one 
in the British and the other in the American army. Both were 
Captains, and it is said they met in battle on the field. In 1S4S 
Mr. Bliss lelt his native State and moved t»^ his present place in 
AVythe tp.. In obtaining his education Mr. Bliss enjoyed pre-emi- 
nent advantages. Besides pursuing the common English branches 
he gave his auention to many of the sciences. During his past life 
we see the fruits of his " much study," 26 years spent in teaching 
in the school-room. Re^lizinir the advantages derived from a gocd 
education, he is giving his children a thorough schooling. Oct. J:. 
1S49, ATr. Bliss was joined in marriage to Elizabeth M. Reiiirs, and 
they have had 4 children. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss early became workers 
in the cause of Christ, by uniting with the Presbyterian Church. 
In the Sabbath-school he had participated in the highest offices for 
20 years. Both children are members of the Church. Mr. Bliss 
has a farm of 340 acres, with a goad residence and tine surround- 
ings. He carries on farming to a great extent and is als* a dealer in 
fine stock. 

Wallace Bride, son of Samuel and Esther JBride, of Warsaw, was 
born Jan. 31, 1S46; was reared on a farm, and educated in a com- 
mon school. AVas married in IS 73 to Josephine Cay ton. by whom 
he has i children ; viz., Clara, Estella, Annie and Birdie. He is 
engtigod in farming and stock-raising, and resides on sec. 20. 
-Wythe tp. - " 

'Wm. jSrcucn, deceased, was a native of Prince William county. 
Ya., and was left an orphan when quite young. He was rearevi on 
a farm and i-eceived a limited education in a subscription school. 
He came to Adams county. 111., in lSi9. and to this county in 
1S52. He was married July 15. 1S29, to Miss Helen Atkinson, 
daughter of George and Elizal>eth Atkinson. The former is a 
native of England and the latter of Virginia. They have had 17 
childi-en, 9 sons and S daughters. Only 10 of these are living. Mr. 
Brown was a prominent farmer and stock-i-aiser of Wythe township, 
residing on sec. 29. He died Apr. 11, 1S66: was a meral>er of 
the M. E. Church for many veal's. 

JIunnan Busing is a native of Germany, and was lK>rn Jan. 5. 
1S52. His parents. Wm. B. and Mary Busing, emigrated with 
their family to Adams county. 111., in the year ISol. Mr. B. was 
raised on a farm and educated in a common school. He was mar- 
rievi April 3S, 1S77, to Miss Carrie Keller, by whom he has one 
child, Emma. He owns 160 acres of valuable land, and is eng:\ged 
in tanning and stock-raising on sec. oi, having located herein 1S75. 
Xi/mau Jj. Calkins was born in Bradford county. Pa., Nov. 27. 



HISTORY OF IIANC\>0K COUNTY. 629 

ISll, nnd married Zilphia "White Sept., 27, isSi; Got. 1. 1S36, he 
started AVest with a h\ru-o company, coining- with teams; after arriv- 
iiiij in Indiana he turneil back as far as Cincinnati, took passaije on 
a boat, and after a tedions journey he landed at Warsaw, 111., in 
Movember, on the last boat up the river that fall; after spending 
the winter here he returned East and started to emigrate, but upon 
reachino- Pittsburg the weariness of wife and child impelled him to 
take a boat, sending the teams on, which arrived not long after him; 
he reached Warsaw June 15, lSo7. The only friend or relative at 
the time was Mr. 11. Kent, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Calkins, living 
nine miles east of Warsaw; settled in Wythe tp., on sec, 22. where 
he lived 13 years, when he sold out and bought of Judge Skinner a 
half of see. 10, where he has since resided. He attended the tirst 
town meeting. Tiie naming of the tp. belongs to Davidson Harris, 
a resident at that time and for many years afterward. He rarely 
misses an election, is a Republican, though not strictly a party 
man. He remained through all the Mormon ditiiculties, often 
going to Nauvoo to their meetings, and though being well known 
as against them he was never molested. He has always been 
engaged in farming, and still boasts of doing as much as any man 
of bis vears. He has 5 sons and 4 daughters, all living and engaged 
in farming; 7 are married and living on farms of their own. The 
entire family are members of ortiiodox Churches, having united 
with the Church while children at home. In the fall of 1S54 they 
visited their old home for the first time, taking the train at Rock 
Island, that being the nearest railway station at that time. In the 
spring of 1S59 Mr. Calkins took a trip to the Rocky Mountains, 
aiul was gone four months. In 1876. in companv with wife and 
daughter, he again visited their old home in Pemisylvania. 

Mr. C.'s ancestors were descendants of Scotch parentage, who 
settled at Sharon, Conn., in an early day. His grandfather was in 
the Revolutionary war, and early emigrated to Bradford county, 
Pa., where he raised a large family, who settled also in that State 
and New York. His father, Joel Calkins, remained all his life 
near the old place and died ^only a few years ago. The subject of 
this biography is fiom a long-lived ancestry, hearty and hale, many 
reaching nearly 100 years of'age. Mrs. C.'s ancestors were from 
Connecticut and Vermont, and also noted for longevity-. 

A. D. Crouch was born in Jefferson county, Jsew "i ork, Dec. 
22, 1S19, and is a son of Ebenezer and Sarah Crouch, both natives 
of Vermont. Mr. Crouch came to this State in 1835 and settled 
in Adams county, where he staid with his mother and brothers until 
1852, when he came to this county, where he has since resided en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising. In 181:5 he married Eliza- 
beth Hughes, of Adams county. They have had 4 children, of 
whom only 2 are living, Francis C. and Flora E. (now Mrs. Wei- 
senbourgerX Mr. Crouch owns a farm of 160 acres in sec. 3. 

James E. Doiufhty was born in Nicholas Co., Ky.. Nov. 23, 
1804, and is a son' of John and Jane (Ellis) Doughty. The former 



630 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. * 

lived to the age of 96 years. Mr. D. was married about 1827, 
to Mary McMahon, by whom he had 7 children, of whom 6 are 
living f viz., Wm. T., S. J., John R., Ann H., Ellen H. and Z. 
Taylor. Oar subject came to Warsaw in 1843. Mrs. Doughty 
died in June, 1864, and Mr. D. again married. May 6, 1866, this 
time, Mrs. Ruth J.Cobalt,by whom he has had 4 children ; of these, 
3 are living; viz.. Barton S., Clara Y.,and Keturah C. Mr. D. 
went overland to California in 1852, with an ox team, and returned 
in 1854. He now is engaged in farming, and resides on sec. 32; 
P. O., Sutter. 

B. B. Gates deceased. The snbject of this sketch was born in 
Rutland county, Yt., March 2, 1800. He was reared and educated in 
the town of Mina, near Chautauqua lake; was a carpenter and 
millwright. He was married in 1829 to Miss Susannah Alvord, 
daughter of Samuel and Ursula Alvord (deceased), and a sister to 
Mr. Alvord, of Hamilton, 111. They had 9 children, of whom but 
3 are living. Mr. Gates came to this county in 1836, where he 
resided, until his death in 1849. 

George D. Gates was born near Augusta, Feb. 17, 1837; son of 
Mr. B. B. Gates, just mentioned above, and his mother of New 
York. She is still living, at the advanced age of 65. Mr. Gates 
was reared in this county, and was educated at Knox College, 
Galesburg. In 1858 he went to Pike's Peak, and returned in 
1860. He was married Jan. 31, 1861, to Helen M. Rockwell, by 
whom he had 2 children, Edgar C. and Ilarley C. (deceased). In 
1869 his wife died. He was again married Sept. 4, 1873, to Jennie 
P. Stewart. They have had one child, Gertrude C. Mr. Gates 
owns a farm of 62 acres, 55 acres of which is orchard, his occupa- 
tion being that of horticulture, etc. 

S. J. Hammond is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and 
was born Sept. 6, 1839; son of Moses and Elizabeth Hammond. 
His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his jnother of Yer- 
mont. Our subject came to this county in 1847 and settled in 
Wythe tp., where he has since resided, engaged in general farming. 
He has for several years been engaged in horticulture, he and his 
brother having an orchard of 130 acres. Mr. Hammond owns a fine 
farm of 500 acres. He was united in marriage Feb. 22, 1865, to 
Miss Emeline Chandler. This marriage was blessed with 8 chil- 
dren, of whom 6 are living; viz., Elizabeth, Julia E., Arthur R. 
Henrietta, Harley R. and John. Mr. Hammond was the enroll- 
ing officer of this township during the last war. 

J. H. H. Homey, the subject of this sketch, was born in Warren 
county 111., Aug. 3, 1841, and is a son of Lemuel and Cynthia 
Homey, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of 
Ohio. Mr. Horney was reared on a farm and educated at Mon- 
mouth, 111.; he began teaching in 1861, and has taught for the most 
part since that time, save during the war. He served one jqhv in 
the late war in Co. H, 118th I. Y. I., filling the office of Ser- 
geant. He was discharged on account of disability at the expira- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 631 

tion of one year. The best evidence we have of Mr. Horney's 
merits as a teacher is, that he teaclies two or three years in the 
same school. He was married Jan. 30, 1868, to Miss Clara E. 
Berrv, daughter of Joshua C. Berry, of Wythe tp. ; they have had 3 
children, 2 of whom are living; viz., Frank B. and Marietta A. 
Mr. Horney is also a practical surveyor. 

B. F. Howes was born in Nicholas county, Ky., Feb. 15, 1832. 
He is a son of Reuben and Catharine Howes, the former a native of 
Maryland, and the latter of Kentucky. Our subject catpe and 
settled in this county in 1850, where he has since resided. He 
went to California in 1852, and staid there until the year 1856, 
when he returned to Illinois; during this time he was engaged iu 
gold mining. When he came home he resumed his former occu- 
pation; viz., farming and stock-raising. In 1860 he went to Mon- 
tana, but staid only a short time. Mr. Howes was married Nov. 
4, 1858, to Mary A. Dought3% and they have had 4 children; viz., 
Eugene A., Mary E., Paul and Etiie M. Mr. Howes owns a farm 
of 100 acres, and is located in sec. 33. 

James H. Karr was born in Yates county, N. Y., April 13, 1812, 
and is a son of Samuel and Phoebe Karr, (dec). His parents 
brought him to the vicinity of Cincinnati, O., when he was quite 
small. In 1845 they removed to Indiana, and to this county in 
1840. He was married in Ohio, in 1834, to Miss Sarah Cook, by 
whom he has had 10 children; of these, 5 are living; viz., Harvey 
L., Geo. C, John R., Milton C. and Amanda. Another son, 
William (dec), lived to manhood. Mrs. K. died in Feb. ,1863. Mr. K. 
again married in March, 1864, Sarah J. Thompson, who was born 
and reared in Ohio. John B. and Mr. Karr were both soldiers in 
the late war. Mr. Karr is a farmer and resides on sec. 4. 

J. TF. Marshall was born in Guernse}'^ county, Ohio, Jan. 25, 
1825, and is a son of Samuel and Catharine Marshall, natives of 
Westmoreland county, Pa. They removed to Ohio in 1823. J. 
W. was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education; 
was married in October, 1848, to Miss Lydia Ferguson, of Penn- 
sylvania. They have had 9 children, of whom 8 are living; viz., 
Catharine J., Wm. F., Robert R., Clara B., Geo. A., Samuel W., 
Charles B. and Lucy C. Mr. M. came to this county in 1852, 
farming rented land for two years, tiien located on the S. W. 
quarter of sec. 8, Wythe tp,, wiiere he is engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. The family are all members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Hardin Massie^ farmer and stock dealer, sec 33; P. O., Sutter; 
was born in Kentucky, in 1830. and is a son of Thomas and Polly 
(Suttle) Massie, natives of Virginia. He came to this county in 
1847, and Nov. 10, 1853, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of 
Col. Levi and Polly Williams, born in this State in 1833, and they 
have had 8 children, of whom 6 are living: Mary A., wife of John 
Eggles, of this county; Georgie M., John A., Anna L., Ulj'sses H. 
and Virgil C. James S. and Garland R. are deceased. Mr. M. owns 



632 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

255 acres of good land. He and his wife belong to the Christian 
Church. 

John C. MoMahan is a native of this county and was born Sept. 
15, 1843, a son of Andrew and Mary McMahan, now residents of 
Warsaw; was married in 1872 to Cara Reed, formerly of Ohio, 
and they have had 3 children; of these, 2 are living; viz., Leea 
and Bertrand. Mr. McMahan resides on the old homestead, where 
he owns a farm of 210 acres, 13 acres of which is orchard. His 
farm is located on sec. 31, this tp. 

Roht. W. McMahan was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., June 15, 
1830, and is a son of Andrew and Mary McMahan, who removed 
with their family to this county in 1831. He was reared on a 
farm and received a common-school education. He was married 
July 13, 1859, to Miss Susan Walker, an early settler of this 
county. They have had 6 children, of whom 4 are living; Charles 
H., Mary I., Nellie R., and George W. W. Mr. McMahan owns 
378 acres of valuable land, and resides on sec. 30,engaged in farming 
and stock-raising. He also pays some attention to fruit-growing. 

Ezekiel McCune was born in Morgan Co., O., March 10, 1832, 
and is a son of Samuel and Nancy McCune, the former a native of 
Morgan county also, and the latter of Virginia. The McCunes were 
very early settlers of Ohio, locating near Salt creek, on the Muskin- 
gum river. Ezekiel was reared on a farm and received a common- 
school education. He came to this county in the year 1856, remained 
one year and returned to Ohio. He was married in 1858, to Miss 
Mary J. Peairs, by whom he has had one son, Wm. B., who is now 
attending school at Chaddock University, in Quincy, 111. Mr. 
McCune removed to this county in 1864, and afterward purchased 
the beautiful farm of Dr. H. P. Griswellin, in Wythe county, and 
is now engaged in farming and fruit-growing. 

Henry Nagel is a very prominent German, residing on sec. 28, 
this township. He was born in Germany, Oct. 11, 1827, and emi- 
grated to America in 1864, and settled in Warsaw, HI., where he 
lived for a year, when he purchased liis farm and moved upon it. 
His vocation is that of farming and stock-raising. He was married 
in 1861, to Miss Maria Magdalena, hy whom he has had 6 chil- 
dren; of these, 5 are living; viz., Rathey, Frederick, John, Matilda, 
and Zeno. Mr. Nagel owns a farm of 380 acres. 

J. S. Peebler was born in Simpson county, Kan., May 7, 1816. 
He was brought by his parents, Michael and Esther Peebler, to San- 
gamon county 111., in 1826, where they remained until 1835, when 
they came to this county. Here he has since resided, engaged in 
agriculture and stock-raising, etc. He was married in 1838 to 
Philistia Kendall, by whom he has had 7 children; of these, 5 are 
living; viz., Susan E. (now Mrs. Wolfe), Anna E. (now Mrs. 
Grubb), Mary I., William M. and Ovando O. Mr. Peebler owns 
a farm of 180 acres, on sec. 2. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 633 

Wm. W. Reed was born in St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 8, 1820, and is 
a son of Capt. Jacob Reed, wlio conunanded the first steamer that 
came from the mouth of the Ohio river to St. Louis, in 1810, arriv- 
ing in St. Louis June 17. Capt. Reed was an earl_y settler of Ohio, 
and afterward came to St. Louis, where he engaged in boating on 
the Mississippi river. He died at Natchez, of the yellow fever, in 
the summer of 1820. Wm. W. came to this county in 1836, 
remaining but one year, when he went to St. Louis, and remained 
there as a clerk in a store until 1838. He then went to Arkansas, 
and returned to this county in 1839. He now resides on sec. 19, 
this tp., engaged in farming and stock-raising. He also raises a 
great deal of hay, bales it at home, and ships it to St. Louis. Mr. 
Reed was a soldier in the Mormon war, under Col. Brockman. He 
was married March 1, 1850, to Salina Chandler, daughter of 
Rudolphus Chandler, deceased. They had 7 children, of whom five 
are living, viz., Clara (now Mrs. John C. McMahan, of this tp.), 
Dayton W., Lydia (now Mrs. Stevenson), Julia and Alice. Mrs. Reed 
died Sept. 23, 1866, and Mr. Reed again married, Jan 17, 1867, Mrs. 
Margaret Scott. In the year 1863 Mr. R. met with a sad accident. 
While standing near a threshing machine his right arm was caught 
in the cylinder and torn ofi'. 

A. W. Robinson is a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio, and was 
born Feb. 29, 1836; he came to this county in 1836, settling in this 
tp., where he resided until the war broke out. Then, in August, 
1862, he enlisted as a private soldier in Co. C, 118th 111. Vol, Inf. 
He was elected by his company 2d Lieut., and afterward 1st 
Lieut., and subsequently was promoted Captain of the same com- 
pany. He and his company fought in the following battles: Yicks- 
burg, Arkansas Post, Carrion Crow Bayou and Liberty, besides 
many others of note. The company was a division of Gen Grant's 
army. Capt. Robinson served for 3J years, with acceptability, 
for the liberty of our country. He returned home in October, 
1865, and resumed his former occujiation. farming, etc. He was 
married in April, 1866, to Miss Eva J. Muzzy, and they have had 
3 children — Myrtie M., Oral M. and Draper. Mr. Robinson owns 
a farm of 240 acres, with good residence and fine surroundings. 

Asa D. Rockwell was born in the town of Butternuts, Otsego, 
Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1812, and is a son of Uriah and Hannah (Nash) 
Rockwell, natives of Connecticut. The latter witnessed the burn- 
ing of Danbury, Conn., by the British, during the Revolutionary 
war. Our .subject was reared on a farm near Gilbertsville, N. Y., 
and received a common -school education. He went to Steuben Co., 
N. Y., in 1832, where he labored as a farm hand for some time. He 
afterward ]3urcliased a farm between Seneca lake and the town of 
Corning, at the head of Chemung river. Here he remained until 
1853, engaging in farming, lumbering and the nursery business. 
He was married Aug. 15, 183*;, to Miss Fannie Suydan, a native of 
Albany, N. Y. This union has been blessed with 4 children — 
Charles, Helen (deceased), wife ot George D. Gates, of this town- 



634 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

ship. She left one son, Edwin, Alice (now Mrs. Melvin Green, of 
Saline, Kan.) and an infant, deceased, Mr. Kockwell came to this 
county in 1853, where he still resides, on sec. 4, engaged in farming 
and stock-raising. His great-grandfather Nash was killed at the 
battle of Danbury Garden, Conn., and his grandfather Nash was 
wonnded at the same time and place. Mr. Rockwell is a very de- 
voted hnsband and father, and is noted for his generous disposition. 

W7)i. A. S/nit/i, deceased, was born in Alabama in the year 1821, 
and was a son of James and Elizabeth Smith. He was reared on a 
farm, and came to. Illinois with his parents in 1830, and to this 
county in 1831. He was a soldier in the Mormon war; was mar- 
ried Feb. 16, 1843, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Bennett and Susan 
Smart, so well known in the earl}^ settlement of this county. This 
union was blessed with 7 children — Amanda J., John P., Harriet 
E., AVm. H., Isabelle, Alice and Celestia. He was a farmer and 
resided on sec. 35. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church 
for many years. 

John P. Tull, deceased, was born in Kentucky June 2, 1824. 
He came to this county in 1846 and located in this tp., where he 
resided until his death March 7, 1880. He was joined in marriage 
in 1867 to Nancy J. Morley. To this union were born 5 children, 
of whom 4 are living; viz., Anna P., Perry C, William P. and 
OUie S. Mr. TuU's occupation was that of farming and stock- 
raising. He left a farm of 260 acres in sec. 36. 

Win. Wallace is a native of Canada, and was born Nov. 1, 1826. 
His parents were Francis and Sarah Wallace. He was reared on a 
farm; came to this county about the year 1841 or '42, The 
prairies were vacant, and wild animals roamed over them at that 
time. Mr. Wallace was married, Aug. 23, 1846, to Miss Esther 
Louisa Wells, by whom he has had 9 children. Of these, 5 are 
living; viz., Mary L., George V., James A., Oce L. and Homer. 
Mr. Wallace is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of this tp., on 
sec. 1, and owns over 200 acres of valuable land. 

J^red White is an old bachelor in the " — tieths." He was born 
Jan. 22, 1822, in Bradford county, Penn., and is a son of Lemuel 
and Nancy White. His father was a native of Rutland county, 
Vermont, and his mother of New Haven, Conn. He died at the 
age of 79 and she at the advanced age of 87 years. On his father's 
side he is of English, and on his mother's side of Irish, ancestry. 
His grandfather on his mother's side %vas a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war from beginning to end. He was in the engagement on 
the water when the iirst victory was won. Mr. AV^hite came to 
this county in March, 1856, and located in Wythe tp., where he has 
since resided, engaged in farming, etc. He owns a farm of 94 
acres on sec. 11. 

Joh7i White is a native of Harrison county, Va., and was born 
May 18, 1812, son of Wm. and Louisa White, and of Scotch 
descent. His father enlisted in the war of 1812; was brought by 
his mother when only ten years old to Sangamon county, 111., where 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 635 

he was reared a tanner's boy with Abe Lincohi; has cradled with 
him in the harvest field. Pie was 19 years old at the beginnino: of 
the Black Hawk war. He was married in February, 1837, to Lucy 
Lasley, and of their 10 children 7 are living; namely, Jimri, Jas- 
per, Sylvester, John W., James P., Wm. M. and Charles P. Mr. 
White owns 140 acres and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. 
E. W. Winans was born in Xew York city, Nov. 8, 1825, and 
is a son of Alfred G. and Anne (Hutchinson) Winans. He came 
with his parents to McKean county, Pa., about 1830, and to a point 
about 4 miles West of Jacksonville, 111., in 1S36. There they re- 
mained until 1840, wlien they removed to this county. Old Mr. 
Winans died in Topeka, Kan., in 1872. Mrs. Winans resides with 
her children in Hamilton, this county. She was born Oct. 31, 
1795, and therefore is in her S5th year. Mr. E. W. Winans was mar- 
ried Dec. 4, 1847, to ' Miss Elizabeth, daughter of. Joseph and 
Margaret Kinney. They have had S children, 7 of whom are 
living: Audubon, Linnteus, Wilson R., Martha A., Margaret A., 
Ephraim J. and Elizabeth K. Mr. Winans resided in Kansas 7 
years. He now resides on sec. 6, this tp., engaged in farming and 
fruit-growing. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

The following is a list of men who have served this township in 
an official capacity since its organization, as completely as could be 
made out from the means at command: 

SUPERVISORS. 

Slocam WooUey 1850 Asa D. Rockwell 1866 

H. P. Griswold. 1852 George P. Walker 1868 

John S. Johnson 1855 James Eidex 1871 

Lemuel Homey 1856 Geo. P. Walker 1873 

Wm. F. Frazee 1858 Joseph Larimore 1874 

Davidson Harris 1859 Geo. P. Walker 1875 

Wm. A. Smith 1861 E. P. Denton 1876 

Wm. I. Price 1863 George D. Gates 1878 

J. L. Piggott 1864 E. P. Denton 1879 

- A. R. Jordan 1865 A. D. Barber 1880 

CLERKS. 

Michael G. Bush 1855 Augustus M. Green 1867 

Davidson Harris 1856 Hugh M. Elder 1868 

Jeptha S. Dillon 1859 James King 1869 

John Aslilock 1861 James G. Cocliran 1870 

Henry P. Harper 1863 Hugh M. Elder 1877 

Joseph Larimore 1864 W. B. Slattery 1880 

D. T.S. Jack 1866 

ASSESSORS. 

Jonathan D. Browning 1855 J. H. Karr 1867 

William Jackson 1856 John C. McMahan 1868 

J. C. Berry 1858 A. W. Robinson 1870 

J. H. Cobwell 1859 Jasper K. Mason 1871 

William I. Price 1860 B. Robinson 1873 

John Ashlock 1863 W. J. Ash 1874 

J. H. Karr 1864 A. D. Barber 1878 

B. Robinson 1865 Wm. J. Ash 1880 



636 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 



COLLECTORS. 



Walter T. Glover I i«<?a 

Samuel A. Smith j -^ 

J. D. Knox 1858 

J. M. Browning 1860 

Hemy K. Calkins 1861 

J. M. Browning 1862 

E.P.Denton 1865 

J. M. Browning 1867 

Benson 1868 



Hugh M. Elder • 1869 

A. T. Dentou 1870 

J. W. Smith 1871 

George C. Carr 1873 

J. W. Smith 1875 

Hemy Duerkopf 1876 

T. P. Calkin 1878 

Jas. G. Cochran 1879 

J. W. Smith 1880 




WARSAW AND WILCOX TOWNSHIPS. 

Surveyed township No. 4-9 embraces about two-thirds of a full 
township, and contains at present two organizations for township 
purposes. It was originally called Warsaw; but when the city was 
erected into a township the country portion was detached and called 
Wilcox, — named from Major John R. Wilcox, an officer in the ser- 
vice at Fort Edwards, and afterward a prominent citizen of Warsaw 
and one of its proprietors. About one-fourth of it is river bottom, 
beginning at the city limits and extending down the river to Rocky 
Run tp. The remainder is chiefly woodland, there being a narrow 
strip of prairie on the east line. The upland portion is a good deal 
broken and cut up by ravines and water courses, running in all di- 
rections. It contains, however, many beautiful and picturesque 
sites, and many tracts of valuable land. The whole is eminently 
adapted to the cultivation of fruit, both of orchard and small fruits, 
and the attention of the people is steadily turning in that direction. 

The City of Warsaw is located on the blufts in the bend of the 
Mississi])pi, opposite the mouth of the Des Moines' river. Its east 
and south lines are each about three miles long, running at right 
angles, and intersecting the river on the north and west, the line 
along the river shore between the termini of these lines being over 
four miles in lengtli, Tiie bluflfs in front are abrupt, rising from 
the water's edge to a height of 80 or 100 feet, on which the town is 
built. The sites of the old Forts Johnson and Edwards are within 
the city limits; the former on the high point 200 yards below Main 
street, and overlooking Albers & Co.'s steam mill, and immediately 
opposite the principal mouth of the Des Moines; the latter occupy- 
ing a bold bluff a half mile further up the river, and fronting toward 
Keokuk and the Iowa shore. The city is handsomely situated, 
though portions of it are rough and cut up by deep ravines. From 
the top of the bluff back for three-fourths of a mile there is a gradual 
rise till it reaches tlM; level of the back country, thus affording ground 
for handsome streets and picturesque building sites. 

Warsaw was laid out in 1834 by John R. Wilcox, Mark Aldrich, 
John Montague and John W. Vineyard; and in 1836, addition was 
made to it by Mark Aldrich, John Montague, L. Allen Key, Richard 
F. Barrett, Joseph Duncan and Calvin A. Warren. Since then 
large additions have been made on the east and south, notably 
among which was that of the 16th section adjoining on the south, 
and which in 1841 came so near falling into IVtormon hands and be- 
coming a Mormon city. 

Of its original proprietors, not one remains, and but two are 
known to be living at this date — L. Allen Key, in California, and 

mi) 



638 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

0. A. Warren, Esq., of Quincy. Mr. Vineyard long ago settled in 
Western Missouri; John Montague removed to Kentucky many 
years ago and died there; ex-Go v. Duncan, of Illinois, and Dr. 
Barrett, of St. Louis, are long since dead; and Mr. Aldrich went to 
Calfornia during the gold excitement, and thence to Arizona, where 
he died a few years since. A notice of Major Wilcox will be found 
in another chapter. 

By the census of 1845 Warsaw contained a population of only 
472 persons. The next largest village in the county was Mace- 
donia, the Mormon town in the Fountain Green township (now 
Webster), which had 380. By that census Nauvoo contained 11,- 
036. 

The 16th section was sold at an early day to speculators for over 
$17,000, but the purchasers being unable to stand up to the bargain, 
a special act of Legislature was procured, allowing the tract to re- 
vert to the township. It was while in these men's hands, it came 
so near being purchased by the Mormon prophet. In course of 
time, however, the tract was again sold in blocks, and the whole 
section is now included within the city limits, and considerably 
improved. 

Previous to 1840 there were but few if any foreign-born residents 
in Warsaw; but later a large portion of the population has become 
German and of German extraction, generallj^ an economical and in- 
dustrious people, and good citizens. Thej'' are emigrants from the 
difi'erent States of the German Empire. Ireland also has furnished 
her complement, and France a few. Other European countries 
have sent us but few emigrants. The same statements may be made 
of the other towns and villages in the county, especially those on 
the river. 

Among the earlier settlers from Europe, now recollected, were 
George Clark and his sons, from Ireland; Adam Swiffel, Joseph 
Ochsner, Christopher Stevens, Claus Albers, John F. Spitze, An- 
drew Swinehart, Henry J. Stroh, Henry P. Roth, John Long, Wm. 
A. Katz, Caspar Hartmann, Frank Herberts, Charles C. Hoppe, 
Charles Hilker, Mathew Goddertz, A. and C. Eymann, Wm. Euler, 
Peter Brill, M. Berdolt, W. Schmitz and others from Germany. 

Of those of native birth, beside the proprietors already named, 
the following occur to us: Isham Cochran, Daniel S. Witter, 
James Gregg, Jesse R. Cunningham, Mr. Chamberliu, Andrew 
Monroe, James A. Wells, Wm. H. Roosevelt, Malcolm McGregor, 
Thomas Morrison, Dr. Morrison, Dr. Joseph Wilkinson, Calvin A. 
Warren, Rev. Benjamin F. Morris, T. N. Reynolds, John Hill, John 
D. Mellen, Homer Mellen, Amos H. Worthen, James L. Kimball, 
Samuel W. Brown, Isaac H. Brown, John E. Johnston, Abram I. Chit- 
tenden and sons, George, Edward, Abram B., James and William, — 
George Rockwell, Robert L. Robertson, Wm. Ayers, Calvin Cole, 
James H. Wood, David W. Mathews, Robert Miller, R. B. Davis, 
Edward A. Bedell, Wm. N. Grover, Jacob C. Davis, John Soott, 
Samuel Mussetter, Wm. F. Barnes, Joshua Cole, — all of whom 
came previous to 1840. Of these, and numbers of others, whose 




^ 



if 



/ 




Vy^lLCOX Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 641 

names do not now occur to us, alas! a few remain! 26 of them are 
known to be dead, and barely six remain in the place. 

Among the settlers in Wilcox proper we mention Lewis Peyton, 
John Dedman, Dr. Ero Chandler, John Peyton, Pierre A. Barker, 
Patrick Culliner, Benjamin F. Tyree, B. Whitaker, Samuel Har- 
ris, etc. 

Of the many Warsaw enterprises worthy of note, we must not 
omit to mention the following. 

TheWoolen Mill^ built about 1866, by a company of which 
Hill, Knox & Co., were the chief stockholders. It is probably the 
best, most costly and substantial mill in the West, and was built 
under the supervision and plans of one of the Hill owners, a ma- 
chinist of great ability. It has proven to be, however, an unprofit- 
able concern, paying but small dividends and frequently standing 
idle. It is situated in Lower Warsaw. 

The Plow Factory of Cress Brothers & Co., established many 
years ago by that excellent mechanic and citizen, James H. Wood, 
in conjunction with George Cress and others. This firm turns out 
a large number of plows and other agricultural implements, which 
have gained a wide and growing reputation. 

The Flouring Mill of C. Albers & Co. (Albers senior) began 
the milling business in Warsaw many years ago, and has carried it 
on with varied success to the present time; and now the firm, of 
which the son Henry is the active business manager, has one of the 
best appointed mills in the country, and their brands are known 
and sought for far and wide. 

Many other enterprises in Warsaw, of more or less note, we 
should be glad to record, but want of room forbids. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

For a notice of the Presbyterian Church of Warsaw (which we 
are obliged to condense), we are indebted to Rev. J. G. Rankin, its 
pastor. 

The initiatory steps looking to the organization of a Presbyterian 
Church ill Warsaw, were taken in Sept. and Oct., 1842. In Sept., 
18 persons formed themselves into a " Religious Society," in ac- 
cordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illi- 
nois, entitled "An Act Concerning Religious Societies." Five trus- 
tees were appointed ; namely, Silas Williams, Andrew Weir, Wm. 
y. Patch, Robert Miller and George A. Chittenden. The church 
was organized Dec. 3, 1843, with the following members: Andrew 
Weir, Harriet Y. Weir, Silas Williams, Elizabeth B. Williams, 
Louisa A. Williams, Janette B. Miller, Maria M. Barnes, Eliza S. 
Chittenden, Wm. Y. Patch and Eliza J. Swope; Rev. Wm. King, 
of Plymouth, officiating. 

Previous to this a Congregational Church had been organized, as 
early as 1836, by Revs. Asa Turner, Wm. Kirby and Julias A. 
Reed, which was the earliest religious organization in the place. 
Most, if not all, the ten members constituting the Presbyterian 

38 



'642 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

society, had been tor a shorter or a lonsfer period with tlie Congre- 
gational Church. Mr. Benjamin F. Morris was preaching to the 
first, and the two united in his support as pastor, meeting together 
in the same house. 

In 1846 the Congregational Ohnrcli was dissolved, and the fol- 
lowing members united with the Presbyterian: Dr. Charles Cool- 
idge, Mary Coolidge, William S. Spencer, Susan Spencer, Sarah D. 
Gregg, Keyes F. Steele, Sophia Steele, Constantia Stevens, Amelia 
Chandler and Lauriiida Chandler. 

The following have been Elders in the church since organization: 
Silas Williams, Andrew Weir, Sr., Charles Coolidge, William S. 
Spencer, S. A. Call, Jacob Elliott, Dr. J. W. Hollowbush; and 
Joseph Miller and William W, Chittenden the present acting 
Board. 

The ministers of the church have been — Revs. E. F. Morris; 
1844, J. K. Grout; 1848, John G. Rankin; 1850, W. H. Williams; 
1850, George J. Barrett; 18.53, C. J. Watson; 1858, J. J. Marks; 
1861, J. G. Rankin again; 1868, S. W. Worth; 1869. J. JS". Crit- 
tenden; 1873, again J. G. Rankin, who has continued its pastor to 
the present. 

Much of the intervening time the Church has been without a 
pastor. 

The first Sabbath-school in Warsaw was oi'ganized in 1836, prob- 
ably cotemporary with the Congregational Church. Mr. George 
Hitchcock was the first superintendent. For ten years it was the 
only one in the place. It has been kept up, summer and winter, 
since its organization, except for a short period during the Mormon 
troubles, and is still, after a lapse of more than 40 years, a live and 
prosperous school." Its superintendents have been — Andrew Weir, 
William S. Spencer, J. B. Parker, Dr. Charles Coolidge, H. A. 
Roberts, William F. Barnes, J. G. Rankin, N. A. Prentiss, S. R. 
Holmes, Charles H. Case, C. L. Stinson, J. W. Hollowbush, Henry 
Albers. Mr. A. is the present superintendent (1879), and has filled 
the place with great acceptance for seven or eight years past. 

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, WARSAW. 

Before 1849 only about four Catholic families were in Warsaw; 
viz., Messrs. Ochsner, C. W. Schmitz and C. Miser and brother. 
Then one of the leading members of the congregation and the 
Catholic settlement arrived from Germany (Rhin-Prussia), namely, 
Mr. C. Hartmann, with five more countrymen of his, whom two 
more soon followed. 

In the year 1850, the first Catholic priest, Rev. Alleman, came 
from Fort Madison and said mass in a private house four times a 
year. In 1853, Rev. Schilling, from Nauvoo, attended Warsaw; 
and in his time the first church was built, at a cost of about $1,000. 

Rev. Miller, O. S. B. and Vicar-General of Chicago, preceded 
Rev. Philip Albrecht, who worked for the congregation from about 
1867 until 1861, visiting Warsaw once every month, from Macomb. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 643 

Rev. Hendricks was the first resident, and left the congree^ation in 
1S6Y. From this date on, the Franciscan fathers from Quincy 
gave religious services here once every month, until Rev. F. H. 
Heller took charge of the mission in 1874, as the second resident 
priest. One new splendid brick church and parish house were 
built under his administration; he moved to Lincoln, 111., in 1877. 
Rev, Allgeyer was his immediate successor, but stayed seven 
months only. Since July 27, 1878, Rev. L. Zumbuchl has been 
the resident pastor of Warsaw. 

Warsaw has a Catholic school with about 80 pupils on an average, 
attended by sisters of St. Francis, from La Crosse, Wis. The con- 
vent, about two blocks east from the church, is a present from the 
deceased Mr. Stephen Roach, an Irishman; and the Benedictine 
Sisters from Chicago were first sent here by Rt. Rev. Foley, Bishop 
of Chicago. They quit Warsaw in 1878. The school property 
was bought in 1864; before this the Catholic school was taught in 
the old church. 

The ])ast history of the congregation has been one of many 
troubles, trials and difficulties, some of which were of a rather 
malicious character, and not to the advantage of those who caused 
them, or the community; and some were the natural consequences 
of poverty and great enterprises. To-day the congregation counts 
about 100 active families, mostly German; some are farmers, but 
the greater part are living in the towm. 

[For the foregoing history of the Catholic work in Warsaw, we 
are indebted to Rev. L. Zumbuchl, the present learned pastor of the 
congregation in that city.] 

There are five other Churches in the city, namely: the Episcopal 
and Methodist Episco]>al (American), and the Methodist, Lutheran 
and Evangelican (German), all of which have good and substantial 
church edifices and some of them numerous congregations. Of 
these the Methodist has been tiie longest organized, and next the 
Episcopal. We have failed to procure data concerning these, and 
must therefore be content with this partial notice. 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

The most important part of the historj'^ of the township will be 
found in the personal sketches which follow: 

WILCOX TOWNSHIP. 

'Wm. P. Andrews was born in Madison, New York, Oct. 3, 1818, 
and is a son of Elisha M. and Sarah G. Andrus. Elisha M. Andrus 
■was a hatter by trade and also " carried on a farm " at the same 
time. Wm. P. learned the hatter's trade, at which he worked for 
13 years in tlie towns of Utica and Hamilton, N. Y. He went on 
a farm in 1846. on account of ill health. In 1855 he came to this 
county, where he still resides, engaged in farming and stock-raising 
on sec. 12, Wilcox township, and owns 101 acres of land, having 



644 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

had at one time here over 200 acres, but has since sold a portion of 
it. He was married Jan. 17, 1843 to Miss Loretta E. Luddington, 
by whom he has had 7 children; of these, 5 are living, (Irosvner S., 
Sarah E., Maria. Ellen G. and Charles W. An interesting item in 
Mr. Andrus' life is the following: In 1878 he had a farm hand 
named John Douglas, who sickened and died. Mr. Andrus buried 
him near his house and some grave-robbers came, exhumed the 
body, enclosed it in a sack, and were about to make good their 
escape, when Mr. Andrus apprehended them and shot them both, 
killing them almost instantly. He then went before the Grand 
Jury, which was then in session at Carthage, and immediately 
informed that body of what lie had done. But the Jury discharged 
him with no verdict, stating that he ought to have shot the man 
who held the grave-robber's toam. 

Samuel Bride was a native of New Hampshire, where he was 
born Jan. 4, 1810, and is a son of William and Mary (Scripture) 
Bride, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New 
Hampshire, and of Irish and 'English descent respectively. Samuel 
Bride was married in Vermont in 1836, to Esther Dyer, a daughter 
of Elisha and liuth (Heath) Dyer, the former a native of Massachu- 
setts and the latter of New Hampshire. Mrs. Bride was born in 
Vermont in 1812. Both her parents were of English ancestry. 
Mr. and Mrs. B. have 3 children living, whose names are Frances 
E., now the wife of Albert C. Shinn, of Kansas; Wallace S. and 
James. Leroy is deceased. Samuel Bride first came to Illinois in 
1842, locating in St. Al ban's tp., Hancock Co, He had very little 
means, probablj' not over $50. when he commenced business for 
himself, but with that characteristic New England stick-to-it-ive- 
uess, of making "everything go that has go in it," combined with 
hard labor, industry and economy, he accumulated a line property, 
consisting of over 700 acres of land, all in this county and under a 
good state of cultivation, besides other property. He is now living 
just in the suburbs of the town of Warsaw; he has of late years re- 
tired partially, only having some 20 acres attached to the homestead, 
renting the rest of his land. He is now one of the most substantial 
citizens of Hancock county^ respected and honored by all who know 
him. He has always contributed liberally to the cause of religion 
and education. We present a good portrait of Mr. Bride to our 
readers. 

Frederick Buckeft is a native of Germany and was born April 5, 
1828; came to this country in 1850 and to St. Louis the same year, 
where he staid until 1851, when he came to this county, where he 
has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1859 
he was united in marriage to Catharine Wallembroke, and they 
have had 8 children, of whom 7 are living; viz., Harry, Christian, 
William, Catharine, Anna, Larry and Elizabeth. 

Dr. Ero Chandler.^ sec. 25, Wilcox tp., is an early settler of Illi- 
nois, having located where Jacksonville now stands in 1820. He 
was born in tlie town of Tinmouth, Vermont, Dec. 14, 1795. He 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 645 

came with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1804:, where he re- 
mained until 1818. From there he removed to the Scioto valley, 
in Oiiio, remainiiig there two years, when he emigrated, as before 
stated, in 1820, to the present site of Jacksonville. Here he prac- 
ticed medicine until 1836, when he came to this county. Since 
that time he has been enu^aged in farming and stock-raising. He 
is a descendant of Capt. Miles Standish, one of the Pilgrim fathers 
who located in Massaciiusetts in 1620. The Chandler family had a 
pewter plate which was brought from England in the Mayflower; 
it was the property of Miles Standish, and had his name in full en- 
graved on it. This plate was inherited by the youngest daughter, 
from generation to generation, aiid therefore became the property of 
Dr. Chandler's mother, at the death of his grandmother. It was 
carelessly placed upon the fire one day, by the Doctor's sistei', and 
before she thought, it was melted. The Doctor was married in 
June, 1826, to Mrs. Emeline (Reed) Cook, by whom he had 8 
chihlren. Of these, 5 are living; namely, Harris, Henrietta (now 
Mrs. A. C. Hammond), Julia (now Mrs. S. B. Laughridge), Eme- 
line (now Mrs. Salem Hammund), Seabury and Charles. Dr. C. 
owns 20O aci'es of land, and has given 300 acres to his children. 

James F. Craxoford^ farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Warsaw; is a son of 
Thomas Crawford, deceased, who emigrated from Bourbon county, 
Ky.. to this county in 1832. He was born in this county Sept. 2, 
1851; raised a farmer's boy, and now resides on the farm his father 
occupied prior to his death, and has completed the beautiful resi- 
dence that his father had erected just before he died. He was mar- 
ried Oct. 10, 1876, to Miss Lydia M. Tapp, of Quincy, by whom 
he has one child, Earle T. Mr. Crawford is now serving his second 
term as Supervisor. 

Henry Gash., farmer, sec. 26; P. O., Warsaw; is a native of Lin- 
colnshire, England, and was born March 24, 1831; emigrated to 
America in ls51, and settled in Hancock county. 111. He was mar- 
ried in 1858, to Miss Sarah Tyree, by whom he had 3 children; 
namely, Mary A., Frederick O. and William T., deceased. Mr. 
Gash is engaged in farming, and owns 120 acres of land. 

Jo/m Gillham, was born in Campbell county, Ky., June 17, 1823. 
His parents' names were Robert and Elizabeth (Walker) Gillham, 
the former a native of Buncombe county. South Carolina, and the 
latter of Baltimore, Md. Robert Gillham and wife came and settled 
in Walker tp., this county, in 1835. His wife died at the home- 
stead on sec. 8, in 1855, and he moved to Monroe, Mo., about 1872, 
and died in May, 1879. His son, Eli B., now owns and occupies the 
old homestead in Walker tp. John Gillham, the subject of this 
sketch, was married April 15. 1849, to Ann H. Woodworth, daughter 
of Charles G. and Elizabeth (Stone) Woodworth, of Hannibal, Mo. 
They were formerly of Virginia. John Gillham and wife have a 
family of 4 children, named Robert E., James E., George L. and 
Charles W. Robert E. married Ann M. Pell, daughter of John 
Pell, of Michigan, and this son lives with Mr. G. Jamos E. 



646 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

married Etta Barber, daughter of Frederick and Lydia Barber, and 
resides in Rocky Hun tp. John Gillham snccessfiily followed gold- 
raining in California from 1S50 to 1S55, returning with a hand- 
some sum of money.* He now lives on sec. 26, this tp. ; his resi- 
dence is a fine two-story brick, and he has 351 acres of good land. 
He is considered one of the most substantial citizens. He has 
always been a Democrat in principle, but partly endorses the 
"National Greenback" party; has assisted in erecting churches 
and supporting the cause of religion, although he does not belong 
to any religious denomination. Has been a member of the Masonic 
order since 1860, of which he is a Master Mason. We give Mr. 
Gillham's portrait in this volume. 

Asaph C. Hammond was born in Worcester county, Mass., in 
the town of Charlton, Nov. 2, 1831. His parents' names are Moses 
and Elizabeth (Chandler) Hammond, former native of« Massachu- 
setts, and latter of Vermont. The founder of the Hammonds in Amer- 
ica was Thomas Hammond, an Englishman who settled in Newton, 
12 miles from Boston, Mass., in thej-ear 1632. Aaron Hammond one 
of his descendants, moved to Charlton, Worcester Co., Mass. , early 
in 1700, where he raised a family. His son Moses was the grand- 
parent of our subject and lived and died at Charlton. His son, 
Moses, Jr., was the father of our subject, and came to this county 
in 1846, settling in Wythe tp., sec. 19, where he followed farming. 
He died in 1865, aged 65 year. His wife died in 1864, and both 
are buried near the Congregational church in Wythe tp. They 
brought a family of 4 children to this county. Caroline, deceased, 
Asaph C, Harley and Salem J. The three last are all living in 
this county. Asaph C. Hammond was married April 3, 1855, to 
Henrietta Chandler, daughter of Dr. Ero Chandler, an early settler 
in this county, and still living in Wilcox tp. They have one child liv- 
ing. Miles Standish. Mr. Hammond lives on sec. 23, Wilcox tp., 
a very pleasant locality. He is a Republican in politics and has 
held various tp. offices, although he has never sought political promi- 
nence. Has for a number of years been actively interested in the 
promotion of agricultural and horticultural interests through the 
different societies organized for that purpose, and has been a mem- 
ber of the Illinois State Horticultural Society for about 15 years, 
and an officer in the society for about 10 years, and has also acted 
as President for the same for one year. Mr. H. has been President 
for the past 12 years of the " Warsaw Horticultural Society," and 
in fact is probably one of the best working members in promoting 
the interests for which these societies are formed. Mr. H. was 
also an active worker in the " Grange " movement, and acted as Mas- 
ter, or presiding officer, of the "' Hancock County Grange." The 
society is now disorganized. 

The Chandlers are also of Puritan stock, and trace their descent 
from the famous " Miles Standish." They also took part in the 
war of the Revolution. The great-grandparent of Mr. Hammond 
was Benjamin Chandler, and was killed while fighting in the Con- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 647 

tinental army at the battle of Bennini^ton. Mr. II. has a farm of 200 
acres, the residence being on sec. 23, Wilcox tp. This land is 
among the very best cultivated in the county. Upon it is an or- 
chard of 75 acres, consisting of 4,000 trees, all grafted, which have 
borne as high as 8,000 bushels of apples. In the fall of 1879 Mr. H. 
made and sold over 400 barrels of cider. Besides this orchard the 
place is bountifully supplied with pears, peaches, plumbs, and a 
vineyard of about an acre. He is probably the most extensive fruit- 
grower in the county. The grounds about the residence are deco- 
rated in a very pleasant and tasteful manner, with evergreens, etc., 
among which is a beautiful evergreen hedge, surrounding the front 
yard, of Norway spruce, etc., etc. 

Mr. Hammond's portrait is presented in this book. 

Franklin Harris was born in Franklin county, Vermont, Nov, 
13, 1829, and is a son of Samuel and Athildred Harris, who came 
to Adams county, 111., in 1834, and to this county in 1836. Our 
subject is one of 11 children, and has 4 brothers and 3 sisters living; 
viz., Nancy, Moses, Rodney, William H., Julia A., Caroline and 
Francis M. His father died, July 28, 1870. He owns 370 acres 
of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising, on sec. 12; 
P. ()., Warsaw. 

James T. Johnson. — Among the worthy, prominent citizens of 
Hancock county, the subject of this brief sketch deserves a place. 
He was born April 11, 1827, on the banks of the beautiful Ohio, 
on a small farm in Campbell county, Ky., and was the lltli of 12 
children. His parents were George Johnson (of the numerous 
family of Johnsons of Old Virginia) and Nancy, nee Botts. also 
of the same State. Few men have given better evidence of what 
a self-reliant, determined and studious man may accomplish than 
Mr. Johnson. Left at a tender age, without either means, or edu- 
cation, he lirmly resolved to acquire a good degree of both, and to 
this end he resolved to use neither tobacco, nor intoxicating drinks, 
and to apply the money thus wasted (by too many), for books and 
papers. This, like all the resolutions of his life, has been strictly 
adhered to; and many times the small hours of the night have 
found him by the light of the hickory-bark torch prosecuting his 
studies; and to- day, at the advanced age of 53, he is as active a 
student as ever, his present chief hobbies being botany, horticul- 
ture, floriculture, agriculture, chemistry and philosophy. Upon 
these questions he is perhaps "fanatical;" for if a new apple is 
presented to him, he is not satisfied until this apple is so studied 
and fixed in his mind, as to its character, appearance, and quality, 
that he may readily distinguish it wherever found; and this is true 
of him in regard to all of our horticultural productions. Dr. 
John A. Worder, of Ohio, the author of "American Pomology," 
has said of him, "Truly, there is not in all America a dozen men 
who know so much aUout the apple as my friend James T. John- 
son, of Warsaw, 111." He is at present Vice President of the 
Horticultural Society of Illinois; also member of the "Great 



648 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Mississippi Yalley Horticultural Society," and Corresponding Sec- 
retary of' the Warsaw Horticultural Society. 

He is the father of 6 children, 4 sons and 2 daughters; all ot 
whom are living. Mr. J. is the proprietor of one of the most 
comfortable, and profitable farms in Hancock county, of its size; 
his farm is handsomely situated on one of the high blufis of " The 
Father of Waters," and is known by the name of " Orchard Home." 
His home is one of most generous hospitality. In manners he 
is aifable and unreserved; in politics, he is an independent Dem- 
ocrat, yielding to none in good efforts for the good of the masses; 
and in religion, a Christian Liberal Baptist. In short, the one 
great object of his life is, a missionary effort f )r the improvement 
of the world. 

Mr. Johnson has served his tp. four terms as Supervisor, and has 
also served in all other local offices, including, Justice of the Peace 
for the past 12 years, etc., etc. He was married April 11, 1854, 
to Miss Jennie Battles. Her parents were formerly from Worcester 
county, Mass., and later of tliis county. From this union 6 chil- 
dren have been born; namely, Edward P., married and living in 
Wilcox tp. ; Nancy A., now the wife of B. W. Nicely, and lives 
in Lima, Adams county. 111. ; Clarence M., Charles W., Martha E. 
and Reuben, the last four Mving at home. 

Mr. Johnson's portrait is given in this volume. 

John Peyton. — The first of this family that emigrated to Amer- 
ica were two Englishmen, brothers, who settled in Amherst county, 
Virginia. The first of \y1^oiii we have any authentic account was 
the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He lived in Amherst 
county, and his name was James Peyton; he married a Miss Cox, 
in Virginia. James Peyton was a soldier under Washington 
during the Revolutionary war, serving for nearly the whole seven 
years. After the war he, with his family, moved to Kentucky, to 
what is now called Casey county, where he bought a large tract of 
land some five or six miles in length. He died in that county aged 
about 50 years, leaving a large family. 

Louis Peyton, the father of our subject, was the next to the oldest 
son of James Peyton, and came to Kentucky with his parents when 
he was about 16 years of age. Louis Peyton was married in Ken- 
tucky to Miss Sarah Roach, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Sassene) 
Roach. Isaac Roach was also a soldier in the Revolution, serving 
as Way-master in the Continental army, under Washington. 

Thus we have attempted to give some idea of the ancestry of the 
Peytons before they came to this county, and find, firstly, that they 
are of English descent and of good old Revolutionary stock, having 
risked their lives and fortunes to found the Government which we 
now enjoy. 

Louis Peyton, before mentioned, after his marriage, sold out his 
effects in Kentucky and moved with his family, consisting of his 
wife, 3 sons and one daughter, to Illinois, locating on the S. W. 
quarter sec. 24, Wilcox tp., arriving there in the spring of 1830. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 649 

He broke the first land with a plow on the Grand prairie, and raised 
a patch of five acres of corn without a fence, cut it and shucked and 
gathered it in the spring, nothing having touched it except a coon 
or deer. 

The names of the children were John, our subject; James Isaac, 
who died with the cholera in 1851, leaving a widow and two chil- 
dren; George Washington, who also died with the cholera in 1851, 
a single man; Amelia S., who is now the wife of James Barker. 
Louis Peyton always followed farming; was quiet and unostenta- 
tious in his manner and habits, respected and honored by his family 
and friends. He was also of verv strong religious convictions and 
a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He died, aged Q6 
years, from the effects of a cold which affected his lungs and finally 
terminated in consumption. His widow is still living on the old 
homestead, on sec. 24, which consists of 175 acres. John Peyton 
was born Dec. 10, 1818 ; at the age of 20 years he was given his time 
by his father, and he went to Iowa, where he remained about one 
year, having sold what property he had made during this time, 
amounting to some $125, soon after his return in this county. His 
parents helped him with some $300, with which, and the money he 
bad made, he bought the northeast quarter of sec. 34, Wilcox tp., 
for $400. This land was entirely in a wild state; as Mr. Peyton 
says: Nothing had disturbed it except " the wild deer eating a bit 
of grass." The deed transferring this land to Mr. Peyton is dated 
in August, 1840. The following spring Mr. Peyton commenced 
opening this farm, fencing some 25 acres, and planted 15 acres; also 
built a hewed log house in the winter of 1841, about 16xlb feet, 
■which is still standing some 300 yards from his present fine frame 
residence, on the northeast quarter of sec. 34, Wilcox tp. A year 
or two afterward he bought an adjoining quarter sec. — southeast 
sec. 34. Having got his half sec. under a good state of cultivation 
Mr. Peyton concluded it was about time to give up keeping bache- 
lor's hall, which he had done up to this time, and on June 4, 1848, 
he was married to Miss Alice Elizabeth Peyton, a daughter of Geo. 
W. and Ginsey Peyton; she was born in Montgomery county, Ind. 
They had 4 children l)orn, only 2 of whom are living: Alverum W., 
now living at home with his father; Mary Alice, now the wife of 
Charles Loudensslaker, and living on southwest quarter sec. 26, Wil- 
cox tp. 

Mr. Peyton has since added to the land which he first bought, so 
that now he is one of the largest land-holders in this section of the 
country. His possessions consist of a little over 2,500 acres of land, 
1,260 of which lie in the rich Mississippi bottoms. He is one of 
the foremost fruit growers in the county. In politics Mr. Peyton 
is a Democrat, and has served his township in all the ofiices that he 
would hold or accept, including that of elustice of the Peace eight 
years, and Road Commissioner. He was the first Supervisor of 
Wilcox t])., and has subsequently served many years in the same 
office. Mr. Peyton is a man of strong religious convictions, and 



650 HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

was for many years a member of the Baptist Church, and for the 
last five or six years has been a member of the Christian Church. 
He is a zealous member of the Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Peyton 
is now in his 62d year, and is still strong, active and vigorous; in 
fact, his movements would indicate a man rather of 45 than 60, the 
gray hairs only indicating his age. During his youth he was noted 
for his activity in all manly exercises, especially in wrestling, jump- 
ing, etc., in which he was seldom excelled. 

We give a gO(td portrait of Mr. Peyton on another page. 

Gustine Parker, a native of Campbell county, Kentucky, was 
born Feb. 10, 1842, and was brought to this county in 1851 by his 
parents, William and Rebecca J. Parker. Here Gustine was raised 
to manhoofl by his parents. In September, 1861, he was united in 
marriage with Sarah J. Pej'ton, daughter of the last mentioned. 
To this couple 5 children were born, of whom 4 are living; viz., 
William C, George W., Jesse C. and Minnie Gertrude. Mr. Par- 
ker owns a farm of 50 acres, located on sec. 26, Wythe tp. 

A. W. Simmons was born in Indiana, Nov. 4, 1828, and is a son 
of Adam and Mary (Cathcart) Simmons, who removed with their 
family to what is now Burlington, Iowa, in the year 1833. At that 
time Burlington was simply a trading post, and no town at all. 
His mother's brother, William Cathcart, served two terms in the 
U. S. Senate. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons both died in Iowa. Our 
subject is a teacher by profession, and has taught in all, 33 terms. 
Experience and study have given him knowledge, and he is always 
honored with a first-grade teacher's certificate. Ten years of his 
teaching was in Iowa. He was married in 1856, to Miss Martha 
C. Simpson, daughter of Luke and Anna Simpson, of Adams 
county. 111. This union has been blessed with 8 children, of whom 
6 are living; viz., Lizzie, Minnie, Josie, Luke, Chas. B. and Fred- 
die. Mr. Simmons is also engaged in farming, and owns a nice 
little farm in the Mississippi valley. 

John G. Smith, a native of Germany, was born Nov. 3, 1840 
and emigrated to America in 1853; first settled in Missouri, where 
he resided until 1858, when he came to Warsaw (this county), 
where he staid for awhile; then moved out in the country where 
he has since resided, engaged in farming, etc. He was married in 
the year 1867 to Miss Theresa Mezter, and they have had 6 chil- 
dren; viz., Laoliver, Emma, Carl, Frank, Homer and Helene. 

Wm. S. Tyree is a son of the late Benjamin F. Tyree,'who emi- 
grated to Illinois in 1832, settling in Schuyler county,when the bears, 
wolves, deer and Indians were numerous. Benjamin F. Tyi-ee 
married Miss Charlotte Sylvester, by whom he had 3 children; 
viz., Sarah, Ann E. and William S. Mr. Tjree was a soldier in 
the Mormon war. He removed with his family to this county in 
1849. Our subject, William S. Tyree, was raised on a farm and 
received a common-school education; was married in 1872, to 
Mary E. Clark, daughter of Abraham Clark (dec, and a soldier in 
the war of 1812). He resides on sec. 26, engaged in farming. 



HI8T0KT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 651 

Whaley d; Vance, livery-men, Wai'saw, 111., engaged in their 
business under tliis linn name in the year 1878, in Warsaw, and 
are doing a large business. Tiieir principal business, however, 
is farming and dealing in stock. Mr. Whaley came to Keokuk in 
1854, and to this county in 1856. Mr. Yance came to Warsaw 
when but a boy, where he has since resided. 

George B. Worthen is a native of Warsaw, this county, and 
was born Jan. 30, 1837. He is a son of Amos H. and Sarah B. 
Worthen. The former is a native of Vermont, and the latter of 
New Hampshire. They are now living in Warsaw. Our subject 
was reared and educated in Warsaw, and was joined in marriage 
Dec. 23, 1868, to Mrs. Mary L. Dath, formerly Bedell. They 
have had 5 children; of these, only 2 are living; viz., George B. 
and Jesse M. Mr. Worthen owns a farm of 40 acres on sec. 27. 
He is one of the most prominent horticulturists in Wilcox tp. 

Hannah Young, nee Frazey, wife of Isaac Young (deceased), is 
a native of New Jersey. She is a daughter of Samuel and Mary 
Frazey, both natives of New Jersey. Her husband was a native 
of England. He came to America in the year 1828, and remained 
in New Jersey until 1832, when he and Miss Frazey were united 
in the bund of holy matrimony. To this union were born 5 chil- 
dren, of whom 2 are living; viz., Carrie (now Mrs. Wright,) and 
Worthen. In 1845 they removed to this county, where they pur- 
chased a farm, where they resided until his death, in Dec, 1877. 
The bereft wife still lives on the old homestead in this tp. Mr. 
Young was by craft a machinest; but while he was here he pur- 
sued the occupation of farming, etc. 

TOWN OFFICIALS. 

The following catalogue of town officers is as complete as could 
be compiled from the means at hand. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Benjamin Whitaker 1858 John Peyton 1869 

Pierre A. Barker ... 1860 James T. Johnson 1871 

Benjamin Whitaker 1862 John Peyton 1875 

John Peyton 1865 John C. McMahan 1876 

Pierre A. Barker 1866 James E. Crawford 1878 

J.D.Sharn 1867 John Peyton 1879 

F. M. Howes 1868 James E. Crawford 1880 

CLERKS. 

Gideon Granger Galloway 1858 William Pemberton 1872 

C.J. Thomas 1860 Jesse Barker 1873 

John D. Shaw 1862 John T. McMahan 1874 

W.B.Huston 1866 James F. Crawford 1876 

Wm. S. Tyree 1869 John D. Shaw 1878 

R. Huston 1871 A. W. Simmons 1879-1880 



652 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



ASSESSORS. 



C.J. Thomas 1858 

James Campbell I860 

Melton G. Doughty 1862 

James Campbell 1864 

Benj. Whitaker 1866 

James Campbell 1867 



Peter Boernson 1869 

W.S.Tyree 1871 

Peter Boernson 1874 

Benj. Whitaker 1875 

John C. McMahan 1878 

B. Whitaker 1879-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



John Peyton 1858 

John A. Howes 1860 

Wm. S. Tyree 1»61 

Joseph Hartman 1862 

Francis M. Howes 1864 

Joseph Hartman 1865 

Robert G. Huston 1867 

James T. Johnson 1868 



John Hartman 1871 

John 11. Shain 1873 

John Hartman 1874 

Charles Hermann 1875 

Harrison O. Knox 1876 

Rodney Harris 1877 

Edward P. Johnson 1879-1880 




WARSAW TOWNSHIP. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



Cyrus B. Adams, proprietor of the Adams House of AVarsaw, 
is a native of Kochester, New York; was born May 25, 1822, and 
is a son of J. D. Adams, who was a native of Vermont. He was 
reared and educated in New York; came to Warsaw in 1858, and 
brought the first locomotive on the T., P. &. W. R. R. to Warsaw. 
He was master mechanic and assistant superintendent of the railroad 
until 1862, when he entered the navy; was 1st Asst. Engineer of 
the Mississippi squadron, being 3 years in the service, which closed 
in 1865. Soon afterward he opened the Adams House, and is still 
proprietor, and keeps a first-class liotel. He was married Dec. 12, 
1843, to Catharine Lanard, of Canada. On his father's side he is 
of Scotch ancestry. His father was in the war of 1812, and partici- 
pated in the battle of Lake Champlain. He was Ensign in the 
navy. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
participating in the first battle of the Revolution, On his mother's 
side he is of French ancestry. Her uncle was a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary war; also was in the frigate Boston; was ranked as Cap- 
tain in the army. The Master was taken prisoner and confined in 
Dartmere prison in London, about 8 months. 

C. Alhers is a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born in 1817. 
He emigrated to America in 1836, and to Warsaw in 1847. He 
here became a prominent merchant, and in 1856 erected a large 
flouring mill at a cost of $30,000. This mill is known far and near 
as the " Grace Mills," and stands on the foundation of the Water 
street mill that was erected in 1854, and was burned in 1855, dur- 
ing the great conflagration that occurred in Warsaw at that 
time. C. Albers & Co. manufacture the best of flour, and have 
entirely a merchant trade. They use Thropp's patent middlings 
purifier, and Becker's brusher. There are 6 stands of burrs, which 
are driven by an 80 horse-power engine. The present capacity of 
the mill is 250 barrels in 24 hours. 

Mr. Albers was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 5, 1839, to 
Miss Rebecca Knoop, by whom he had 10 children ; of these, 7 are 
living; viz., Henry, a partner of his father; Sophia (now Mrs. Yan- 
marter, of Florence, Italy); Anna (now Mrs. Rev. J. G. Kessler, 
of Warrington, Mo.); Rebecca (now Mrs. William Zuppann, of 
Warsaw, 111.); Charles, Wm. Edward and Homer. 

Mark A. Aldrich was born in Warren county. New York, in 
1801. He was of English descent, his ancestors emigrating to this 
country prior to the American Revolution. He received a thorough 

(653) 



654 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

collegiate education, and commenced the study of law, which he 
subsequently abandoned. In 1S29 he married Miss Margaret Wil- 
kinson, of Calvert conntj, Md., and removed to St. Louis, where he 
received an appointment in the American Fur Company. He left 
St. Louis June 19, 1829, on the steamboat Red Rover, and after 
a two weeks' trip, landed at the Point (now Keokuk, Iowa), on the 
2d of July, and took charge of the company's station at that place. 
In 1832 he removed to Fort Edwards, and in 1838 entered the land 
where Warsaw now stands, and built the second house that was 
erected outside of the fort. In 1S36 he was elected to the Legisla- 
ture, and in 1838 was re-elected to the same office. Two of his 
cotemporaries in that body in after years inscribed their names in 
imperishable characters on the roll of fame; Abraham Lincoln and 
the gifted and lamented Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Aldrich was a 
man of great enterprise, and took a leading and active part in the 
early affairs of Hancock county. In 1850 he removed to California, 
and a few years later went to Arizona. He was a member of the 
Arizona Legislature for five years, and held other im^jortant oflices 
in the Territory. He died in Tucson, Arizona, on the 22d of Oc- 
tober, 1874. 

His wife, Margaret Wilkinson Aldrich. was born in St. Gene- 
vieve, Missouri, in 1812. Her father, Dr. Joseph Wilkinson, a 
Surgeon in the United States Army, was at that time stationed at 
Jefferson Barracks. Mrs. Aldrich's ancestors were among the earliest 
settlers of Calvert county, Maryland. Her great-grandfather, James 
Wilkinson, second son of Sir Robert Wilkinson, of Northumber- 
land county, England, came to this country in 1693. Her grand- 
father, General Joseph Wilkinson, and her uncle. General James 
Wilkinson, both served with distinction through the war of the 
Revolution. The latter afterward became one of the most emi- 
nent men of his day. In 1817 Mrs. Aldrich's father resigned his 
commission in the army and returned to his father's home, in Cal- 
vert county, where he died the following year. In her grandfather's 
home and in the city of Baltimore, Mrs. Aldrich spent her child- 
hood and youth; but, after her marriage, in 1829, she cheerfully 
bade adieu to the refined associations and luxuries of her native 
place, and went forth to encounter the privations and vulgarisms of 
a new country. When Mrs. Aldrich landed at Keokuk, in 1829, 
there was but one wihte woman in the place. She remained in 
Keokuk two years, and in 1831 removed to Fort Edwards. In 1834 
she moved into her own house, where she still resides — in the old 
home, made dear to her by a thousand tender and joyful, as well as 
sad and melancholy, scenes. In fact, her life may well be consid- 
«red an episode in the history of Hancock county. From the un- 
broken solitude of the forest she has seen cities and towns spring 
up, as if by magic, from the bosom of the earth. Where once her 
eyes beheld the wild fiowers asd waving grass of the prairie, she 
sees the tokens of untiring industry and ceaseless labor; and over 
the bright waters of the great river, once broken only by the birch 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 655 

canoe of the savage, she hears the sullen roar of the iron gods, as 
witlj labored breath they bear their floating palaces along the waves. 
The whir and noise of constant toil has driven the genii of silence 
from every nook and corner of the land; they have wandered off 
with the l)irds and the wild flowers to faraway regions in the glow- 
ing West. In the fifty years that she has lived within her quiet 
home she has seen the rise and fall of two generations — looked upon 
a tliuusand changes in the social world around her, as the busy 
wlieel of life, with its noiseless rotation, has reeled off" the threads 
of fate. One by one she has seen tlie friends of her early life pass 
away; seen them float out into the shadows of that troubled sea over 
whose waters no return boat is ever seen to glide, until she is left 
alone — one of the few remaining links in the great chain that binds 
the bustling, toiling, rushing present to the silent, half- forgotten 
memories of the beautiful past. - "^ 

Dr. Joseph Atkinson was born in Brook county, Va., and is a son 
of John Atkinson, deceased. The Doctor received a dental educa- 
tion under Dr. King, of Pittsburg, Pa., and came to Illinois in 
1864, locating in Rushville, where he engaged in the practice of 
dentistry a few years, assisted by his sons. He then resided seven 
years in Bloomfield, Iowa. He afterward spent about five 3-ears in 
Chicago. He located in Warsaw in January, 1879, where he still 
resides, engaged in his profession, with good success. 

Dr. J. M. Barth is a son of Rev. Philip Barth, Pastor of the 
M. E. Church of Jacksonville, 111., and is a native of Nashville, 
Tenn. He was educated at Rock Island, 111., and Iowa City, Iowa, 
and began the practice of his chosen profession (dentistry) in 1875. 
In Nov., 1879, he located in Warsaw, where he is enjoying good 
practice. The Doctor's work recommends itself, and his business 
is constantly increasing. 

Geo. J. Bird was born in Highland county, Ya., Nov. 27, 1852, 
and is a son of Andrew J. Bird, deceased. Mr. Bird came to Elvas- 
ton, this county, in 1870, where he soon after engaged in teaching 
music, which he followed until recently, when he commenced the 
sale of Whitney & Holmes' organs, of Quincy, 111. He is a suc- 
cess, both as a teacher and salesman. He was married Oct. 31, 
1876, to Miss Laura A. Crouch, by whom he has 2 children. Bertha 
B. and Carlos A. 

A. F. Bliesner was born in Germany Feb. 2, 1839. His father's 
name was William F. Bliesner. Our subject emigrated to America 
in the year 1869, and came to this county in the year 1875. Was 
married March 31, 1872, to Minnie Gaede, by whom he had 5 chil- 
dren; of these but one is living: its name is Willis. In the year 
1876 Mr. Bliesner purchased the flouring mill known as the Planet 
mill, of Warsaw. This mill has 2 sets of burrs, which are driven by 
a 20 horse-power engine. Mr. B. manufactures the best quality 
of flour and does both custom and merchant work. The capacity 
of the mill is 35 barrels in 12 hours. 



656 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

H. A. Brinkman, druggist and apothecary, Warsaw, keeps on 
hand a full stock of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, lamps, 
fancy goods, perfumery, sponges, etc., etc. He was born in St. 
Louis Oct. 14, 18 — , and is the son of Henry and Mary Brinkman, 
who reside in Warsaw. H. A. came here as an apprentice when 
the establisiiment was in other hands, and in the year 186Y he pur- 
chased an interest in the stock and continued until 1872 when he 
bought the entire stock, which is now estimated at $5, 000, and has 
since been conducting the business with good success. 

H. G. Bristow, a native of Cumberland count}^ Ky., was born 
Aug. 21, 1824, and was brought by his parents, Elijah and Susanna 
Bristow, to McDonough county, this State, when three years old, 
where he was reared. He remained there until 1867, when he came 
to this city, Warsaw^ where he has since resided, and is at present en- 
gaged on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad. Our subject also 
participated in the battle against the Mormons, was one of the 
soldiers that guarded the jail at Carthage, wherein Joseph Smith 
was confined, and was discharged by the Governor on the morning- 
of the day that Joseph Smith was killed. Mr. Bristow was mar- 
ried in December, 1846, to Miss Sarah Cherry, by whom he had 
5 children; of these, 4 are living; viz., Etna, Addie, Jennie and 
Harry. 

Werner Brucktnan^ a native of Prussia, was born in 1829, and 
came to America in 1849, settling in New York; in 1874 he came 
to this city, Warsaw, where he has since resided. Our subject was 
married in 1853 to Catharine Beiesle. They have had one child; 
viz., Elizabeth. Mr. Bruckinan owns a house and about five acres 
surrounding it. 

W. W. Chittenden came from Oxford, Ohio (the place of his 
birth), to Adams county, llj., in 1834, where he remained until 
1839, when lie removed to Warsaw. He has resided here since that 
time, save eight years he was engaged in the mercantile business in 
Montrose, Iowa In early days Mr. Chittenden endured hardships 
and privations in this then wild country, even though he was but a 
boy when he first came. He hauled beef to Carthage, a distance of 
35 miles, selling it for $1.50 a quarter, which was something over 
1^ cts. per pound. He relates an incident that would be well 
enough for the boys of to-daj^ to notice. On one occasion, when on 
his way to Carthage with a load of beef, he encountered a fearful 
snow storm. It grew dark, and he was compelled to get out and 
grope along on his hands and knees to find the road, while a min- 
ister who was with him drove the horses after hiin. Mr. C. states 
that the preacher was very much cast down, and very frequently 
almost gave up in despair, saying that they must perish there in 
the blinding storm; but Mr. Chittenden, then about 17 years old 
and not a Christian, reprimanded him severely for not having more 
faith in his God and religion than that. But they arrived at a farm 
house not long after, and were safely housed until the next morning, 
when they very readily made their way to Carthage, and there dis- 





ft.. 





WILCOX Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 659 

posed of their beef. This incident occurred upon the Big Meadow 
soutli of Carthage. Mr. Chittenden sold flour in Keokuk wlien 
there were but four houses in that place, besides the Government 
buildings. He states that the Government officers guarded their 
money with pistols and "Arkansas tooth-picks." Mr. Chittenden 
took an active part in driving tlie Mormons from Illinois, and was 
present when Smith, the Mormon prophet, was killed. He knew 
the men who tired the fatal shots — there were four of them. Our 
subject was married Feb. 3, 1842, to Miss Helen M. Aldrich, by 
whom he has 6 children; viz., Mary C, William W., Isla J., Helen 
M., Arthur W. and Clara E. Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden are both 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. C. is engaged in fruit- 
growing in Warsaw, and has also recently planted a vineyard. He 
was born in Oxford, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1818, where he was reared and 
educated in the Oxford University. 

£'. R. Clemens was born April 23, 1818, in Kentucky. He is a 
son of David Clemens, who was a native of Yirginia, and is of 
Scotch ancestry. Our subject came to this county in 1843, where 
he has since made his home; engaged as an engineer on a boat pl}''- 
ing the Mississippi. During the last war lie was engineer on the 
gun-boat " Mound City," of a Mississippi squadron of the United 
States navy. This boat, with the full fleet, participated in the battle of 
Vicksburg, which lasted for the space of Ave hours. The fleet also 
fought at Greenville, the mouth of the Yazoo river and Red river. 
At the last named place Mr. Clemens was discharged on account of 
his inability to perform his duty; and when on his way home, he 
happened at Fort Pillow when General Forest made a raid on the 
soldiers and inhabitants there, and massacred them. Mr. Clemens 
was married June 5, 1843, to Mary J. Monday, by whom he has 
had 4 children. Of these only one is living, Endora. 

D. H. Cox^ agent for the St. Louis & Keokuk Packet Co., at 
Warsaw, 111., was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, June 7, 1824, 
and is a son of John Cox, deceased. He was educated at Delaware 
College, Delaware, O., and at A. C. Curaming's select school, 
in Pickaway county, O. He engaged for the most part in the mer- 
cantile business, until October, ISJrO, when he came to Warsaw, 
where he again followed merchandising for three years; 
since that time, with the exception of two years, he has been 
in the commission business, at Warsaw, and also agent for the 
Packet Coinpany, as above stated. He was married in 1852, to 
Miss Eliza J. Armstrong, daughter of the late Reed Armstrong, a 
native of Ohio, wlio came to this county in 1851, and they haye had 
8 children, of whom 6 are living; viz., Dan M., Edward V., Cora 
A., Anna B., Fannie and Harry R. 

Philip Dallam, editor of the Warsaw Bulletin, was born in St. 
Louis, Mo., May 22, 1853, and is a son of Francis A. and Anna 
M. Dallam, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of New 
York. Our subject was educated for the most part in Quincy, 111. 
He began to learn the printer's trade in 1868, under his father, at 

39 



660 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Warsaw. In the year 1870, be was employed as a proof-reader in 
the U. S. proof-reading room at Washington, but bis health fail- 
ing him he returned in the autumn of the same year. He took 
charge of the Warsaw Bulletin in 1875, which he is now success- 
fully operating. He was married Mar. 17, 1880, to Miss Eugenia, 
daughter of M. T. Hunt, deceased. 

Charles M. Davis, an ienterprising young Pennsylvanian, from 
the region of Philadelphia, came to Warsaw say thirty years ago, 
and settled; finally engaged in the milling business, which he fol- 
lowed successfully several years. He married Miss Beta Wood, a 
sister to James H. Wood, Esq. Some ten years since thej^ each 
emigrated to Denver, Colorado, where Mr. Wood since died. Mr. 
D. engaged there also in the business of milling, and has a fine 
establishment there known as the " West Denver Flouring Mills." 
We are glad to learn that Mr. D. has been quite successful as a 
business man, and is now ranked among Denver's many successful 
men, and is a subscriber to this history of his old home county. 

0. C. DuSowchet^ of the firm of Du Sowchet & Sons, is a 
native of Cambridge, Ohio, and was born Aug. 8, 1828; he re- 
moved to Mt. Yernon, Ind., where he remained until the spring of 
1863. He then came to Warsaw and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness with Hill, Knox & Co., for whom he worked two or three 
years. The firm then changed to Hill &, Co., and continued by 
that name until the spring of 1879, when Mr. Du Sowchet and his 
sons purchased the entire stock, and are now selling at wholesale 
and retail with unlimited success. They carry a stock of about 
$30,000, consisting of lumber, lath, shingles, doors, sash and blinds. 
Their annual sales amount to about $25,000. They are men of per- 
severence and enterprise; consequently their business will increase 
surely and steadily. 

Briggs J. Fuller, dentist, Warsaw, 111., is a native of Lee, 
Mass., and was born Dec. 8, 1845. His father was the late Albert 
Fuller, and the family are descendants of Dr. Wm. Fuller, one 
of the pilgrims who came to America in the Mayflower. The 
subject of this sketch came to Illinois with his parents in 1856, 
and settled in Warsaw, where he was educated. He is a graduate 
of the Missouri Dental College, of St. Louis. He began the prac- 
tice of dentistry in Warsaw in 1874, and has been very successful, 
and has a large run of custom. 

John [I. Finlay. Mr. Finlay would not give his consent for us 
to insert his biography in this work, but we will just say (without 
his knowledge) that Mr. Finlay is one of the most prominent law- 
yers of Warsaw, and has a large practice. 

First National Bank of Warsaw was established in 1864, by 
William Hill and others, with a cash capital of $100,000; first 
President, Wm. Hill; first Cashier, C. H. Mellen; first Board ot 
Directors, Wm. Hill, C. H. Mellen, Henry Hill, J. W. Knox, John 
and James B. Hill and James H. Wood. Mr. Mellen resigned his 
position as Cashier March 1, 1869, and James B. Dodge was 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 661 

elected in his place, who still holds that position. June 14, 1875, 
on account of high local taxes, the company reduced their capital 
stock to $50,000, which is the present amount. At a meeting of 
the stock-holders June 10, 1S71, the number of Directors was re- 
duced from seven to five. 

Christian Green was born Aug. 25, 1822, in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine Green, who came 
to this city with them in 1854, and is a partner in the firm of Rie- 
man & Green, millers (see Rieman's biography). He was married 
three times, and is the father of 12 children, Y of whom are living, 
as follows: Sarah, Thos., Daniel, Laura, Edward, Reuben and 
Cora. 

Daniel A. Gardner, deceased, was a native of New York, and 
was born in 1817. He received a common-school education in 
New York, and came to Illinois in an early day. He was married 
in 1S53 to Miss L. T. Ingersoll, by whom he had 4 children ; of these, 
2 are living, Charles H. and George W. Mrs. Gardner is a daugh- 
ter of Moses Ingersoll, deceased, who was a relative of the cele- 
brated orator, Robert G. Ingersoll. Mr. Gardner removed to War- 
saw the same year of his marriage, where he engaged in the lumber 
trade until about the year 1861, when he retired. He resided in 
Warsaw until his death, which occurred May 2, 1868. His re- 
mains were consigned to the narrow limits of the grave in Oakland 
cemetery, Warsaw, 111. 

Dr. Charles Hay was born in Fayette county, Ky., in 1801. His 
father's name was John Hay, born in Berkeley county, Va., and his 
mother's name was Jemima Coulter, who was born at Red Stone 
old fort, in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hay's parents located in Kentucky 
in 1794, with whom he lived during his youth, working on the farm 
and attending school. Charles attended Transylvania Medical 
College, located at Lexington, Ky. He graduated in 1829 with a 
record admired by class-mates and faculty. The Doctor has had 
great success in his chosen profession, ranking among the first 
physicians in the States where he has practiced. He was examin- 
ing pension physician for the United States at Warsaw from 1864 
to 1879, when, from his own choice, he resigned, being too old to 
attend to his many duties. Mr. Hay was married in 1831 to Helen 
Leonard, and their children are Edward L. (deceased), Augustus L. 
(now a Captain in the 9th U. S. Yol. Infantry, stationed in Wyom- 
ing Territory), Mary P. (widow of Major Austin Woolfolk), John, 
Charles E. and Helen J. (deceased). John Hay is a graduate of 
Brown University, at Providence, R. I. While reading law in 
Springfield he became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, who 
afterward appointed him as his private secretary, which position he 
held about four years, during the late war. Mr. Lincoln in 1865 
appointed him as Adjutant General, with the rank of Major, upon 
Gen. Gilmore's staff. He also received an appointment from Lin- 
coln as Secretary of the Legation that went to Paris in 1865. He was 
present at Lincoln's assassination. John was also "leader editor" 



662 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of the New York Tribune for four years, and is now 1st Assistant 
Secretarj' of State at Washington. Charles E. Hay was an aid-de- 
camp to Gen. Hunter during the late war, and is at present a lead- 
ing grocer in Springfield, 111. Dr. Hay came to Warsaw in 1841, 
and by his integrity and untiring energy has amassed considerable 
property. His residence is one of the finest in the city, and is 
furnished with all the luxuries necessary to make old age comfort- 
able and happy. When he came to Warsaw the census showed a 
population of about 400. Most of the land on which the city now 
stands was covered with heavy timber, principally oak. The ground 
on which Mr. Hay's house now stands was known as Fort Fraction, 
intended for hospital purposes. Fort Edwards, of historical impor- 
tance, was built by Zachary Taylor, afterward President of the U. S. 
The fort was located at the head of Fort street. 

John. Hay. — Hon. John Hay, present Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury at Washington, though for years residing abroad, is 
claimed as a Hancock county boy. He was born in Indiana in Oct., 
1838, two or three years before his father, Dr. Charles Hay, emi- 
grated to Wai-saw. In Warsaw he received a common-school edu- 
cation, and was sent to the State University at Springfield, and 
afterward to Brown University, at Providence, R. I., where he 
graduated with hon(,)r. He chose the profession of law, and 
studied with his Uncle Milton in Springfield, of the then firm of 
Hay, Cullom & Campbell. The election of Abraham Lincoln to 
the Presidency necessitated the employment of private secretaries, 
and he chose John Hay as one of them, and then commenced that 
course of public life which has resulted in giving to young Hay a 
national reputation as a diplomatist and statesman. He seems to 
have been throughout the honored confidant of the President, and 
was placed by him in many positions of trust, in all of which he ac- 
quitted himself with credit. He was sent to Paris as Secretary ot 
Legation under Minister Bigelow; afterward to Austria as Charge 
d' Aifaires; and again as Secretary of Legation to Spain under 
Gen. Sickles. He was, also, for a period during the war, on Gens. 
Hunter and Gilmore's staff as Adjutant, with the rank of Major. 

Afterward, in an effort to start a new Republican paper in Chi- 
cago, Dana, now of the New York aSwvi, was engaged as editor-in- 
chief at an excessive salary, and on his failure, Col. Hay, with his 
friend and former associate. Private Secretary Nicolay, were put in 
charge. But the venture proved unsuccessful, and the Chicago 
JRepuhlican ceased to exist. Mr. Hay also served for four years 
as one of the chief editorial writers on the New York Tribune, a 
position he was compelled reluctantly to resign on account of fail- 
ing health. Since his marriage he has been residing chiefly in 
Cleveland, Ohio, until elected by President Hayes and Secretary 
Evarts to fill the post of Assistant Secretary, in Oct., 18T9. 

Notwithstanding Col . Hay's brilliant public career, he is, per- 
haps, most widely known as a writer. He has been from his youth 
;i well-read historian and scholar; and his long residence ' abroad 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 663 

gave him extraordinary advantages in his literary studies. As a 
prose writer he has few superiors, and his reputation as poet is 
equal to that of any other of the later American poets. His 
scholarship, his line literary taste, his extensive knowledge of his- 
tory and general literature, and his European experiences liave 
made him a most agreeable and fascinating writer. The regret is 
lately felt that the cares of public and private life arq drawing him 
away from literary pursuits, for which he has such eminent quali- 
fications, and in which he would achieve an exalted and enduring 
reputation. 

It is understood the Messrs. Hay and Nicolay have been for 
years engaged on a Life of President Lincoln, a work which is 
anxiously looked for, and one which will, doubtless, occupy a high 
place among American biographies. 

This tribute t© a Warsaw boy is given — without his knowledge 
— by one who has known and esteemed him from his childhood up, 
and who takes pride in being thus able to write truthfully of his 
most successful career. 

Charles H'dker is a native of the province of Westphalen, Prus- 
sia, and was born in 1810. He came to America in January, 1844, 
locating in Augusta, Mo., where he resided until 1850, and was a 
carpenter and cabinet-maker. In 1850 he removed to Warsaw, 
where also he engaged in his trade for about 14 years, when, in 
1864, he was elected to the office of Police Magistrate, which office 
he held for 12 years, being re-elected twice. He was then elected 
City Clerk, which office lie held one year, having had the same 
office in connection with that of Police Magistrate the year previous. 
Was again elected to the office of City Clerk in 1879. He was 
married in 1833, to Dorothy Koch, by whom he has had 11 chil- 
dren, of whom but 3 are living, Gottlieb, Wilhelmina, in Kansas, 
and William, of St. Louis. 

James B. Hill^ deceased, was a native of England, and was born 
May 12, 1830. His parents emigrated with their family to Amer- 
ica ill 1834, and located in Pennsylvania. They were Jolm and 
Harriet Hill. .They brought their family to Warsaw in 1835. 
James B. was educated in Warsaw, and was married May 25, 1850, 
to Miss Charlotte Ellis, b}' whom he had 9 children; of these, 7 are 
living; viz., Cora, Willis, Belle, Harry, Lottie, Frances and James 
Etta. Cora has been married, and has 2 children, — Frank and 
Guy. Mr. Hill was a machinist, and was engineer on the Mississippi 
river the greater part of his life. He died Febuary 4, 1869, much 
loved and esteemed by the citizens of Warsaw. He was a veiy gen- 
erous man, always lending a helping hand to the needy. He took 
seven orphan children under his charge, educating and otherwise 
caring for them as he did tor his own children. He was a soldier 
in the Mornion war. 

Geo. S. Knox, deceased, was born in Steuiien county, N. Y., 
March 9, 1828, and was a son of Wm. D. and Sally Ann (Winters) 
Knox. He was educated in New York State, and came with his 



664 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

parents to this county in 1844:. He afterward went to Galena, 111., 
where he engaged in mining a few years. In 1852 he returned to 
Warsaw, where he was identified with business enterprises that 
helped to develop the place. He was interested in the Warsaw 
woolen mills also. By enterprise, keen foresight and close atten- 
tion to business he amassed a large fortune. In later years he lived 
a retired life. He was married May 6, 1857, to Miss Emily A. 
Hill, daughter of John Hill (deceased), so well known in the early 
history of Warsaw, and a sister of the popular banker of Warsaw, 
Mr. William Hill. This union was blessed with 3 children, of 
whom but one, Clara E., is living. Mr. Knox died in Chicago, Oct. 
28, 1879, while located temporarily there for his health. 

Benjamin Franklin Marsh, the present efficient member of 
Congress for the lOtli Illinois district, is a native of Hancock 
county, born on Jiis father's farm four miles east of Warsaw, and 
is now about 40 years old. We have no particulars of his early 
life, and only know that his boyhood days were spent on the farm, 
that many of them were employed in driving an ox-team in 
turning over the prairie sod, in plowing corn and potatoes, making 
fence, and feeding hogs and cattle,and in other laborious and 
exacting farm labor. At home the facilities for acquiring the ru- 
diments of an education were very limited so at times he was 
sent to the village to school. In time he reached college, where, 
we do not remember, nor for how long a period. From college he 
went into a law office, and afterward to the practice of law, 
chiefly with his brother John W., at Warsaw. When the Rebell- 
ion broke out, Frank took up arms for the Union, as did also his 
brother Arthur (whose life was sacrificed in the cause). For his 
career in the army the reader is referred to the report in another 
chapter. 

In 1876 he received the Republican nomination for Congress 
and was elected, and returned again in 1878, in both of which 
terms he served his constituents faithfully and with honor, and 
acquired a prominent standing with his fellow members. And at 
the late Republican Convention (1880) he received a unanimous 
vote for a third term, a compliment seldom extended to a candi- 
date. 

This meager account of "our member" is hastily thrown 
together from the recollection of the writer, without data before 
him from which to make a more extended report. 

Thomas McDougal was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Sept. 4, 
1833, and is a son of Richard and Mary McDougal. He came to 
Warsaw in 1856, where, in 1866 he engaged in the livery business, 
which he is still pursuing with prosperity. He was married in 
1856 to Miss Mary F. Lewis, by whom he has 2 children, Jennie 
(dec.) and Donald. 

George S. McFerran was born in Beaver county. Pa., May 10, 
1827. He was reared and educated in Hookstown, Pa., and came to 
Warsaw in 1859, where he has since resided. He is a mechanic, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 665 

and is employed as bridge-builder, on the T., P. & W. R. R. He 
helped erect this road in the winter of 1867-'8, He has been mar- 
ried twice, and is the father of 5 children, of whom 2 are living, 
George M, and Willy D. George is a member of the graduating 
class in the Warsaw high school (April, 1880). Mr. McFerran's 
present wife was Miss Mary J. Mackey. She came to America on 
a visit to her sister in 1859, and has prolonged her visit until the 
present. She became the wife of Mr. McFerran in 1862. 

Lemuel Mussetter was born in Frederick county, Md., Nov. 11, 
1806, and was raised on a farm, on which the principal crops were 
tobacco. His father was the first man in the United States to sell 
tobacco at $25 per cwt. after the war of 1812. When Lemuel was 
23 years of age he was emploA'ed by the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. 
Company; in about a year and a half he was taken sick, and after 
recovery he commenced in the grocery business at a new town called 
Ijamsville, and was appointed Postmaster at that place by the in- 
fluence of George C. Washington, a nephew of the old General, the 
'' Father of our Country," and soon added dry goods to bis line of 
trade. June 7, 1836, he left for the West; spent the summer in 
Ohio, and the last day of September arrived in this State, where 
his first employment was to assist James Brattle, the County Sur- 
veyor, in the survey of lots of the town of Warsaw, for public sale. 
He boarded with Mr. Newberry at the old Fort Edwards. From that 
time until 1843 Mr. M. followed various kinds of business; he then 
bought the grocery of John Swett, situated on the river. When 
Mr. ]\I. first landed at Warsaw there were more Indians than white 
people in the vicinity. In 1845 he was appointed Postmaster, and 
in this capacity served until the inauguration of President Taylor, 
when he was removed on political grounds. Then Mr. M. n^oved 
to the hill and added dry goods, etc., to his business, and continued 
until 1859, when he sold out to Wm. Cooper and lost $3,000 by 
the operation. 

In 1845 Mr. Mussetter married Miss Hannah Aegus, and they 
have had 10 children. In 1859 Mr. M. made a trip to the Rocky 
Mountains, spending a summer there; that region is now Colorado. 
He has been Trustee, Councilman, Magistrate, Member of the 
Legislature, etc. Whs elected Supervisor on the first adoption of 
tp. organization. He has seen this county develop from its 
original wild condition to that of wealth and refinement, and has 
been prominently identified with that progress. 

E W. Oliver is a native of Adams county. 111., and was born, Nov. 
2, 1836. His father, Elias Oliver, of Decatur, was among the 
first pioneers who settled in Adams county. He was tendered 20 
acres of land where Quincy now stands, as payment for three 
months' work. The}' came to this ct)unty about 1847, where Mr. 
E. W, Olivier still resides, the popular artist of Warsaw. He en- 
gaged in photography in the autumn of 1863, in Warsaw, having 
learned the art in Quincy; traveled some throughout the country. 
He has since remained in Warsaw, except two years ot this time. 



666 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

which he spent in St. Louis and Quincy. He was married in the 
fall of 1860, to Miss Mary J. Walker, daughter of John Walker 
(dec), of Brecken ridge, 111. This union has been blessed with 4 
children, of whom 3 are living; viz., Warren M., Rufus W. and 
Cora A. Mr. Oliver's reputation as a photograplier is well known 
in this locality, and he deserves the patronage of the people. 

David Ogden, a native of Buffalo city, N. Y., was born Apr. 
27, 1823, a son of Jesse B. and Charlotte Ogden, both natives of 
that State. He came to this (Hancock) county in 1856. He is a 
machinist by occupation, having learned his art in the Buffalo city 
steam engine works; is now the engineer of the Grace Mill, of War- 
saw. He was married Aug. 14, 1858, to Miss Sarah E. Dorsey, by 
whom he has had 7 children; of these, 4 are living: Lurenda, Lilly, 
George, Endora. 

Rev. Joltn O. Rankin, a native of East Tennessee, was born 
March 31, 1821, and is a son of Rev. Wm. C. Rankin, a Presbyte- 
rian minister, who removed with his family to Southern Indiana 
in 1837, where he engaged in the ministry for about 5 years, when 
he removed to Des Moines county, Iowa; here he took charge of 
the Yellow Springs (now Kossuth) Church. He remained there 
but two or three 3^ears,when he removed to this county and engaged 
in the missionary work for the most part, until 1870. He now 
lives a retired life at Fort Madison, Iowa, at the age of 85 j^ears. 

Our subject. Rev. John G. Rankin, graduated at Mission Insti- 
tute, near Quincy, 111., in 1845, and at Lane Theological Seminary, 
Cincinnati, O., May 5, 1847. He was ordained by the Schuyler 
Presbytery, Sept. 13, 1849. He commenced laboring with the 
First Presbyterian Church, of Warsaw, 111., Sept. 10, 1848; resigned 
in March, 1850. In March, 1851, he took charge of Carrollton 
Ciiurch, Greene Co., 111., where he remained 10 years. In March, 
1861, he returned to Warsaw and continued until December, 1868; 
he then took charge of Monticello Church, Madison Co., 111., and 
was Chaplain of Monticello Seminary. In 1872 he was with the 
Ferguson Church, St. Louis county, Mo. His next field was Cen- 
tralia, 111., from whence he returned to his old field, Warsaw, 111, 
where he still remains the Pastor of the Church. He was married 
in Quincy, 111., to Miss Philomela Prentiss, April 3, 1851. Her 
native place is Prattsburg, Steuben county, N. Y. Her father, 
Harvey P. Prentiss, still resides in Quincy. Her mother was 
Livonia Looiuis, daughter of Deacon Gamaliel Loomis, of Pratts- 
burg, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin have no children. 

J. P. Rieman was born near Gettj'sburg, Adams Co., Pa., Jan. 
7, 1827; came to Warsaw in April, 1854; was a son of John and 
Lydia Rieman. He worked as a laborer at various occupations 
until 1863, when he purchased an interest with Christian Green in 
a flour mill, and has since continued in business there. The mill 
is now known as the "Eagle Milis" of Warsaw. The capacity of 
this mill is 30 barrels per 12 hours, and the flour is of the very best 
quality. They also manufacture patent flour. Tliey use McGin- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 667 

nis's patented Sill utter. Mr. Rieman was married to Martha Ann 
Benson in 1S55, by whom he had 4 children; of these, 2 are living, 
Edward F. and John William, 

Silas Rohinson, son of the noted Fayette Robinson, America's 
great showman (more commonly known as "Yankee Robin- 
son "), was born in Dansville, IST. Y., July 22, 1845. He was edu- 
cated in Canandaigua, N. Y. ; when the war broke out in 1861 he 
enlisted in the 13th JST. Y. Heavy Artillery, but was rejected on 
account of a wound he received in 1857. He came to this county 
in 1879 and edited the Augusta Herald for one year, when, in the 
spring of 1880, he removed to Warsaw, where he established the 
Warsaw Democrat^ and also is editor of the Warsaw Dally Inde- 
jpendent^ the first and only dail}^ paper in Hancock county since 
1857. He was married Sept. 3, 1869, to Miss Jennie Smith. His 
father, Fayette Robinson, was born at Dennison's Corners, N. Y., 
and was the first to render the celebi-ated Uncle Tom's Cabin under 
a canvas. 

A. Roesler, dealer in stoves, tinware, hollow- ware and house- 
furnishing goods, Warsaw, has, since 1854, continued in this line of 
business, sustaining a high reputation and enjoying an extensive 
patronage. He was born in Germany; came to America in 1S18, 
stopping in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1851 settled in Warsaw. In 
1851 he married Miss Susan Rett, and of their 4 children 2 are 
living — Rudolph and Oscar. Mr. Roesler is the pre&ent Mayor of 
Warsaw. 

John Scott, deceased, was born July 9, 1804, in Ashe ccunty, N. 
C. He removed to Kentucky in the fall of 1816, and to Madison 
county, 111., in 1817, when it was a Territory; then he moved to 
Morgan county, 111., where for the first two years he had to go 80 
miles to mill. He came to Warsaw in the spring of 1834. He 
was married Dec. 13, 1836, to Louisa J. Frazier, of Quincy, 111., 
and the}^ have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living — Mary F. 
(now Mrs. George J. Rogers, of Carthage), Louisa (at home with 
her mother) and John F., who is the present Deputy County Clerk 
at Carthage. Mr. Scott died May 1, 1865. He was a merchant and 
commission agent most of his life. 

Christojyher Stephens, deceased, was a native of German3% and 
was born in 1802. He came to America in 1843, stopping for a 
season at Baltimore, Md., and in the year 1844 he came to St. 
Louis, and thence to Warsaw the same year. He was a wagon- 
maker at Warsaw for many years. He died in July, 1866, loved and 
respected by his many friends and acquaintances. He was a prom- 
inent citizen. 

Rev. Peter Wallace, pastor of the AVarsaw M. E. Church, was 
born in ]\[ason county, Ky., April 11, 1813, and is a son of Thomas 
and Catherine Wallace, deceased. His ])arents removed to Brown 
county, Ohio, when he was but an infant. He was here reared on 
a farm, with but limited educational advantages; but by hard study 
he has mastered several bratiches of literature and science, and is 



60S HISTORY OF HANCOCK COfNTY. 

thorotbro a self-made man. lie came to Sprino;tield, 111., in 1S33; 
and in 1835 married Miss Emeline Johnson, bv whom he had 6 
children. Of these, 3 are living; viz., Joseph, Laura (now Mrs. 
Clark), and Emma (now Mrs. Arrowsmith). Mrs. "Wallace died 
Oct. IS, 1S(>0. "While a young man in Springtield Mr. Wallace 
had for associates such persons as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. 
Douglas, E. 1^. Baker, ^lilton Hay and others, afterward noted 
men. His first vote was cast for Lincoln for the Illinois Legisla- 
ture. Mr. W. became a member of the M. E. Conference ai Beards- 
town, 111., in 1S53. He labored in the ministry until ISOO. In 1S62 
he organized a company of soldiers, mostly from Sangamon county, 
which was mustered into the United States service Aug. 21. 1S62. 
^[r. Wallace was elected Captain of the company, and they partic- 
ipated in the battles of Perry ville, Ky., Stone Iviver, Nashville, and 
other smaller engagements. He commanded the regiment during 
most of the battle ot' Stone River. He was discharged from the 
service on account of physical disability in ^[ay, lSt>4. He then 
supplied the Park Street ^L E. Church, of Cincinnati, O., until 
his own i^lUinois^ conference met at Danville, 111., in the fall of the 
same year, when he received an appointment to ^[oweaqua. He was 
appointed Presiding Elder of ^lattoon district in ISOT, and in ISTl 
was appointed Presiding Elder of Quincy district, which he trav- 
ek\i for four years. He was President of t\w Board of Trustees of 
Chaddock College six years; afterward pastor at "Winchester and 
Beardstown stations, and is now stationed at AVarsaw, 111., in 
chavii-e of the ^L E. Church. 

Jl'fjor J(y/ui h\ Tr//c'('.i', the subject of this memoir, was born in 
Addison county, Vermont, in 17i>S. His ancestors were among the 
earliest settlers of that State. His childhood and youth were em- 
ployed in obtaining the best education that the schools of his 
native town atforded. In very early life he accompanied his father 
to Portage county, Ohio. In ISIS he was appointed a cadet to 
West Point, by Congressman Sloan, and performed the journey 
from his home to "West Point, a distance of many hundred miles, 
on horseback. He graduated in 1S22, received an appointment of 
2d Lieutenant, and was ordereil to Fort St. Anthony. He 
arrived at the fort about the time of its completion, and was present, 
when General Scott, in compliment to its brave commander. Col. 
Snelling,chano;ed its name from Fort St. Anthony to Fort Snelling. 
The winter of lS22-'2o he spent in Jetferson Barracks, and in the 
spring was ordered to Fort Edwards, now "\A"arsaw, 111., at that 
time considered the tu- plus idtni of civilization. In the fall of 
1S23 he acted as second in a duel that was fought between Col. 
Marston, the commander of the fort, and Captain Home. In 1S24, 
Major Wilcox resigned his commission in the army, and soon after 
received an appointment in the American Fur Company. In 1S26 
lie went to the Galena lead mines, but subsequently returne«.i and 
settled in Warsaw, where he resided until his death, in lSo9. In 
1^24 he was unite*.! in marriaire to Miss Marv Kinney, daughter 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTr, 069 

of Col. Louis Kinnov, one of tlie tirst settlers of Louis county, 
Missouri. Tiie fruits of this union were 7 children, 3 of whom died 
in infancy. Major Wilcox died at his home in "Warsaw, on the 
3rd of October, 1S39, which event had been preceded by the death 
of his amiable and accomplished wife, two years before. ]\Iajor 
Wilcox was a social, benevolent, hio:h-toned gentleman — a man of 
understanding, well informed, sincere, and honest. His feelings 
were strong but tender, and in the domestic circle they shone with 
peculiar lustre. To the testimony of private friendship may be 
added that of less partial strangers, who have borne witness to the 
many virtues of one whom it was impossible to know without 
esteeming, or to see without admiring. Major and Mrs. Wilcox 
left 4 children. The eldest daughter, ^lartha, attended school in 
Hancock county for several years after her lather's death, then 
went to Ohio, completed her education, and married Dr. William 
English, who was for many years a prominent physician of War- 
saw. The second daughter, Elizabeth, was adopted and raised by 
an aunt in Ohio, where she married and is still living. The young- 
est daughter, Virginia, was ado}Ued by another aunt, Mrs. Gal- 
land, wife of Dr. Galland, a gentleman who occupied a prominent 
place in the early history of Hancock county. This daughter, cele- 
brated as well for her amiability and grace of manner as for her 
wit and beauty, married Mr. William Ivens, of Keokuk, Iowa, and 
with the exception of a few years spent in California, has resided 
in that city, an acknowledged queen of society. Their only son, 
Louis Kinney Wilcox, was reared and educated in Vermont; 
returned to Warsaw in 1S48, and commenced the study of medi- 
cine with his brotlier-in-law. Dr. English; attended lectures at the 
medical college in St. Louis, from which institute he graduated 
with high honors. Li 1852 he commenced the practice of medi- 
cine in Warsaw, and, with the exception of a year spent at the 
medical college at Philadelphia, and three years in the army, has made 
that city his home, where he has had for many years an extensive and 
lucrative practice, being considered one of the most skillful and 
prominent physicians in the county. ^lajor Wilcox and his wife 
passed away in the summer of their lives, ere the journey of life 
was half completed ; passed away while yet the golden tloss of youth 
entwined their hearts, and the dim gray shadows of old i\ge were 
but phantoms hovering in the distance. For long years they have 
slumbered in their darkened palaces of rest, and while the pitying 
stars have kept their everlasting watch and ward above them, and 
the night winds have sung a never-ceasing requiem o'er their 
graves, the Genius of improvement has passed with hurried tread 
over the scenes once familiar to their mortal eyes. 

Capt.J. B. Williams was born in ^[adison county, K\'., March 
28, 1810, and is a son of Levi and Polly (^Reid) Williams, also 
natives of Kentucky, who came to this county in 1831. Mr. Levi 
Williams was a soldier in the war of 1812, tlie Black Hawk war 
and the Mormon war. He was the father of children, of wb.>>ii 



670 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the subject of this sketch is the eldest. Captain Williams was 
married in 1849, to Miss Angeline A. McMahan, daughter of 
Andrew McMahan, of Warsaw. This union has been blessed with 
8 children, of whom but 3 are living, — Mary, Flora J. and Thomas 
L. Mr. Williams operated the steam ferry at Warsaw for eight 
years, and since 1865 has been a Captain for the Eagle Packet 
Company, now operating on the Mississippi at all points between 
St. Louis and Keokuk. He still owns the old homestead on the 
]^. W. J of sec. 6, Walker tp. Thomas L. Williams is engaged in 
farming near Warsaw. 

Amos H. Worthen was born in Bradford, Orange county, Yt., 
Oct. 31, 1813 ; was married to Miss Sarah B. Kimball, of Warren, 
N. H., Jan. 14, 1834; removed to Harrison county, Ky., and taught 
school a year; thence to Illinois in 1836, locating in Warsaw. In 
that place he entered into the mercantile business, which he follow- 
ed for a number of years, with moderate success. 

In 1851 Mr. W. was appointed assistant geologist in the Illinois 
Geological Survey, and remained in that position for about three 
years. In 1855 he was appointed an assistant in the Geological 
Survey of Iowa, and was thus engaged when he was appointed State 
Geologist of Illinois by Gov. Bissell, March, 1858. 

Prof. Worthen may justly be termed a self-educated man. With 
no education beyond that acquired at the common schools of New 
England, and no scientific training, he took up the study of geology 
and mastered it, to an extent excelled by few; and this, too, after 
his settlement in Warsaw, and amid the cares of a family and while 
engaged in business. 

His attention was first drawn to the science of geology by 
observing the interesting minerals and fossils that were met with 
in such profusion on every hand. We well remetnber seeing him 
out in the morning or evening, with basket and hammer, rambling 
over the blufi's and among the ravines, collecting specimens, and 
then thought he was unprofitably engaged. The ravines were then 
full of geodes that had weathered out of the decomposing shales of 
the geode beds, and the beautiful crystals with which they were 
lined were objects of great interest. The limestones were also full 
of fossils; and although the forms of organic life they presented 
were entirely new to him, they excited an intense desire to know 
something of their history, and of the specific character of the 
animals to which they once belonged. 

There had been no elementary work on geology published in this 
country at that time, and the first books he was able to obtain that 
contained any account of fossils, were a copy of Dr. Mantell's 
"Medals of Creation," and "Wonders of Geology," published in 
England. These, though they threw no light on the specific char- 
acter of the specimens he gathered in his excursions among the 
rocks here, gave him some insight into the manner in which the 
rocks were formed, and how the remains of living beings came to 
be preserved in them. By collecting the minerals and fossils that 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 671 

were found in the vicinity of Warsaw, and exchanging them witli 
other collections, he graduallj' acquired the information so much 
desired. Through these collections and exchanges, and l\v other 
means. Prof. W. obtained a vahiable geological museum, which, 
when he was called to Springfield, thousands would not have pur- 
chased. Subsequently the first volumes of the Paleontology of New 
York were published, aflbrding the first figures and descriptions of 
American fossils that he had been able to obtain. Those who com- 
mence the study of geology now, when the characteristic fossils of 
every formation on the North American continent have been figured 
and described in published works, that are accessible to the student, 
in public and private libraries, can form but little idea of the difli- 
culties with which students in the same field had to contend 
40 years ago. 

Prof Worthen's labors as State Geologist resulted in an extended 
survey of every county in the State, and the publication of six 
large volumes as a record of the work, — a publication deemed of 
great value to the scientific world. 

More lately Gov. Cullom has appointed Mr. W. to the position 
of Curator in the State Historical Library and Natural History 
Museum, a post which he now holds. 

Rev. L. Zumhuehl^ present Pastor of the Catholic Church in 
Warsaw, a native of Switzerland, was in 1846 in the city of Lu- 
zerne. He entered the college of said city in 1860; in 1864 he con- 
tinued his classical course in the renowned College of Scliwyz, a 
town in the Canton Schwyz. After having been a short period a 
member of the University in Friburg, Baden, he graduated in the 
Theological Seminary of Kiir Graublindten, in the Grisons, and 
was admitted to the dignity of priesthood the 19th day of April, 
1870. He emigrated with the Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, Rt. 
Rev. Rapp, to his first field of labor. In 1877 he started West, 
and joined the newly established Diocese of Peoria, Ills., of which 
the nephew of the deceased Archbishop Spalding of Baltimore, the 
most learned and eloquent T. L. Spalding, is the first Bishop. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

Below is a list of the oflicers who have served the township since 
its organization, as near as could be compiled from the records: 

SUPERVISORS. 

Lemuel Mussetter 1850 Charles A. Warner 1871 

John Peyton 1854 Charles C. Hoppe 1873 

Charles Coolidge 1858 John H. Finlay 1875 

Thos. C. Sharp 1862 Henry R. Chittenden 1877 

William H. Roosevelt 1864 Lemuel Mussetter 1878 

Joseph M. True 18fi0 Fred Dross 1879 

B. Frank Marsh 18G7 Oliver Edwards 1S80 

Charles C. Hoppe 18Gn 



672 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



CLERKS, 



Edward E. Lane 1858 

Peter Baker 1861 

Henry Albers 1864 

John K. Simmons 1866 



Thomas M. Brawner 1870 

John K. Simmons 1871 

Charles Hilker 1874 

Peter W. Plantz 1876-1880 



ASSESSORS. 



W. S. Hathaway 1858 

Joseph Burton 1859 

W. S. Hathaway 1861 

David L. Spencer 1862 

Frank Herberts 1866 



William I. Price 1868 Franz Scherer. 



Harvey Tufts. 1870 

C. D. Kruskopf 1871 

Frank Herberts. . .'. 1872 

Calvin Cole 1874 

F. C. Floto 1875 



.1879-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



E.D.Baldwin 1858 

Wm. W. Chittenden 1861 

Conrad Nagel 1862 

George B. Worthen 1864 

Henry W. Comer 1866 

Francis Shearer 1868 

Peter Kaiser 1869 

Henry P. Roth 1871 

Henry P. Anderson 1872 



Abe Greenwood 1873 

Conrad Kehm 1874 

Ed. C. Simms 1875 

Peter Kaiser 1876 

Charles Weiseman 1877 

Willard G. Aldrich } jg„Q 

Joseph Hartman J 

F.C. Floto 1880 




HANCOCK TOWNSHIP. 

Township 5 — 5, in the center, on the east line, and improperly 
named after the county, was for some time attached to St. Mary's 
and Fountain Green. It is largely timbered and broken, but has 
some beautiful prairie land and line farms. The west branch of 
Crooked creek runs an extremely tortuous course through this tp., 
entering it at sec. 26 and crossing into McDonough from 36, 
From the northwest corner of 28 to the southeast of 26, less than 
three and u half miles, this stream meanders a distance of about 
12 miles, at one point making a circuit of over three miles and 
returning to within 40 rods of its starting place. It is appropri- 
ately named Crooked creek. The east branch enters the tp. 
from McDonough county, and the united stream flows again into 
that county from sec. 36. 

Among the pioneers of this tp., we are unable to mention but a 
few; viz., Major Williams, the Yetters, Wrights, Spangles, Longs, 
Anthony Duify, Dr. Wm. Booze, James G. Smith, T, B. 
McCubbin, A. G. Botts, J. Lenox, T. Callihan, Lewis Bhea, etc. 

In all the earlier history of the county the people of this tp, 
were known as citizens of St. Mary's or Fountain Green, respect- 
ively, as they lived north or south of the center. 

The mills on Crooked creek have, in the early days, supplied 
much of the lumber for th6 eastern portion of the county, and 
much of the flour and meal for their breadstufiB. But since the 
advent of railroads and the introduction of steam, and the gradual 
failure of the stream, they hare fallen into decay. Timber is still 
plenty, and hard-wood lumber is still manufactured for local 
supply . 

There is no village in the limits of this tp., neither is there a 

SostoflBce, the offices of St. Mary's, Fountain Green, Webster and 
[iddle Creek supplying the inhabitants with their mail facilities. 
In the south part of Hancock tp. is a locality known to the 
earlier settlers as Black Hawk Ridge, or Black Plawk Headquarters, 
from a tradition that the old chief made it a frequent residence, 
during the Indian occupancy of the county. It has evidently 
once been an extensive Indian encampment, and even yet such 
relics as arrow-heads, stone implements, pottery and heads are 
found there. The forests and bluff's of Crooked creek and its trib- 
utaries are as much noted for these Indian remains as the bluff's 
along the river, 

RELIGIOUS PKOGRE8S, 

We have been unable to learn the actual number of Church 
organizations in this township, or whether there are any but the one 

■ (673) 



674 HISTORY OF hancogk county. 

church building. This one is situated on section 28, and about 
three miles east of the old Middle Creek Baptist Ohurcli, in Car- 
thage township. Concerning it we hav^e no report. Members of 
the various religious societies south of the creek, it is presumed, 
unite with the Churches in St. Mary's, and those north of the creek 
with the Churches in Fountain Green. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Following are brief personal sketches of the more prominent citi- 
zens and old settlers, whose lives constitute an important portion 
of the history of this township: 

Charles Austin, sec. 31; P.O., Middle Creek; is a native of 
Addison county, Yermont; born in 1830, a son of Francis B. and 
Eleanor (Whittle) Austin, also natives of Vermont. Charles emi- 
grated to this State with his parents in 1846, and at the age of 21 
was united in marriage with Harriet S. Allton, who was born in 
Indiana in 1833. After marriage Mr. A. located in Fountain Green 
tp., and followed farming for six years; from there he went to 
McDonough county and remained one year, and in 1868 located in 
Hancock tp., where he has since resided. He owns SO acres of 
improved land. 

Their marriage has been blessed with 5 children, 4 of whom are 
living; viz., Charles L., Sarah A., Richard L. and Harvey D. Mr. 
A. has held the office of Townshi]i Trustee for six years. He and his 
excellent wife are members of the Christian Church. 

Mr. A. served his country three years in the late war. He enlisted 
at Fountain Green, under Capt. Campbell, in Co. A, 118tli 111. 
Inf. He was present during the siege of Yicksburg; was mustered 
out in April, 1865. Republican. 

Lucius M. Austin, farmer, sec. 31; P. O., Middle Creek. He 
was born in 1826 in the State of Yermont. In the year 1847 he 
located in Burlington, Iowa, and worked at the cabinet and chair 
business for five years. He then came to Hancock Co., 111., in 1853, 
and married Elizabeth Hobert in Jan., 1853. Children by this 
union 11, 8 of whom are living; namely, Wintield S., Norman H., 
Errias, LodeniaL., Caroline, FelDe, Harriet, James N. He owns 80 
acres of land. Mr. A . and wife are members of the •Christian 
Church. He is a Republican. 

Francis E. Belknap, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Joetta. The orig- 
inal ancestry of this family came from Wales about 200 years ago. 
There were 3 brothers, Joseph, Seth and Samuel. The subject of 
this sketch is a descendant of Samuel, who is his great-great-grand- 
father. His great-grandfather was Simeon, and Francis was his 
grand-father. His father was Francis, Jr., who was a native of 
Conn., and born in 1781. He emigrated to 111. in 1836, in Han- 
cock township, sec. 33. Died in 1846. 

Our subject was born in 1825, in Windsor, Conn.; was the oldest 
of .^ children. He came to 111. in 1837, one year after his father 




^0 






^"^■Hmam^^ 




M 



;IO- 





HANCOCK Td 



UISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 677 

died. Married his present wife in 1874. Her name was Emraa 
Mitchell. He has been Town Clerk. Is a Democrat. 

Ly Sander Belknap, deceased, was born in Connecticut in 1817. 
His wife's maiden name was Marv Thurber, and she was born in 
Illinois Dec, 182-1:. He emigrated to Illinois in 1836 and located 
on the farm where he lived until his death in 1876, at the age of 
58. His wife died Nov. 12, 1879. Mr. B. came to Hancock county 
in an early day, and like the other pioneers, had experiences which 
were both trying and unpleasant. Although lie lived in the county 
44 years, he never made but one move, which was from the old log 
Tint into his large farm dwelling. Mr. B. is the only one of the 
family who ever came West, excepting a half-brother,[whose history 
appears in this work. Mr. B. owned 160 acres of land. The home 
farm is cultivated by his son Orville, who lives with his sisters 
Annie and Elsie in the home house. He was married March, 1844, 
to Mary Thurber, who bore him 10 children, 7 of whom are living, 
— Amelia, Annie, Scott, Willie, Orville, Walter, Elsie. 

Joel F. Booz, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Joetta; was born in this 
county in 1841. Mr. B. assists in carrying on the farm of Mrs. 
John Martin. He married Miss Marietta B. Martin in 1867, and 
they have 4 living children, — John L., Charles L., William W. 
and Ethel Pearl. He has been Town Clerk, also Tax Collector, 
which office he now holds. He enlisted in the 10th Missouri Inf. 
in 1861. He was engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and 
Port Gibson, and was taken prisoner at Jackson, and sent to Rich- 
mond, Yirginia; was exchanged at Benton Barracks and rejoined 
the regiment at Corinth, Miss. ; was in it till the close of the war. He 
is a Bepublican. 

. William Booz, M. D., farmer and physician, sec. 33; P.O., 
Carthage. In the person of this sketch we have one of the pio- 
neers of Hancock county, and a representative citizen of Hancock 
tp. He was born in Kentucky in 1831. His father, Richard, was a 
native of the same State, and was born Aug. 20, 1810. His mother 
was born in 1812; her maiden name was Frances A. McCallister. 
When six years of age William came with his parents to Morgan Co., 
111., in 1836, and in the following year to Hancock Co., where he has 
resided ever since. His father lived here until his death which 
occurred in 1845. During the next three years William spent his 
time in teaching and going to school. 

He began the study of medicine with T. A. Barnes, of Carthage, 
111., and in 1855 he entered the Iowa State University and finished the 
course of study. Mr. B. then located on his -present farm and has 
resided there ever since. He afterward graduated at Keokuk in 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has been in the active 
practice of medicine in his home neighborhood for the last 24 years, 
and with one exception is the oldest 'practicing physician in the 
county. His success both as a physician and farmer has been 
flattering.' He owns 280 acres of land. His home improvements 
are among the best in the township. Mr. B. has been personally 

40 



''678 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

identijSed with the interests of his township for many years. Po- 
litically he is a staunch Democrat and has taken an active part in 
the politics of the county. He stumped the county in the Douglas 
and Lincoln campaign and met in joint discussion some of the 
prominent orators of those times. Mr. B. has also been an active 
citizen in promoting the moral interests of his community. He 
has been a licensed minister of the Christian denomination since 
1849. Mr. B. was united in marriage to E. J. E. McCubbin, who was 
a native of Kentucky, born in 1832 and daughter of Joseph Mc- 
Cubbin, of that county. Twelve children, 10 of whom are living, 
have been born unto them : Sarah E., Lenora W., Fannie E., Joseph 
M., Emma W., Dora M., Elizabeth A., Willie M., Zilpha F. and 
!Nellie J. Mr. B. has been Town Supervisor 11-|^ years, and Assessor 
two years. Is a Freemason. 

Reuben Craven^ farmer; sec. 33; P. O., Middle Creek; was born 
in Pennsylvania in 1831, son of Joseph and Mary (Brown) Craven, 
natives also of Pennsylvania; the former was born in 1806, and the 
latter in 1804. The father emigrated to Illinois in 1841 and located 
in St. Mary's tp., on sec. 5. In this and Carthage towns he con- 
tinued to reside till his death in 1871. His widow is still living, 
at the advanced age of 76. Reuben lived at home until he arrived 
at his majority when he began teaching school. He has continued 
to teach during the winter months most of the time since, farming 
in the summer. He was married in 1855 to Margarette L. Ewing, 
who was a native of Ohio, and born in 1837. They have been 
blessed with 8 children ; Linneus P., Mary M., Emma M., Joseph R., 
John E., Clara J., Jenoa G., Frank L. His children, Linneus P. 
and Maggie, graduated with honors at Carthage College in 1878. 
The former holds a professorship of mathematics at Mt. Morris, 
111., Academy. Mr. C. owns 117 acres of good land. He has held 
the office of Justice of the Peace for eight years. Supervisor and 
School Trustee. He is a Republican. 

Adam Curry ^ who is the son of Matthew and Jane Curry, is of 
Irish descent, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1840. He emi- 
grated to this State in 1852, and first settled in Fountain Green tp., 
where he lived until 1854, and then settled where his mother now 
lives, on sec. 7, in Hancock tp. He is at present a farmer on the 
same section. He was married in 1867, to Louisa Long, who had 
one child from her former husband, whose name is William, and 
who is now living at home. She is also the mother of 5 children, 
of whom 4 are living, from her second husband, Mr. C, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. Their names are: James E., Mary B., — F. 
and an infant child. Mr. C. owns where he lives, his share of his 
father's estate consisting of 290 acres, to which there are heirs. He 
has never held any office except Collector one term. His educa- 
tional advantages were only ordinary, and he is, politically, a Re- 
publican. 

Anthony Duffy was born Aug. 20, 1811, in Cumberland county, 
Pa,, son of John and Elizabeth (Graft) DuflPy, father a native of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 679 

Ireland, and mother of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. 
He came West in the Spring ot 1836 and settled on sees. 5 and 8, 
Hancock tp., this county, where he bought 160 acres of land, 
which was then entirely wild; here on sec. 8 he built a log cabin 
16 teet square, with half a room above; in this he lived until 1850, 
when he built a fine brick residence on sec. .5; in this he has lived 
about 28 years, when he moved into the place which he now occu- 
pies. Nov. 17, 1835 he married Mary Matilda Spangler, at Mt. 
Rock, Cumberland county. Pa. She was a daughter of Samuel 
and Rebecca Spangler, of German and Holland descent, and she 
died July 20, 1873, since which time Mr. Duffy has not kept 
house, but lives with his sons, William J. and Scott A., on sec. 5. 
All of his 8 children are living. The eldest, Samuel S., is a farmer 
on sec. 5, where his father first settled. Mary E. is the wife of I. 
N. Hobart, a farmer in this tp.; John S. is a farmer in Carthage 
tp.; Joseph T. is also a farmer in Nodaway county. Mo.; Rebecca 
Ellen is the wife of Jerome Evans, a farmer also in the last named 
place; Robert M. is a stock-dealer in Burnside, this county. Mr. 
D. has given all his property to his children except 40 or 50 acres, 
on sees. 5 and 9. The home farm consists of 166 acres, 115 of 
which are under good cultivation, being worth about $50 per acre. 

Mr. Duffy is a Republican, and has been School Director and 
Trustee, etc., but has nev^er aspired to office. In early days he had 
not the good advantages of a school education; he was compelled 
to go two miles to attend school in a log house long before the free- 
school system was inaugurated, and he came to this county when it 
was a complete wilderness. He is of course familiar with the Mormon 
history of this countj^, and was one of the foremost men when 
Governor Ford called out the Militia to arrest Jo Smith and bring 
him to Carthage. He had just returned home when Smith was 
shot, having had pretty good authority beforehand that such a 
thing would be done. Mr. D. is a prominent and highly respected 
citizen, and we give bis portrait in this work. 

Pleasant C. GilUnwater, farmer; P. O., Middle Creek; was 
born in East Tennessee, Hawkins county, in 1812; his parents 
were also natives of Tennessee; his father, David, was born in 
1789, and his mother, Cisire, nee Willson, was born in 1790. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of 15 children. Pleasant 
C. resided in Schuyler county 18 years., and in 1856 he located in 
Hancock county, St. Mary's tp.; was there 8 years, then moved to 
his present farm in Hancock tp. in 1864, where he now resides, 
owning 40 acres of land, valued at $1,000. In 1839 he took unto 
himself a partner in the person of Martha Huff, also a native of 
Tennessee, and born in 1819; they have 8 children: James E., 
Louis W., David E., May F., Joseph C. (dec), Henry K., Seals J., 
Amanda A. and John T. They raised also Lester M. Mitchell 
who still lives with them. Louis W., farmer, married his first wife, 
May E. Worthington, in Indiana. One child, Edith, was born to 



680 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

them. He married his second wife in Dec, 18Y8. L. W. was in 
the late war, in the 57th 111. Inft., three years ; was in battles of Fort 
Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and with G-en. Sherman on his march 
to the sea. 

Charles Harder, an intelligent farmer of his community, of Ger- 
man descent, is a son of Peter and Mary Harder, and was born in 
New York in 1830. Comino; to Hancock county in 1869, he set- 
tled where he now lives, on sec. 4 of Hancock tp. He was married 
at the age of 28, to Jennie Kingsley, who is the mother of 5 chil- 
dren, all of whom are living; namely, Hattie, Albert, William, Anna 
and Robert. Mr. H. owns a farm of 105 acres, where he lives, all 
of which is pretty well improved; has on it a neat little house, and 
makes for himself and family a convenient and pleasant home. 
Politically he is a Republican, and although his educational ad- 
vantages were not the best, yet he is an enterprising man and 
takes an interest in home affairs, and everything of a literary 
nature. Mrs. H. is a member of the Presbyterian Church; also 
her eldest daughter. 

Isaac N. Hohert, farmer, sec. 6; P. 0., Carthage; is the eldest 
son of Norman Hobert, who was born in Essex, N. Y., Dec. 29, 
1810; came to Illinois in 1833, and located at Rushville, where he 
was married in 1834, to Miss Ura Holladay; after marriage he 
came to this county and settled in Fountain Green tp. He helped 
to make the first track that crossed the county, and was an active 
participant in the early settlement of the county. He was a house 
carpenter by occupation, and erected many buildings in Carthage. 
Prior to his removal to this city, he erected and carried on milling 
on Crooked creek, which he afterward moved to Carthage, and 
continued in that business 13 years. His demise, which occurred 
Dec. 13, 1878, was a bereavement to a large circle of friends and 
relatives. He was for many years a local preacher, and one of the 
sincerest Christian men that ever honored the principles of true 
religion. The milling interests he willed to his sons, who are now 
engaged near Hamilton. The esteemed widow and mother who 
survives, is a daughter of Moses and Celia (Skirvin) Holladay, 
who settled in Lexington, Ky., before the Revoliftionary war. 
They were the parents of 14 children, but 3 of whom are living. 
Isaac N., our subject, was born in this county, and was married 
June 21, 1861, to Miss Mary E. Duffy, a native of this county, and 
they have had 10 children, all of whom are living, — Mary E., Carrie 
L., Joseph N., Dennis W., Eva E., Lillie E., Matilda E., Ura A., 
Isaac N., Jr. and Blanche. Sidney L., the next child, married 
Elizabeth Pickens; have one child, not christened. Maria, the last 
named of his living children. The subject of this sketch resides at 
his stock farm in Hancock tp., consisting of 235 acres. He also owns 
the homestead of 135 acres, in Carthage tp. The family is of the 
earliest settlers of the county. 

John Martin^ deceased, was born in Ky., in 1812; resided in 
that State until 1861, during which time he was engaged in farm- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 681 

ing and manufacturing. Since coming to Illinois and locating on the 
farm, where he always resided, he has been engaged in farming and 
milling; in these vocations he has been quite successful. He left 
to mourn his loss a wife and 2 children. He was married in 1845, 
to Mildreth S. Vincent, of Kj., and born in 1824. The farm left 
his family consists of 280 acres of improved land. Mr. M. held 
the office of School Trustee, and was also an Elder in the Presby- 
terian Church. 

James Martin, miller; P. O., Joetta; is a son of John Martin, 
born in 1845. He has lived at home assisting his parents all his 
life. He is now running the mill which his father controlled. He 
was married in 1873, to Susan F. Kelley, a native of Illinois, and was 
born in 1849. They have 2 children to make home happy. James 
E. and Margaretta. Mr. M. has held the office of Town Clerk and 
Postmaster since his father's death. 

William Long^ an aged and respectable man and a very old set- 
tler of Hancock county, the son of John and Marj^ Long, who 
were of German descent, was born in 1807, in Penn. Coming to 
Illinois in 1835, he settled in Bear Creek township, where he re- 
sided ten years; then came to the place on which he now lives on 
sec. 8. He was married in 1830 to Mary Yetter, who lived only 
about five years after their marriage. He was married the second 
time in 1839, to Mary Giphart, who died in 1872. Mr. L. had, by 
his tii'st wife, 2 children, of whom one is living, whose name is Levi, 
and who is now living with his father, on his farm. Mr. L. owns 
the land on which he is living, consisting of 160 acres, of which 100 
acres are pretty well improved; 60 acres are brush. He has also 40 
acres of timber on sec. 17 of same township. He is an honest and 
upright citizen, a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and 
had poor advantages for obtaining an education when young. He 
was, at one time, Collector for five or six years; was Assessor one 
year; Justice of the Peace for four 3'ears, and was Township Trus- 
tee for 16 years. Mr. L., althougli he is, in fact, politically a Demo- 
crat, is very liberal in his political views concerning home affairs. 

Thomas B. McCuhhin, son of Joseph and Ellen McC, was born 
in 1839 on sec. 32, in Hancock township, Hancock county, 111., and 
is of Irish descent. Here he spent his boyhood days and was mar- 
ried in 1860 to Martlia Camren. His wife is the mother of 6 
children, of whom 3 are living. Their names are John, Rue 
and Dove. Mr. McCul)bin is 41 years of age, is a prominent man 
in liis community, and by hard work and by the " sweat of his 
brow" has succeeded in accumulating considerable wealth. He is 
now living on sec. 29 of Hancock township, where he owns a good 
farm, consisting of 160 acres, of which 150 are under cultivation. 
His land is worth about $35 per acre, and is well-improved. Has 
a good two-story frame house, size 28x32, which he built in 1871. 
Has also a substantial barn, 28x30, which he i)uilt in 1877. He 
owns, besides the tract of laud on which he lives, 100 acres of 
timber on section 29, 80 acres of timber and 40 acres of prairie 



682 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

on section 20 of same township. Mr. McCubbin has been a farm- 
er all his life, and has labored hard to sustain the reputation of 
men of that profession without meddling with political affairs. He 
has been Assessor once, and is at present School Director. Polit- 
ically he is Independent. His educational advantages when young 
were quite limited, being compelled to attend school in a log 
school-house. He and his wife, Martha, are both earnest members 
of the Christian Church. Joseph McC^^bbin, who is quite an 
aged man, is living with his son Thomas, the subject of this sketch. 
He is at present 84 years old, and is quite feeble, being confined to 
his room most of the time, and is also almost entirely deaf. 

J. L. Miller was born in Ohio in 1824; is the son of Leonard 
and Mary Miller, and is of German descent. He emigrated to Illi- 
nois in 1856, and first settled on section 6, where he lived for nine 
years; thence he removed to where he now resides, also on sec. 6, 
of Hancock tp. He was married in 1852 to Nancy Meyers, who 
is now 45 years old, and who is the mother of ten children, all of 
whom are living. Their names, beginning with the oldest, are as 
follows: Mary, Ellen, Alfred, Matilda, Jennie, Walter, Charles, 
John, Manda and Alice. Mr. M. owns a large farm where he lives, 
consisting of 182 acres; and has besides 108 acres on sec. 17, 20 
acres on sec. 9, 20 acres on sec. 2, all in same township. The farm- 
ing land is all very well improved, and is worth about $50 per 
acre. He is in politics a Republican, but is not at all radical in 
township and county affairs. His educational advantages when 
young were only ordinary. 

Armstead Mosely, sec. 31; P. O., Middle Creek; was born in 
Kentucky in 1796. Forty years ago Hancock county received one of 
her many excellent and influential pioneers in the person of this 
sketch. Previous to his locating in this county in 1839, he lived 
in Texas, Kentucky, and Indiana. For 29 years Mr. M. has lived 
upon his present farm of 207 acres, which is now valued at about 
$7,000. Mr. M. was married in 1831 to Miss Nancy Driskill, of 
Kentucky, who was born in 1815, and they have a family of 10 
children living; namely, Mary E., Martha J., William Y., Winston 
R., Simeon A., Samuel F., Sarah F., John F., Nancy A., Amanda 
E. Simeon and Winston enlisted in the 42nd 111. Inf., in 1864; 
were in the battles of Franklin, Spring Hill, Nashville. Were dis- 
charged at Port Lavacca, Texas, in 1865. Mr. M. is a Democrat, 
He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. 

James Samons, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Joetta; was born May 24, 
1835. He is a son of Edward and Anna M. (Hays) Samons, the 
former a native of Yiririnia, and born in 1800; the latter a 
native of Rutherford Co., Tenn., was born in 1818. Edward came to 
Illinois in 1831, and lived in Morgan county until 1847, when he 
moved into St. Mary's town, and was there eight years. He finally 
moved to the State of Missouri, and lived there until his death in 
1857. At the age of 20 James located in McDonough county and 
there remained four years, and then moved to Hancock county, and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 683 

has since resided on his present farm of 267 acres, valued at $30 
per acre. Mr. S. was married in 1855 to Sarah E. Way, native of 
Illinois, and was born in 1840. They have been blessed with 7 
children; viz., Mary J., Edmond, Chas. W., Ruth E., Louisa, 
Stephen A., Ida May. Mr. S. enlisted in Co. A, 118th Reg., under 
Capt. Campbell, in 1862; was in battles of Thompkins Hill, and 
Baker Creek; discharged at Port Hudson, Louisana, in 1864. He 
is a Republican. 

Robert Sample, who has been a resident of Hancock tp., Hancock 
county, 111., for about 30 years, was born in Pennsylvania in 1803. 
He is the son of John and Ann Sample, and is of Irish descent. 
He came west in 1849 and first settled id Fulton county, where he 
remained for 18 months, when he came to Hancock county and 
settled on sec. 4, of Hancock tp., thence he removed to sec. 6, 
where he has lived for 11 years. He was married in 1826 to Jane 
Hawthorne, who died in 1868. She was the mother of 13 child- 
ren of whom only 7 are living, and whose names are as follows: 
James, John, Frank, Calvin, Anna, Jane and Sarah. 

Mr. S. owns 80 acres of land on sec. 4, 40 acres on sec. 16, and 
20 acres on sec. 9. However, he is now living with his daughter, 
Jane, a widow woman, on sec. 6. The value of his land per acre is 
about $25. He is, politically, a Republican, and a devoted mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church; has held the office of Highway 
Commissioner two terms; Township Trustee two terms; and 
School Director a number of years. Mr. S. had, for securing an 
education, only the opportunities and advantages that were afforded 
to all children of Pennsylvania before the free-school system was 
adopted. He is, however, an intelligent, upright, and revered old 
gentleman in his community; he is pretty badly crippled with 
rheumatism, but is making the best of his last days, and is trying 
to take life easy by being an earnest Christian man, before the last 
summer's sun shall have set upon his silvered locks and gone down 
behind the horizon of time and eternity forever. 

Philips Siepel was born in Germany in 1819, a son of Milton 
Siepel, also a native of Germany, born in 1785. When Philipp 
was 14 years old he was apprenticed to the cooper trade; when 34 
years of age he emigrated to America and located in Shenandoah 
county, Virginia, where he remained until 1854, when he moved 
to his present farm in Hancock county. 111., where he still lives, 
owning a nice farm of 330 acres, which he has secured by his own 
honesty and economy. He was married in 1848 to Liza A. 
Fivever, a native of Virginia, born in 1823. Their living children 
are, Handley, John, Eleanor, Nathaniel, George W. and Lavina F. 
Mr. Siepel and his estimable wife are members of the Christian 
Church. 

George Sowers, who is an old settler in Hancock county, was 
born in Pennsylvania in 1830. He is of German descent, the son 
of Samuel and Sarah Sowers. Came to this State in 1854 and 
first settled in Fountain Green tp., where he lived 13 years, and after- 



684 HISTORY OF HANCOUK COUNTY. 

ward settled where he now is on sec. 6 in 1871. He was married 
in 1856 to Willimina McGhecan, who is the mother of 10 children 
of whom all are living except one. Their names are: William, 
Samuel, Maggie, Charles, John, Delia, James, Belle and Nellie. 
Mr. S. is now living on the place owned by his son, consisting of 
98 acres. The land is tolerably well improved, and is worth about 
$20 per acre. Mr. S. had very poor advantages for securing an 
education ; is a man who is independent in politics and has never 
held any offices except School Director. Mrs. S. is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

Joseph T. Sjpangler is one of the oldest settlers of Hancock tp., 
and is tlie son of Samuel and Rebecca Spangler, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. He was born in 1817, and is of German descent on his 
father's side, and French and Welsh on his mother's side. He 
came to this State in 1838 and settled on sec, 5, of Hancock tp., 
where he still resides. He was married in 1851 to Anna Mary 
Sample, who is now 52 years of age and is the mother of 7 chil- 
dren, of whom 5 are living. Their names,beginning with the oldest, 
are as follows: Jane R., Sarah V., Mary E., Joseph T. and Samuel 
E. Mr. Spangler owns 320 acres of land where he lives and has, 
besides, 80 acres in another tract, all of which is well improved. 
He has a very good house and barn on the home place, and values 
the land at about $30 per acre. His educational advantages were 
only such as were afforded to all children of that day before the 
free-school system was established. His family are members of 
the Presbj'terian Church. Mr. S. has held the office of Supervisor 
a number of years, and now holds the office of School Treasurer, 
which he has held 32 years. 

By being independent in politics and always looking to the best 
interests of his country at home, Mr. S. has, for some time, been 
taking life easy in his aged years, regarding necessity as a virtue, 
and is thus honest and upright, and a man of considerable local 
repute. 

Peter E. Weakley^ merchant, was born near Carlisle, Cumber- 
land county. Pa., July 31, 1823, and is a son of W. L. and Martha 
W. (Ege) Weakley, of German and English descent. His advan- 
tages for early education were of course far inferior to those of the 
present day. In 1846 he married Miss Harriet M. Black, a daughter 
of Thomas W. and Catharine (Slentz) Black, all natives of Penn- 
sylvania, Mr. Black of Irish ancestry, and Mr. Slentz of German. 
Mrs. W. was born in Adams county. Pa., Oct. 8, 1825. She is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1849 Mr. Weakley came 
West and first settled in Morgan county, 111., and the next year he 
located on sec. 2, Hancock tp., this county, where he lived 20 years, 
when he sold his farm and entered mercantile business at Union- 
town, sec. 11, where he has carried a general stock of goods ever 
since, sales averaging $15,000 to $20,000 a year. He is very care- 
ful in making his purchases, so that he is enabled to sell a good 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 685 

quality o^ goods very cheap. He has, therefore, a very good run of 
trade, doiiig a lively local business. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, but is very liberal in local affairs; is now serving his fifth term 
as Supervisor, and has been School Director. He is one of the 
most enterprising and substantial citizens of the county, a man of 
fine manners, well known and highly respected. We give in this 
volume Mr. Weakley's portrait, made from a photograph taken at 
the age of about 45 years. 

S. A. Wright^ the son of Hickerson and Cynthia Wright, is 
another of the many very old settlers of Hancock county, and was 
born Oct. 9, 1825, in Tenn. He is of Scotch and Irish descent; 
came to this State in 1833 and settled in Fountain Green tp., where 
he lived until 9 years ago, when he settled in Hancock tp. He was 
first married in 1849 to Susan Bond, who lived until about 4 years 
ago; was married the second time in 1877, to Elizabeth Murray. 
He is the father of 4 children, of whom only 2, Minnie S. and 
Mintie L., are now living. Mr. W. owns 52f acres of land where 
he lives, on sec. 3; has in another place 60 acres of timber; also 
100 acres of good land in Fountain Green tp. The average estimate 
of his land per acre is about $40/ all the farming land is well improv- 
ed and he has a fine, substantial house on the home place. Politi- 
cally he is a Democrat and is an upright, well-to-do farmer. 

OFFICERS 

Of Hancock township who have served, or are now in oflSce: 

SUPERVISORS. 

J. T. Spaugler 1856 Joseph T. Spangler 1874 

Peter E. Weakley 1861 Reuben Cravens 1875 

William Booz. . . 1863 Wm. Booz 1876 

J. H. Folts 1868 George Brewster 1877 

Peter E. Weakley 1869 J. T. Spangler 1878 

Wm. Booz ... 1870 Peter E.Weakley 1879 

CLERKS. 

John Denison 1856 Joel T. Booz 1874 

F.E.Belknap 1863 Albert S. Bear 1875 

John J. Grohegan 1864 John Martindale 1876 

George W. Jones 1865 Levi J. Rhea 1877 

Thomas McAvoy 1867 Jerome B.Jones 1878 

Wm. M. Anderson 1868 John Campbell 1879 

Jerome B. Jones 1871 James L. Martin 1880 

Wm. M. Anderson 1873 

ASSESSORS. 

A. G. Botts 1856 Levi Smith 1868 

William Booz 1858 John H. Parker 1869 

Jefferson Perkins 1860 Levi Smith 1870 

J. H. Parker 1863 I' James G. Smith 1871 

Levi Smith 1864 ' Thos. B. McOubbin 1874 

WiUiam Long 1865 James G. Smith 1875 

Thomas Cambron 1866 J. T. Spangler 1879 

Wm.Long 1867 Geo. W. Green 1880 



es6 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



COLLECTORS. 



William Long 1856 

Emanuel Jones 1858 

William Long 1860 

Wm. Spangler 1861 

William Long 1863 

John H. Parker 1864 

William Long 1866 

Levi Smith 1867 

Calloway L. Rhea 1868 



John W. Huston 1869 

James G. Smith 1870 

John Martindale 1871 

Monroe Riggins 1872 

Samuel Duffy 1874 

Stephen A. Kelly 1875 

Albert S. Bear 1877 

C.L.Rhea 1878 

Joel T. Booz 1879-1880 




CARTHAGE TOWNSHIP 

Received its name from the county seat on its west line. It is 
numbered 5-6; is principally prairie land, but has bodies of timber 
on Middle, Prairie, Long and Rock creeks, tributaries of Crooked 
creek. Certain portions of this township are level and prairie, and 
consequently l)etter suited to meadow and stock-raising than to 
grain. Large quantities of corn are grown, however, in all direc- 
tions. This township has many finely improved farms and sub- 
stantial and neat residences, owned by independent farmers. 

Carthage, being in the midst of an extensive prairie, was not 
settled as early as the western and eastern portions of the county; 
and had it not l)een for the iact that the county-seat was located in 
it, its settlement would have advanced no faster, perhaps, than those 
of Harmony, Prairie and Pilot Grove adjoining. We are not 
advised that it had an inhabitant within its limits (other than Elder 
Thomas H. Owen, who came in 1831), when in March, 1833, 
"William Gillham and Scott Riggs located the county-seat on sec, 
19. That event of course gave an impetus to settlement; and we 
find that on April 2 of the same year a special term of the 
County Commissioners' Court was held there, at the house of 
Thomas Brewer, which, if not there before, must have been a tempo- 
rary T)uilding hastily put up. At that meeting Thomas H. Owen 
was appointed to build a covrt-house^ and it was to be finished 
before Aug. 25th! for the use of the Circuit Court soon to be held, 
Ex-Secretary O. H. Browning, then a young lawyer on the Circuit, 
attended that Court, as he had others before at Yenus. Here is his 
account of that event, and description of Carthage at that time. 
We quote from his address delivered before the "Hancock County 
Pioneers' Association," in the court-house, June 15, 1869: "He 
said he remembered attending the first Court held at Carthage. The 
Temple of Justice at that day was a log cabin of limited dimen- 
sions, roofed with clapboards. The Bench and Bar boarded with a 
family near the timber, and near the subsequent residence of Mr. 
Baldwin, The 'hotel' of Carthage was a sort of rail-pen, 12 feet 
square, the provisions and whisky being dealt out through the 
cracks to the outsiders. The site of the present court-house was a 
frog-pond ; and yet this unpromising beginning had culminated in 
the present town of Carthage, one of the neatest and prettiest 
villages he had ever visited." 

As we have seen, the town site was pre-empted by the county, 
and the County Surveyor (John Johnson, of Riverside) employed 
to lay out the town at once, to be completed by May 1. This time 
seems to have been too short for him to do his work well, for we 

(G87) 



688 HISTORY OF IIAXCOCK COL'XTY. 

find tliat afterward a new survey was ordered and a new plat made. 
Clerk ~Willianis immediately removed to the new town, and welind 
that a special term of the County Court was held at his house on 
the 3d of June. The reo-ular term, Sept. 2, was held at the new 
court-house. 

At this term that singular attorney at law, Louis Masquerier, was 
licensed to keep a tavern and also to sell goods. Counting the 
'•• boarding house," referred to by Mr. Browning as the Jirst one. 
this tavern of Masquerier's must have been the second one in the 
town or township, and his store the first store. He was still there 
in 1S36, but soon returned to Xew York. 

Thomas Brewer must have emigrated soon, as we hear nothing 
more concerning him. 

Among the early settlers of Carthage, as we remember them, 
were Gad Hamilton and his sons Artois and Canfield, Samuel 
"Williams, Walter Bagby, Frederick Loring, Rev. John Lawton, 
L>r. John F. Charles, Louis Masquerier, James B., Hamilton C. 
and David TV". Mathews, Senator Little. Robert Miller, Joshua and 
Jonas Hobart, Elam S. Freeman, Homer Brown, Ellis Hughes, 
Capt. Robert F. Smith, Ebenezer Rand, Franklin A, "Worrell, 
Harmon T. Wilson, Charles Main, Lewis Stevenson, Samuel 
Comer, Jesse B.Winn, George W. Thatcher, Miles B. Mann, James 
Baird, Isaac Galland, James W. AVoods, James W. Brattle, Samuel 
Marshall, Malcolm McGregor, Chauncey Robison, Sylvester 
Thompson, U. C. Taylor, John Wilson. John Wilson Williams, 
George W. Stigall, Dr. Barnes, Michael Barnes. Li the vicinity 
were David Baldwin, Epaphras B. Baldwin, William C. Hawley, 
Michael Rickard. Richard Cannon, Allen McQnary, Thomas Met- 
calf, T. Gridley, Thomas J. Kimbrough. W. J. Dale, John Booth, 
Robert G. Berne thy, iS'orman Hobart, L JS^. Cauthorn, George C. 
Waggoner, Samuel F. Pray, Alexander Barnes. 

Of the foregoing 50 odd individuals, more than half are known 
to have died, numbers of them long years ago. Many others left 
the county, some of them still living. Several will be recognized 
as men cf note in the county's history. Three — Little, Marshall 
and Worrell — met violent deaths, which are mentioned elsewhere. 

BUSINESS OF CARTHAGE. 

The following men comprise the business circle of Carthage: 
Chris Y. Long is Postmaster, and keeper of a book-store. Shultz 
& Son, Wm. T. Smith and Dwight Cutler are engaged in the drug 
business; the latter also keeps a large stock of books and stationery. 
James Sample controls the furniture trade. Wm. Hughes has a 
laroje business in saddlery and harnesses. Dr. E. M. Robbins 
is the prominent dentist. The\iry-goods trade is represented princi- 
pally by Wm. B. Bennett. J. C. Williams and J.W. Everett; the latter 
has also a branch millinery department on the north side of square. 
Mr. Dale is also in the same business. Wm. H. Patterson is the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUMTY. 689 

oldest liviiii^ merchant in tlie city, deals in grain, etc. Also J. B. 
Strader & Son have an extensive \vare-hi)n>e, and offer a specialty 
in fence posts and drain tile. Also Foutch & Shnltz, Taylor Bros., 
in the same business. J. Mack Shollard and John Bovd control 
the hardware, and Charles G. Clark & Sons are extensive dealers 
in lumber. Stephen S. Wilson is the miller, W. P. McKee has 
a lucrative trade in agricultural implements. O. P, Carlton also 
in the grocery business. Jas. N. Currens runs a nice trade in boots 
and shoes. Will O. Sharp is the only photographer. J. S. Johnson, 
patentee on corn-husker, does a large manufacturing business. F. B. 
Miller & Co., located near the depot, are large grain dealers. Chas. E. 
Sraale and John Ilelfrich both nave a good market business. The 
lawyers are Judges J. M. Ferris, and T.C. Sharp, W. E. IVIason, State's 
Atty.,M. P. and O. F. Berry, W. H. Manier,Geo. G. Rogers,C. J. Sco- 
fiekl T. J. Scofield, A. W. O'llarra and others. Dr. J. W. Carlton, 
W.M. Kellogg, R C. Haliaday, W. T. Hannan, W. D. Noyes, J. H. 
Callahan, are the physicians. Dr, Adam Spilter is a retired physi- 
cian. The banking interests are represented by the Hancock 
County Bank, II. G. Ferris, President; A. J. Griffith, Vice Presi- 
dent; William Griffith, Cashier. A second institution of the kind 
isrun by Sholl & Cherill. Henry C. Wilson and E. T. Dorothy 
have the trade for livery business. The Stevens Ilouse, located on 
the square, is being run by J. Jackson. The Kohrer House, two 
blocks northwest of t"he square, is controlled by C. G. Rohrer. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

The first religious services held at the county-seat were in the 
log-cabin court-house south of the square. The date of the first 
cannot be fixed; but as Rev. John Lawton, the Home Missionary 
of the Congregational Church, settled there in 1834, and as its 
builder. Elder Owen, was also a minister of the gospel, the pre- 
sumption is that services were held in it soon after its erection. 
The first authentic information we have of any Church organization 
in the town, is that of the Cong. Church, organized in March, 1836. 
It was supplied by Revs. B. F. Morris, Joseph Mason, James A. 
Hawley, Wm. E. Catlin and Wm. B. Atkinson, but gradually de- 
clined, most of its members going to other denominations, and for 
15 or 20 years past the organization has ceased to exist. 

About the same period a society of Methodists and also of Bap- 
tists was formed, all holding their meetings in the log court-house, 
and none of them having regular pastors. A Methodist Episcopal 
Sunday-school is said to have been established as early as 1835, Col. 
Freeman, Su])erintendent. 

There are at present seven church edifices in Carthage, the hand- 
somest and costliest being the Lutheran. There is also a German 
Lutheran, an unpretentious frame building; a Presbyterian, of 
brick; a Methodist Episcopal, of brick; a Missionary Baptist, of 
brick; a Christian, of frame; and a Catholic, of brick. Most or all 



690 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of the above have their regular services and regular pastors, and 
some of them large congregations. There is also a small society 
of Episcopalians, who, without a church, rent a building for church 
services. We have no further statistics of any of the foregoing. 
There is also a new M. E. Church at Middle Creek village, and a 
congregation worshiping there. 

The only other church in the township, we believe, is that known 
as the Old Brick Church at Middle Creek, in the southeast corner. 
This is undoubtedly the oldest Church organization in the county. 
It is of the Old-School Baptist order, and was organized, its records 
say, "on Saturday before the second Lord's Day in August, 1832," 
by Elder William Bradley and John Rhea, upon articles of faith 
submitted. Said Church has kept up its regular organization since, 
meeting in the same little old brick in the woods. Elder Thomas 
H. Owen was Clerk at said organization, and afterward preached to 
the congregation for many years. Its membership has been at 
times quite large, but has of late become reduced to 25 or 30. The 
late Elder Dennis Smith, of Carthage, to whom we are indebted 
for these facts, was a Pastor of this Church for several years. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

We continue the history of this township by giving short sketches 
of the old settlers and prominent citizens, which will be found o± 
peculiar interest: 

Francis S. Atistin, farmer, sec. 35; P. O., Carthage; was born 
in Addison county, Yt., in 1824. His parents, Francis B. and 
Eleanor (Whitten) Austin, were natives of Massachusetts, and emi- 
grated from New York State to Illinois in 1848, settling in Foun- 
tain Green, Hancock Co., where he resided until his death, in 1866. 
She died in Kansas in 1875. The subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried in 1845, to Miss Phcebe Mapes, a native of Indiana. To this 
union 9 children have been born, 7 of whom are living: George 
W., Charles, H. H., Frank B., Edward F., Alice P., Josephine and 
John T. : Mary J, and Emma deceased. Mr. A. came to this 
county in 1852, and settled on his present estate of 445 acres, val- 
ued at $50 per acre. He was Town Constable three years in Car- 
thage, and was largely engaged in the livery business the same length 
of time, where he resided nine years. Has been School Director, and 
was formerly a member of the Methodist Church. Politically he 
was an old-time Whig, and now adheres to the Republican admin- 
istration, and is an early pioneer of Hancock. 

Levi Barber, Jr., farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Pittsfield, Pike county. 111., in 1839; is son of Austin Barber, of 
that city, and one of the oldest settlers and respected citizens of 
that county. The subject of this sketch was engaged in merchan- 
dising in Pittsfield until the war broke out, when he enlisted in 
April, 1861, in Co. G, 8th 111. Yol. Inf. as 1st Sergeant, and served 
three mouths, when he re-enlisted in same regiment, and served until 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 691 

June, 1864, when he was discharged by the President to raise a 
company of 100-day men. This he accomplished at Pittsfield, and 
was connected to the 137th Regt. Ilh Yol. Inf. with rank of Cap- 
tain of Co. H. With this regiment he served until the close of the 
term. He was with the 8th at the battle of Fort Donel son, where 
he was wounded and confined at the hospital at Paducah, Ky., one 
month. Upon recovery he again entered the ranks and partici- 
pated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Yicksbnrg, and in all the 
smaller engagements in which that regiment participated. He was 
at Memphis with the 137th when Forrest made his eventful raid 
on that city. On his return home he was appointed Clerk in the 
general oifice of Provost Marshal at Springfield, where he was 
engaged one year. He afterward engaged in the livery business 
and merchandising in his native city until 1873, when he moved to 
this county and settled on his present estate of 160 acres, valued at 
$50 per acre. He was married in 186-1 to Miss Amelia T. Scam- 
mon, a native of Pittsfield, who died in 1875, leaving born to him 
one child, Carrie. His present wife. Miss Mary E. Johnson, is a 
native of Aurora, 111. To this union one son has been born, Lute. 
Mr. B. served one year as Assistant Internal Revenue Collector at 
Pittsfield, and was in other ways distinguished. He is a member 
of the Masonic order, the A. O. U. W., and of the State Militia; 
also, the family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

IL. JB. Bartholomew^ professor of natural and physical science, 
was born in Korthumberland county. Pa., in 1846. He received 
his early education at the academy of Foburgh, Snyder county, 
Pa. Tlie success attending his studies in this school is greatly due 
to E. G. Erlenmeyer, professor of languages in that institution, to 
whom he makes grateful remembrance in shaping his course in 
life. Two years afterward he was employed as assistant in the same 
institution eighteen months, where he entered the Missionary 
Institute at Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania, and prepared for his col- 
legiate studies. In the fall of 1868, he entered the sophomore class 
of the Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, and graduated with 
second honors of his class in 1871, standing second in a class of 
twenty-one. In the fall of the same year he was appointed prin- 
cipal of the academy at Clark City, Mo., and the following year 
moved to Cahoka, where he officiated as principal of the high school 
two years. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Kate L. 
Fasold, a native of Northumberland county. Pa. To this union 
3 children have been born, Nettie C, Frank R. and Cottie. 
He was elected to the chair he now fills at Carthage College in 
1874, and settled in this city, where he has since made it his home. 
In 1875 he took ministerial orders in Washington county. Ills., 
and subsequently filled the pulpit at Hamilton, this county, and 
Mendon, Adams county. He has served as Secretary of the Synod 
of Central Illinois two years, and ofiiciates in the Trinity Lutheran 
Church of this city, ite has also been connected with the Sabbath- 
school of tlie same Cluirch as superintendent for funr 3'ears. 



692 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

William Bartholomew, his father, was a native of Christian county. 
Pa., where he was born September 21, 1796. He died March 9, 1861. 
His mother, Susan E. (Wolf) Bartholomew, was born in Lehigh 
county. Pa., July 10, 1800, and is, at this writing, a resident of that 
State. 

William D. Bennett^ merchant, established ^in 1872, has one 
of the most extensive dry-goods houses in the city. Mr. B. carries 
a stock of $9,000 and has an increasing trade. He was born in 
Adams county, 111., in 1848; is son of W. L. and Bethier (Cord) 
Bennett, natives of Ohio, who emigrated to this county at an ear- 
ly day, and settled near Augusta where they resided until the 
spring of 1860, when they moved to this city, where Mr. B. died 
in 1868. His wife is still living. Mr. Bennett was engaged as 
clerk in the hardware trade, until he opened his present place of 
business. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary A. Carlin, a 
native of this county. To this union one child has been born, 
Mabel. He is a member of A. O. U. W., and the family all mem- 
bers ot the M. E. Church. Politically he is a Democrat. 

Robert G. JBernethy, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., Carthage; is son of 
James and Elizabeth (Gilliland) Bernethy, who emigrated to 
Brown county, Ohio, at an early day, where they were married, 
and moved to this count}- in May, 1835. He entered 120 acres of 
land in LaHarpe tp., upon which he settled, and resided until his 
death in January, 1877. He was one of the oldest pioneers of the 
county. His estimable wife and 4 children survive. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Brown county, O., in 1823, and is the 
oldest of seven brothers. He laid out a farm from the Military Tract 
in Fountain G-reen tp., which he cultivated from the stump. It 
remains to-day one of the finest arranged farms in the county. In 
1869 he disposed of his farm, and moved to his present estate of 
70 acres which he has greatly improved, and is valued at $100 per 
acre. He was united in marriage in Dec, 1863, to Mary, daughter 
of Jabez A, Bebee, an early pilgrim of Fountain Green tp., now 
deceased. Mr. B. has never aspired to public prominence, being 
of a retiring disposition. His advantages for education were only 
such as the pioneer sons of tlie county could get, but possessed of 
enei'gy and industry he lias acquired a fine farm and enjoys the 
circle of his home. Politicall}^ he was a strong Abolitionist, dyed 
in the wool, and in war times was a Republican. He is now 
allied to the Greenback platform. His influence was used in the 
settlement of the Mormon difliculties, after which time he traveled 
extensively for one year. 

Malvvri P. Berry ^ lawyer, of the firm of Berry Bros. & Sharp, 
was born in McDonough county. 111., in 1853. His father, Lebury 
Berry, emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1841 or '2, and settled in 
Fountain Green tp. and engaged in farming. He resided there 
until his wife died, in 1848, when he moved to McDonough county. 
He was again married in 1851. He had 3 children, — Orville, Clar- 
ence L. and Melvin P. He was a prominent man in McDonougk 




cPf. c/aJKI^^ 



CARTHAGE 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. g95 

and after a life of usefuhfess dLd i„ ISW T? '" "• ^"T?^ ''"'''='^' 
read law in the office orM^ck & Beafd „t^ U "^•''"'f/ 'i"'/'^'''"''' 
giate studies, and was admitted to tt Ban S 1sT<?"^ ^i'"- 
been in successful practice since that timp '°Tr®'>-' ^''^^< and has 
Miss Ilattie Camp&ell a na h^e „ f M.n ?" ™' """™'^ '<> 

f^d^ll^JS'Ke^S^ 

wheJe^t se^^ TsJ^ ij^f^^^^^^^, 

s:Jii-ett>s\fcS B^^^^ 
=i;:rr:id^:sS§tr^^^^^ 

where she was born in ^50 One chndV V™ "f Pennsylvania, 
Clarence L ™'''' ''"^ '"'^a tx^™ to them, 

removed to Palmrrn M^ ^" ^^lo until isb5, at which time they 

the sJ/;itiXi:;i ^^:z^^:;o±% ttf '' 
&:r^^^irsi,^:iJr;rA?r 

field of life and moved to tlfiscl^v „!„ i ''^f ™'" *« ^<=tive 
which occurred in /sM wl ^ ^i' "^^'^ ''^ '''''"''''' "°'>' '''s death, 
business in Preble cofntv O „1, ''«^f-^ "'«''8''' '" «"^ mercantile 
Miss Sophia VanHora^a natrve of tL™' '"^"'"^' '° l^^^' '» 
union 8 children were born 7 nf ^, same county. To this 

Kate P., William E 7the eUest so^rtM^ l'."ng,-Anna Mary, 
tt>e postoffice of this ity), SL't"' Ja^t M.Tn^LibbrE t? 

Urfd VanX-'^Xm^"^ '^ <='«-" .thrc:::em^? a7d^ , 

sto'S':f&::5traTood'?:!;ir"'?L^'^w^s^b'*''' "^'rr' ^ 

son county O in 1^9^ r c o /• o -^i^ ^^^s born in Ham- 
Boyd,^nati';es"of'Lla^nt wi: Z^^^:'^^- S^ 



696 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

settled in Ohio in 1813, and in 1849 moved to Fairfield county, 
Iowa, where they both died. Mr. B. became engaged in the mer- 
cantile and grain business in Keokuk, where he was largely inter- 
ested until 1863, when he came to this city, where he has since made 
it his home. He was married in 1865 to Miss Margaret O'llarra, 
a native of Indiana. By this marriage 5 children have been born, 
tt of whom are living, Cora B., Arthur W., "Walter K. and Lettie F. 
Politically Mr. B. is Democratic, and he is a thorough business man 
of Carthage. 

James H. Callahan, physician, was born in Adams county, 111., 
in 1844; his parents, John and Jane (Henry) Callahan, were 
natives of Kentucky and Ireland. Grandfather Callahan emigrated 
to Illinois and settled in Adams county, where he resided until his 
death. His son, John, was then an infant, and is now one of the 
oldest settlers of that county, and resides in Columbia tp. The 
subject of this sketch attended a course of studies at Rush Medical 
College, at Chicago, 111., when he entered the Bellevue college, 
JN^. Y., and was graduated at that institution in 1870. After a 
few months' practice in Kingston, Adams county, he moved to this 
city in October, 18Y0, where he has since been in active and suc- 
cessful practice. The following year he was married to Miss 
Emma Yeargain, a native of Adams county, who died in 1872. 
His present wife. Miss Martha E. Simpson, is a native of Ken- 
tucky. By this marriage 2 children have been born, one of 
whom is living, Lena M. The Doctor is a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, and of the I. O. M. A. He has a farm of 
220 acres on sec. 23, valued at $40 per acre. In politics the Doctor 
is Democratic. 

A. M. Cannon^ farmer, sec. 35; P. O., Carthage; is a native of 
Howard county. Mo., where he was born in 1821. His parents, 
Simeon and Sarah (Cornelius) Cannon, are of German descent, and 
settled in Missouri in 1808, where they both died in Macon county. 
The subject of this sketch came to this county in 1844, and resided 
for two years in Harmony tp. He was married in 1845 to Miss 
Elizabeth Gibson, a native of Indiana. Their children are all 
living; William B., a prominent resident, and engaged in the 
mercantile business in PInerfano county. Col.; Mary M.; John W., 
a resident physician of Grant City, Iowa; Sarah E.; James E.., also 
a resident of Colorado, and a large stock dealer; Alvin, Miles and 
Frank. In 1846, Mr. Cannon moved to his present farm of 285 
acres, where he has since made it his home and numbers among 
those of theearl}^ settlers of the county; has served as School Direc- 
tor, and in politics has been identified with the Republican party 
for twenty years. 

Melancton S. Carey.- -This, gentleman, whose portrait, taken at 
the age of 48, we give in this volume, was a native of the town of 
Coventry, Chenango county, IST. Y., where he was born March 1, 
1820. At the age of 22 he left the homestead and engaged in 
teaching the village school at Brooklyn, Susquehanna Co., Pa.; 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 697 

next spring he returned to his father's farm, and the following 
winter returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Luzerne county, re- 
suming his labors as a teacher; ISiS-'iO, he was clerk and pay- 
master for Jonathan Wasley, a miner and coal operator at Potts- 
ville, Pa. ; in 1850 he iirst came to Hancock county, locating at 
Nauvoo, and tbllowed farming for a time, varying that pursuit 
with school teaching and keeping books. In 1853 or 1854 he 
served that city as Mayor, and afterward served as Deputy under 
Sheriffs Hamilton and Clarkson. He afterward moved to Car- 
thage,where he was employed as assistant in various official positions. 
In 1860 he was elected Sheriff, which office he filled two years 
with credit; 1862-'4, he was most of the time Deputy in the office 
of the County Clerk, under F. M. Corby; in 1861: he was elected 
Circuit Clerk, and in 1868 was re-elected, serving until 1872, since 
which time he has served only on the Board of Supervisors, desir- 
ing to devote his attention more exclusively to his personal affairs. 
In the spring of 1878 he went to . Hot Springs, Ark., with his 
wife and only living child, for his health; and there, May 20, of 
that spring, he died. In private life, and in all his dealings with 
others, he was a man above reproach ; he was methodical and care- 
ful in all his business affairs, whether public or private; as an offi- 
cial he was exact, painstaking, punctual and courteous; as a citizen 
he stood deservedly high, being a friend of education and contribut- 
ing liberally to the growth and advancement of every interest of 
the community. For two year? previous to his death he was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. He was buried in the family 
plat in the east cemetery near Carthage, whither 4 of his chil- 
dren had preceded him. Two of his sisters survive. 

Oct. 2, 1853, Mr. Carey married Mrs. Esther C. Mix, of Nauvoo; 
she was born in Christie county. Pa., in 1820, the daughter of Mr. 
Lindsey; in 1837 she married Philip Mix, who was a machinist, 
and settled in JSTauvoo in 1846. He went to California in 1849, and 
died in 1852, while on his return home by way of the Isthmus, 
leaving 3 children, 2 of whom died in Pennsylvania, and one 
son, Thomas E., who enlisted in 1862 in Co. B, 118th 111. Vol. Inf., 
and after participating in many battles was killed in August, 1865. 
Mrs. Carey and daughter Nellie still reside at Carthage. She has 
one adopted son, Frank. 

John Carlin\ P. O., Carthage; was born in Madison county, 
Ky., in 1818. He was married in 1843, at Quincy, to Miss Martha 
J. Flood, who was born in Montgomery county, Ky., in 1825, 
daughter of William J. and Jane Anderson, who settled in Adams 
county in 1830, where Mrs. Anderson died in 1836; Mr. A. is liv- 
ing with his widowed daughter in this city in the 76th year of his 
age. Mr. Carlin came to this county from Quincy with the rifle 
company during the Mormon disturbance in 1846; subsequently 
he was engaged as Clerk in the Recorder's office, and afterward 
elected to that position which he filled some years. He also was 
elected Sheriff of the county, and was otherwise prominently 



''698 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

identified in the county and township. In fact, the whole time of 
his residence in the county was devoted to the public good. He 
was a qniet, unassuming man, and his demise, which occurred in 
this city in 1865, was a bereavement to a wide circle of friends. 
He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and the 
father of 6 children, 4 of whom are living: James W., Mary A., 
Lewis C. and Martha W. Mrs. C. has a pleasant home near the 
city, with 30 acres of valuable and productive land, where she re- 
sides with her children. The family are members of the M. E. 
Church. 

James W. Carlton, M. D., was born in Grant county, Ky., in 
1835; is son of George W. and Maranda Tull, both natives of that 
State, who emigrated to Illinois in 18-42, and settled in Beards- 
town, Cass county. Two years afterward they removed to this 
county, and settled in St. Alban's tp., where Mr. C. engaged in 
farming and resided until 1859, when he made a permanent home 
in Carthage tp., where he now lives. The subject of this sketch 
received his early education at the Academic School, at New- 
town, Kentucky, was a merchant a few years, attended med- 
ical lectures in 1869 and '60, at the medical department of the 
State University, at Keokuk, at which institution he was grad- 
uated in 1865; was also a graduate of the Missouri Medical Col- 
lege, at St. Louis, Mo., in 1869. He began the practice of medi- 
cine in 1864:, in Harmony tp., where he was located eight years, 
then settled in this city, where he has since been in constant prac- 
tice. He was married in 1859 to Miss IST. J. Hendricks, daughter 
of John Hendricks, and a native of Grant county, Ky. To this 
union 3 children have been born, all of whom are living; Eva M., 
Willie O. and Lelia M. The Dr. enjoys a well established prac- 
tice, and is one of the oldest and ablest practitioners in the county, 
as well as an early settler. Politically, is a Democrat. 

O. P. Carlton, grocer, established in 1863, on west side of the 
square, where he carried on business for three years ; was appointed 
Deputy Circuit Clerk, and filled that office for eight years, when 
he opened his present place of business. He carries a stock of 
$2,000 and has a lucrative trade. He came to this county with his 
parents, George W. and Maranda (Tull) Carlton, who emigrated to 
this county in 181:0, where his mother died in 1858. His father is 
still a living resident of this county. Mr. C. was married in 1867 
to Miss Lucy Hendricks, a native of Kentucky, by whom he has 
2 children, Carrie and Charlie P. He is a member of the A. O. U. 
W., and politically is Democratic. 

Charles G. Clark, firm of Clark & Co., grain and lumber dealers, 
was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1820 ; is sou of Charles J. 
and Rachel (Kaple) Clark, natives of New York, where the father 
died at an early day. The mother is still living in this city in the 
81st year of her age, Mr. C. was married in 1846, to Miss Mary 
Andrews, a native of Otsego county, N. Y. He first 'studied for 
the law in his native State, was admitted to the Bar in 1846, and 



I 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 699 

practiced his profession in Schoharie and Jamestown from 1855 
to 1863. He came to this county in 1863 to settle the estate of a 
deceased uncle, Benjamin Clark, who settled in this county in 1840. 
Mr. C. became engaged in the grain business in 1865, and the 
lumber trade in 1867. In 1873 he erected the large and commo- 
dious elevator, and the firm, consisting of himself and his only 2 
living children, Edward and Charles, carry on a large and success- 
ful trade. He is also largely engaged in the agricultural pursuit, 
owning farming lands of 2,000 acres to which he is devoting time 
and attention; is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in 
politics is Republican. 

James B. C'raiq/br<^, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Carthage; was born 
in Rock Castle county, Ky., in March, 1836; is youngest child of 
Harrison and Alice (Thompson) Crawford, natives of that State, 
who emigrated to this county in the spring of I860, and settled on 
the homestead of their surviving son. Mr. C. was a blacksmith by 
trade, and engaged a portion of his time in that business during 
his residence here. The farm was all prairie at that time, and the 
subject of this sketch (then a boy) turned over the first sod in this 
tp. His mother died in 1865, and his father survived until 1870. 
Mr. C. was married in 1858, to Miss Josephine Davis, a native of 
Butler county, O. To this union 9 children were born, 6 of whom 
are living, — Alice C, Lizzie H., Nellie, Eva, Edward C. and Jose- 
phine; deceased are Joplin, James E. and Edith. Edward and 
Edith were twins, as also were James E. and Josephine. Of his 
father's family there were 4 children : Margaret, wife of Thomas 
Hill; Josiah J., died Nov., 1856; Elizabeth, wife of Charles R. Sco- 
field. Josiah was a graduate of the McDowell Medical College, St. 
Louis, and practiced here until his death, and was among the lead- 
ing and early physicians of this county. The homestead farm con- 
sists of 60 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. C. is a member of 
A. O. CJ. W., and of the Christian Church. Politically is Demo- 
cratic, and numbers among those of the early settlers, and is well 
and favorably known throughout the town and county. 

James N . Currens, boots and shoes; this house was established 
in August, 1878, in present location; carries a stock of $3,600, and 
has a good trade. Mr. C. is a native of Adams county, Penn., 
where he was born in 1856. His parents are Charles M. and Eliza 
(Randolph) Currens, both natives of that State, who emigrated to 
Illinois in 1860, and settled in Plymouth, where Mrs. C. died in 
1862. He is yet living at that place. The subject of this sketch 
was married March 25, 1880, to Miss Josie, daughter of J. W, 
Hawley, of this city. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of 
the Presbyterian Church, and is one of the rising young business 
men of Carthage. Politically, is a Republican. 

Dwight C. Cutler^ druggist, book and news dealer, succeeded A. 
F. Sims in this business in 1874; carries a stock of $4,000 and 
enjoys a good trade. Mr. C. is a native of Erie county, N. Y., 
where he was born in 1848. His parents were Albert and Permelia 



700 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Cutler, natives of that State, who emigrated to this county in 1869, 
and settled in this city, where they are yet living. The subject of 
this sketch has been engaged in the book business ever since his 
coming to the county. He was married in 1875 to Miss Elizabeth 
Showers, a native of Ohio. To them have been born 3 children, — 
Elsy, Homer and the youngei^^t, not yet christened. Mr. C. filled 
the ofiice of Town Clerk two terms, and is a member of the A. O. 
U. W. Politically he is Democratic. 

. Nathan Cntlei\ farmer, sec. 28; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Erie county, IN. Y., in 1819; is son of Jonas P. and Martha (Jones)- 
Cutler, natives of Vermont, who emigrated to Illinois in 1838, and 
settled in Canton, Fulton county. In 1852 they moved to this 
county, and settled in Pilot Grove tp., where Mr. C. died in 1858. 
The subject of this sketch was married in 1841 to Miss Hannah 
Ward, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter ot Aaron Ward, who 
settled in Fulton county in 1828. By this marriage 4 children have 
been born, all of whom are living. Parkurst W., eldest son, married 
Fannie G. Barker. • The fruits of this union are 2 children, Nathan 

B. and Ward A. James C. married Mar}' A. Barker, and they 
had one child, Francis G. ; also an adopted child, Nellie. Frances 
K. and Martha C. The two wives and mothers, are daughters of 
Augustus Barker, of Iowa, deceased. They are both natives of 
Ohip. The mother, Catherine Barker, is living in this tp. Mr. 

C. and his sons reside on the estate, consisting of 700 acres of 
valuable and productive land. He was the eldest of 11 children, 
10 of Avliom are living. He was left without means, and his accu- 
mulations have been secured only by his own industry and energy. 
The famil}' are members of the Baptist Church. 

William P. Damron, a native of Pendleton county Ya., where 
he was born March 7, 1833, is a son of George H. and Jane 
(Lyon) Damron, natives of that State, who emigrated to Hancock 
county in 1855, and settled in Bear Creek tp., where they both died 
in 1859. The subject of this sketch engaged in farming until 
elected to his present position as Sheriff in 1878. He enlisted in 
1861 in the 18th 111 . Vol. Inf , and served until the close of the 
war. The followi-ng j^ear he was married to Miss Catherine E. 
Seger, a native of New Jersey. To this union 2 children have 
been born, Lena L. and William II. Mr. D. has been prominently 
identified with the interests of the county for many years; was first 
elected Constable, and afterward served five times as Supervisor, 
Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Collector and School Director, most of 
the time during his residence in the connty. Also, is a prominent 
member of the Masonic order. In politics he is a Democrat. 

James Monroe Davidson, editor of The Carthage Repuhlican, 
was born in Madison county, 111,, on May 22, 1828. He came with 
his parents to the town of Petersburg, then in Sangamon, now 
Menard, count}', in 1833. From thence the family removed to 
Lewistown, Fulton county, in 1838 . He served a period of appren- 
ticeship to the printing business in Lewistown during the years 



HISTOEY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 701 

1843-'4; and in 1845, in connection with another young man, a 
year or two older than himself, started a newspaper called The 
Fulton, Gazette^ the publication of which was continued some 12 
or 14 months. He then read law during the year or two following. 
He was engaged by employment in a newspaper enterprise in 
Canton, in the same county, from some time in 1847 to 1848. 

Mr. Davidson was married to Miss Susan Candace Springer at 
Springfield, Illinois, on Nov. 2s, ls53. Twelve children were born 
to this marriage, of whom 11 are living, 5 sons and 6 daughters. 

In 18,55 Mr. Davidson established TJie Fulton Democrat., at Lewis- 
town, 111. In the fall of 1859 he sold the paper to his brother, William 
T. Davidson, Esq., its present able proprietor. During the winter 
following, he was employed as Legisative correspondent, at Spring- 
field, for the St. Louis R'epuhlican and Cliicago Times. From the 
fall of 1859 to some time in 1861 he published tlie Squitter Sover- 
eign., at Havana, Mason countv. During a part of 1862 he was 
connected with the Chicago Times., as traveling correspondent, 
and for a short time as telegraph editor. 

In Sept., 1863, he purchased an assumed control of The Carthage 
Repuhlican, and has since continued its proprietor and editor. 

William De Hart, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Carthage; is a native of 
"Whitby tp.. Upper Canada, where he was born in 1828. He came 
to this county in 1838, with his parents, Thomas and Rebecca 
(McCausland) DeHart, both natives of that Dominion, who settled 
in Pilot Grove tp. In 1850 the father crossed the plains to California, 
where he died the same year. The wife and mother died at Pilot 
Grove in 1874. The subject of this sketch was married in 1858 
to Miss Mary Hillegoss, a native of Indiana. To this union 9 
children have been born, 7 of whom are living: Charles, the eldest 
son, is a student of law in the ofiice of Schofield & Edmunds of 
this city, and a graduate of Carthage College in 1877; Emma, 
Martha, Ellen, George, William and Carrie. Mr. D. moved to 
this tp. in 1870 and settled on his present estate, consisting of 
500 acres, valued at $40 per acre. He also owns the homestead at 
Pilot Grove, of one section, and other lands, constituting a grand 
total of 1,040 acres. He is probably the largest landholder in 
Hancock county. His opportunities for education were such as 
could be afforded the children of pioneer settlers. His fine and 
convenient residence at Fairview is a monument to his industry 
and his success. Politically, he used to be an old-line Whig, and is 
now a Republican. 

F. T. Dorothy, livery-stable keeper, is the son of Archibald and 
Sarah (Perkins) Dorothy, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. 
His mother was a daughter of Ephraim Perkins, who settled in this 
county in 1826. She is a living resident of this township, in the 
63d year of her age. Archibald Dorothy settled in McDonough 
county in 1836, before township organization. He was a farmer 
and a prominent stock-dealer of that county. In 1854 he moved 
to this county and settled in this township, where he died in 1863. 



702 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

He was widely and favorably known throughout the county. The 
subject of this sketch resided on the farm until he opened his pres- 
ent place of business in April, 1879. He has a good stock of 
horses and carriages, and enjoys a good trade. He was married in 
1868 to Miss Augusta, daughter of David Baxter, a native of this 
county. Two children are the fruits of this marriage, Stella and 
Archie. Mr. D. owns the homestead farm in this township, of 160 
acres, valued at $75 per acre. He is a member of the I. O. M. A., 
and a living relic of the Hancock pioneer family. 

John S. Duffy,! farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Carthage; is the son of 
Anthony and Matilda (Spangler) Duffy, and was born in Hancock 
county in 1842. His parents were both born in Pennsylvania, and 
they came to this county in 1833. He entered and purchased land, 
and is one of the oldest living settlers of the county. The subject 
of this sketch moved to this township in 1868, and the following 
year located on his present farm of 80 acres valued at $40 per acre. 
He was married in 1871 to Miss Lydia, daughter of David Barr, 
an early settler of Fountain Green township, who died in Kansas 
while on a visit to that State. She was a native of Mercer county, 
Pa. Mr. D. enlisted in 1862 and served until the close of the war. 
He participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, siege of Yicks- 
burg, Yazoo River, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Jackson and all 
the battles of that regiment. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., 
and in politics is a Republican. 

Prof. L. F. M. Easterday, A. M., of Carthage College. Levi 
Fast Easterday was born near the town of York, of Yellow Creek, 
in Knox tp., Jefferson county, O., Oct. 21, 1839. He is the second 
iri^a famil}'^ of 9 children, all of whom with parents are living. 
His father was born in Jefferson county, O., Oct. 19, 1813. 
His grandfather, Christian, was born in Maryland Oct. 18, 1789. 
His great-grandfather, Martin, at about the age of six years, and 
between the years 1760 and 1770, was brought bj'-his father Martin, 
from Alsace, Germany, to Maryland. The name of the family 
while in Germany was Ostertag, but it was Anglicised after their 
removal to this countr3^ The mother of Prof. Easterday, whose 
maiden name was Jane Robertson, was born in Jefferson county, 
O., Aug. 8, 1816. From his mother Prof. E. derives both Irish 
and Scotch blood, but from his father only German. The subject 
of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and taught to labor dili- 
gently with his hands. When 12 years of age the family removed 
to Illinois and settled upon a farm in Montgomery county. He had 
the ordinary educational advantages as afforded at country schools at 
that time. He was sent to college a few weeks before he attained 
the age of 19 years, and at the age of 23 years graduated with 
honor at a college then known as the Illinois State University, 
Springfield, 111. Having in his student life exhibited a fondness 
for and special success in the study of mathematics, and also an 
aptness in teaching, on the day of his graduation he was elected 
to the professorship of mathematics in his own alma mater. Find- 




/KP^'h<. 



<3<,-t-< -t-c-^ 



CARTHAGE 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y05 

ing this institution could not be sustained on account of a lack ot 
funds, at the end of the fourth year he withdrew. He then 
accepted the principalship of the Hillsboro Academy, at Ilills- 
boro, 111. He managed this for two years, beginning with 17 
pupils and enrolling during the second year the names of 164. In 
the summer of 1870, he was called to the principalship of a classical 
school preparatory to a prospective Carthage College, at Carthage, 
111. He first entered Carthage on the morning of August 18, 1870, 
and by September 5 this school was opened with an attendance 
of 12 students. For two years he was alone in this new enterprise. 
On the organization of a faculty for the college, three years after- 
ward, he was made Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in the 
institution. This position he still holds. After the death of his 
co-laborer, President Tressler, he was made treasurer of this col- 
lege, lie received the degree of A. B. on his graduation, and the 
degree of A. M. was conferred upon him two years later by the 
board of trustees of the same institution. In June, 1874, the 
board of trustees of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, Pa., con- 
ferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M. Prof. Easterday 
was married to Miss Abbie Warren Hunsaker, of Carthage, 111., on 
the evening of August 18, 1S74. To this union 3 sons have been 
born, Fred Ralph, Phil Rufus and Cad Roy. Blessed with an 
excellent constitution and corresponding energy, coupled with 
mirthfulness, the Professor has the reputation of a hard-worker 
in both physical and mental development. He has done much 
toward the success of Carthage College, and his ability and success 
is fully attested by the universal confidence and respect of his fel- 
low-citizens. 

John TF. Everett, merchant, was born in Franklin county. Pa., 
Dec. 9, ls39, son of John and Lydia (Neusbaun) Everett, both na- 
tives of that State, where she died in 1880. He is still a resident 
of that county. The subject of this sketch enlisted Aug. 20, 1862, 
in the 126th Pa. Yol. Inf., nine months' service, and participated 
in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancel- 
lorsville, and served 10 months. He re-enlisted as first-class pri- 
vate of Capt. O. H. Howard's detachment of the Signal Service, U. 
S. A., Feb. 27, 1864, and discharged Aug. 3d, ls65. He displayed 
all the qualities of a good soldier at the battles of New Market, 
Piedmont, Lexington, Lynchburg, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, 
Waynesboro', Dinwiddle C. II., Five Forks, Tailor's Creek, Appo- 
mattox Station and C. H., and was the only person not a general 
officer that was present at Lee's surrender. In May, 1866, he 
came to this county and engaged in the mercantile trade at Foun- 
tain Green until 1875, when he moved to this city and established 
himself on the Public Square. In ls78 he occupied his present 
place, where he has since been engaged. He carries a stock of 
$6,000 and enjoys a lucrative trade. He was married in June, 
1868, to Miss Sarah Stark, a native of Franklin Co., Pa., where she 
was born April 8, 1843, and died in this city Sept. 19, 1877. Mr. 



706 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

E. has been identified as Supervisor, is a member of the A. O. U. 
AY., and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is 
a Ive}Mibliean. 

Hiram G. Ferris is a son of Stephen Gano Ferris, and was born 
in Steuben county, N. Y., in 1822. lie was educated at KnoxCol- 
leg-e. 111.; after completing his studies there in 1850, he crossed the 
plains to California, where he attained considerable prominence in 
politics. In the winter of lS51-'2 he was appointed b}' the Legis- 
lature of the State of California as one of the commissioners to or- 
ganize the county of Siski^-ou. After serving on this commission 
until their work was finished, he was elected County Clerk of that 
county, in which capacity he served for two terms. In 1856 he 
returned to this county (^Hancock). Having previously read and 
studied law, he made application to the Supreme Court of Illinois 
fur admission to the '' liar," which, after undergoing an examina- 
tion by that honorable court, was granted. Soon afterward, Mr. 
Ferris formed a partnership with 1 looker &, Edmunds, Att'3's, at 
Carthage, under the firm name of Ferris, Hooker & Edmunds. 
This firm was dissolved in 1S63, and the business continued by 
Ferris & Hooker. In 1864 this firm was also dissolved, Mr. Fer- 
ris continuing the same until 1865. During this year he associ- 
ated himself with F. M. Corby, and organized a banking institu- 
tion, the firm being Ferris & Corby. They were also largely in- 
terested in real estate transactions. 

This banking institution formed the nucleus of what is now 
"The Hancock County National Bank, of Carthage,'' which was 
organized under certificate of authority dated May 18,1865, by the 
Comptroller of Currency at Washington, D. C. The institution 
opened its doors for business as a national bank June 5, 1865. Mr. 
Ferris was at once elected President of this bank, continuing to 
hold the position to the present time. This bank is considered one 
of the most solid and substantial in the countr3% having passed 
through all the panics with credit unimpaired. Its officers have 
the unlimited confidence of the people in all transactions. The 
bank building is situated on the northwest corner of the Public 
Square in Carthage. It is a substantial brick structure and was 
built in 1871. 

Mr. Ferris is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar, and has 
been a member of the Masonic order since January, 1850. While 
in California he was Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of 
the State for one 3"ear. He has also held the office of Master of 
Hancock Lodge ^No. 20, of Carthage, of the A. F. & A. M., at dif- 
ferent times, collectively making about five years. In politics, Mr. 
Ferris entertains the views and principles represented by the Demo- 
cratic part}^ and during the "' war " of Secession, was firm in sup- 
porting the Union cause, using his infiuence and his means for the 
speedy crushing of the Rebellion. Mr. Ferris has served four 
terms as President of the Board of Trustees of the town of Car- 
thage, being elected on the anti-license ticket; and has also served 



HISTORY OF HAUrx>CK COl'TSTY. 707 

as Supervisor, and has had various other local offices, having re- 
cei\ea nominations from each political partv. 

Mr. Ff^rris was married in McDonough county, 111., Aug. 20. 
1S67, to Miss Julia E. Ilolton, a native of that county. The\' now 
reside at Carthage, and are surrounded by a family of 9 children: 
Junius C, a graduate of Carthage College, and now attending 
Columbia College, X. Y. ; Esta M., Stephen 11., Julia, Ellen, Pho-be, 
Hiram E.. Joel E. and JIarold G. 

e/i M. J^errls, Justice of the Peace, was bom in Chenango 
county, y. Y., in 1816; is the oldest son of Stephen Gano Ferns, 
who was born in Hillsdale, Columbia county, X. Y., Aug. 11, 1788, 
and Eunice (Bee>>ej Ferris, a native of Xew London, Conn., who 
emigrated to Hancock in 1832, landing at Traders' Point, now 
Keokuk, in December of that year. The family, consisting of his 
wife and 6 children, landed on the Illinois shore opposite Keokuk, 
Dec. 13, 1832, and made a settlement in Lick Grove, now Fountain 
Greeny where lie opened a farm and resided until 184<5, when he 
sold his estate and made his home with his son in this city. He 
died at Fountain Green Xov. 29, 1876. He was one of the earliest 
pioneers of Hancock, and left a wide circle of friends to mourn 
his loss. The subject of this sketch resided at home until 21 years 
of age, when he l^egan the p»ractice of law. He has been Justice 
of the Peace 1.5 or 20 years, County Judge 8 years, and has made 
his home in this city since 1852, in which year he was married to 
Miss La vina "White, a native of Alleghany county, X. Y. To them 
have Ijeen born 3 children : Ella <'wife of J. M. DaWdson), Maggie 
and Frank L. Mr. F. is one of the oldest professional lawyers in 
the county, and one of the oldest living pioneers. Politically he 
is a Repuljlican, and strong in the endorsement of the principles 
governing that y^arty, and is solid for Grant as President of the 
Ilepublic. 

Stephen Gano Ferr-ifi. — This gentleman, whose portrait is given 
on another page ('from a photograph taken at the age of 86 j, was 
widely known throughout this and adjoining counties as one of the 
earliest pioneer settlers in this part of the State. His history will 
not 1^ without interest to the present reader, or those of the far 
future, especially as to the methods of travel from the Eastern 
States Xfi the West, and some of the characteristics of frontier life. 

Stephen Gano Ferris was bom in the town of Hillsdale, Columbia 
county, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1788. At the age of four years he accom- 
panied his father's family in their removal to Xorth Norwich, Che- 
nango county, X. Y., then a frontier county and quite sparsely 
settled. Here in the course of time he learned the tanner and 
currier's trade, and followed that business until his father removed 
to Yates county, X. Y., probably 1810 or 1812. On Aug. 11, 1814, 
(the 23d anniversary of nis birth i he was married to M^iss Eunice 
Beebe, in Chenango count}-, X. Y. Alxjut the year 1820 he re- 
moved to the town of Howard, Steuben county, X. Y., which was 
then a frontier county. Here he remained until the spring of 1832, 



708 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

when, pursuant to an arrangement between himself and his brother- 
in-law, Mr. Jabez A. Beebe (the latter havine^ come West the pre- 
vious year and purchased land where Fountain Green now stands), 
with his family, consisting of a wife and 6 children, he started 
"West by the way of the Alleghany, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, 
via Cincinnati and St. Louis. His intention was to come down the 
Alleghany river to Pittsburg on a lumber raft, but in consequence 
of low water was detained at Olean Point, JS^. Y., until some time 
in the fall. When Mr. Ferris got ready for another start he was 
joined by Wm. Stearns (an early settler in this county), and a man 
named Carman, with their families. They purchased a flat-boat, 
which they covered and provided with the necessary facilities for 
cooking and lodging for their families. In this boat they journeyed 
leisurely with the current. They arrived in Cincinnati some time in 
October, having been about nine weeks on the river. Here they 
sold the flat-boat and transferred themselves and goods to the steam- 
boat Niagara, bound for St. Louis, Mo., at which point they ar- 
rived about Dec. 1. 

While in Cincinnati Mr. Ferris and Mr. Carman were approached 
by a man named Austin, who endeavored to persuade them to 
divert their course to Texas, offering to each several leagues of good 
land free of charge if they would go there with their families; but, 
having made other arrangements, they declined the tempting ofler. 
Austin was afterward prominently identified with Texas and its 
struggle for independence from Mexico. The town of Austin, now 
the capital of Texas, was named after him. 

On the arrival of the steamboat Niagara at Jefferson Barracks, 
eight miles below St. Louis, it was obliged to wait some eight hours, 
unloading Government stores. It happened that the celebrated 
Indian Chief, Black Hawk, was a prisoner of war at the barracks 
at that time, and Mr. Ferris, accompanied by his son Hiram G., 
then 10 3'ears old, went up to the barracks and saw the chief and 
talked with him. 

Arriving at St. Louis, it seemed as if the lateness ot the season 
would compel the party to seek winter quarters in that vicinity; 
but luckily a small steamboat called tlie William Wallace was 
about to attempt the trip to Traders' Point, now Keokuk. Mr. 
Ferris engaged passage for himself and family, although the Cap- 
tain would not agree to carry them to any particular point in view 
of the possible closing of navigation at any hour. On arriving at 
Quincy the Captain declined going any farther unless liberally paid 
for it. Mr. Ferris and others paid the price demanded, and the 
avaricious Captain — who was in addition to his rough manners a 
hrutal fellow — came on to Traders' Point, landing there about the 
10th or 11th of December. At that time Traders' Point com- 
prised three or four log cabins at the base of the hill. The popu- 
lation consisted of three or four traders and their families, and 100 
or so of Indians and half-breeds who were loafing about. There 
was no house where Hamilton now stands. The first house above 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y09 

Fort Edwards (now Warsaw) was the cabin of Abraham Smith, 
about two and a half miles above the present town of Ilamilton. 
Desirinor to cross the river to Mr. Smith's place, Mr. Ferris paid a 
man $16 to ferrj his family and personal eftects across the river. 
The boat was a crazy aflair, very leaky and not at all adequate to 
the burthen imposed upon it. After loading the boat with its 
living freight and household goods, it Avas towed some three miles 
up the river by horses, and from that point " poled" across. In the 
boat, in addition to Mr. Ferris' family and eftects, were Mr. Stearns 
and his family and eftects, and a horse and wagon. After various 
and exciting besetments with the rapids and rocks, the boat, about 
one-third full of water, was finally landed not far from Mr. 
Smith's cabin, and the long and tedious journey by water was 
ended. 

As landed upon the shores of Illinois, Mr. Ferris' famil}'- com- 
prised himself and wife and 6 children, as follows: John M., the 
eldest son, now a prominent citizen of Carthage; Leonard T., 
second son, now a prominent physician at Fountain Green; Fran- 
cina K., the eldest daughter, afterward the wife of S. H. Tyler, Jr. 
(died at Fountain Green in fall of 1S59) ; Hiram G., third son, now 
President of the Hancock County iNational Bank, of Carthage; 
Dorothy L., second daughter, died at Fountain Green, Sept. 5, 1842, 
in her 17th year, unmarried; Fidelia B., third daughter, first wife 
of Dr. A. J. Griftith, and mother of W. H. Griftith, Esq., of this 
city. This lady died in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 28, 1849, in her 
19th year. Her remains were brought back and buried at Fountain 
Green. 

The crossing at Traders' Point was made on the 13th of Decem- 
ber, 1832; and on the following day Mr. Ferris and his son John 
M. walked across to Horse Lick Grove (now Fountain Green), some 
22 miles, where they employed a man named Geo. W. Howard to 
haul his family and goods to their destination. The trip was made 
with an ox team to haul the household goods, and a one-horse 
wagon to haul the family. They arrived at Fountain Green Dec. 
15, 1832. Mr. Beebe and family, having arrived the year previous, 
had a comfortable double log house, which he shared with Mr. 
Ferris' family until spring. Mr. Ferris then purchased of Mr. 
Beebe 110 acres of land, upon which, on the ground now occupied 
by Mr. McClaughry's residence, in Fountain Green, he built a com- 
fortable log house; in the spring of 1833 he opened out the farm 
and built a small tannery. The latter, after a fair trial, proved 
impracticable on account of scarcity of bark. Some five years 
later he built a small saw-mill on the creek not far from Fountain 
Green. This proved unprofitable, and thenceforward until 1845 he 
gave his attention mainly to farming. July 15, 1836, he sold the 
most of his farm to Mr, McClaughry. Sept. 14, 1860, his wife 
died at Fountain Green. Then he came to Carthage and made his 
home with the family of his son, Hiram G. Ferris, where he lived, 
with few absences, until his death, which occurred on the evening 



710 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of November 29, 1876, while on a visit at the house of his son, Dr. 
L. T. Ferris, in Fountain Green, at the age of 88 years, 3 months 
and 18 days. lie was buried in the village grave-yard by the side 
of his wife, where lie the remains of other members of- his family. 

Stephen G. Ferris, besides being one of the earliest pioneers in 
this county, is given the highest tribute, by those who knew him 
best during his life- time, as being in an eminent degree an honest 
man, a good neighbor, a kind friend and Christian gentleman. In 
early life he became a -member of the Baptist Church, and main- 
tained that membership and the faith it taught until his death. 
When he first settled at Horse Lick Grove there were not to exceed 
200 people within the present boundaries of Hancock county. The 
nearest mill was 60 miles distant; and in lieu of flour, people had 
to be content with coarse meal pounded from dry corn in a wooden 
mortar. These, among others, were some of the vicissitudes and 
hardships endured by the pioneers, that we might enjoy the con- 
veniencies and luxuries of the present day. 

John Fletcher, farmer,sec. 21; F. 0., Carthage; is the eldest son of 
William and Ann (Davidson) Fletcher, and was born in Scotland 
in August, 1831. When five years of age his parents emigrated 
to America, stopping one year in Canada, and located in Hamilton 
county, O., the following year, where they resided until Nov., 
1811, at which time they settled in this tp., where he is still living, 
in the 79th year of. his age. His respecttd wife has attained her 
80tli year. The subject of this sketch was married in 1853, to 
Miss Amanda Powell, a native of Ohio. By this marriage 5 chil- 
dren have been born, 4 of whom are living: Margaret A., William 
A., Edward U. and Minnie; Mary E., deceased. After marriage 
he settled south of his father's farm, on his present estate, in the 
fall of 1863, which he improved, and erected a tine, commodious 
dwelling. This farm, consisting of 300 acres, is valued at $55 per 
acre. Sir. F. has dealt considerably in stock since 1862, besides 
attending to the farming interests, and the duties of his public 
position. He has filled the office of Chairman of the Republican 
Committee for 15 years. Justice of the Peace five years, Commis- 
sioner of Highways, Treasurer of the Board, and School Director 
a number of years, was elected Collector in the spring of 1880, 
and has otherwise been prominently distinguished. In politics he 
is a stalwart Republican, and in a strict sense of the word is a 
self-made man. He commenced life in very limited circumstan- 
ces, but, through energy and good management, has attained 
success. Being an active politician in the Republican ranks, he exer- 
cises considerable influence, believing that the principles of Repub- 
licanism are the only ones calculated to advance the best interests of 
this country. The family number among those of the early and 
respected families of the county. 

George Flynn, farmer, sec. 3; P. O.. Carthage; was born in 
Ireland in 1835, emigrated to America in 1850, and settled in 
Butler county, O., where he worked on a farm and teamed it be- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 711 

tween that point and Cincinnati. In 1858 he came to this county, 
and rented until he had, by prudence, secured enough means to 
purchase a portion of his present estate, now consisting of 160 
acres, with 50 acres on south side of the road. Tliis farm is one 
of the most valuable and productive in the tp. Mr. F. was mar- 
ried in 1859, to Miss Delia Donohue, a native of Ireland, who 
died in 1876, leaving 6 children, all of whom are living; George 
O., Frank, John, William H., Mary J. and Delia. His present 
wife, Ellen A. Kelly, is a native of Ireland and daughter of 
Laurence Kelly, of Rock Creek, who came to this county in 
1850, is still a resident of this tp., and in the 78th year of his age. 
By this marriage, one child has been born, Catherine. Tlie family 
are members of the Catholic Church at Carthage. Mr. F. values 
his land at $50 per acre. He dealt largely in stock during the 
war, and is considerably engaged in that business at this time. 
Politically, he does not bind himself to any party, but votes for 
the man most worthy of support. 

John L. Foutch, merchant, firm of Foutch k, Shultz, was born 
in Washington county, Md., March 3, 1821; is a son of William and 
Catherine (Caashter) Foutch, natives of Yirginia, who emigrated to 
Maryland, where they both died. He came to this State in 1817, and 
located in Springfield; same year he removed to Canton, Fulton Co., 
where he lived until 1857, when he moved to this city. He was 
a blacksmith and worked at his trade until he enlisted in 1862, as 
2d Sergt. in Co. K, 118th I. V. I., and served until Oct., 1865. He 
participated in the battles on the Yazoo, Ark. Post, Milliken's Bend 
Yicksburg, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black 
river bridge, siege of Yicksburg, Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, and all 
the smaller engagements in which the regiment was engaged. He 
was mustered out Oct. 1, 1865; was married March 11, 1819 to 
Miss Mary Cutler, a native of Erie county, N". Y. Two children 
have been born to this marriage, one of whom is living, Amanda, 
wife of A. C. Shultz. Mr. F. is a member of the Baptist Church, 
and is Republican in politics. 

Chas. W. Goodrich,, farmer sec. 22; P. O. Carthage; is a son of 
Neshach Goodrich, who was born in Rensselaer county, K. Y. in 
1794. When 16 years of age he went to Shenandoah county, Ya., 
where he was married in May, 1815, to Miss Rebecca Ruddell, a 
native of the same county. In 1818 he purchased the land of his 
present estate of 160 acres from the soldiers, it being patent land, 
and settled on the same in 1839. He raised a family of 12 children, 
7 of whom are living, Susan, Sarah and John, all residents of San 
Francisco; Charles, Amanda, wife of Wm. Raleigh, a descendant 
of Walter Raleigh, residents of Chicago; James, who lives in the 
township, and Frank, of McDonough county. Mr. G. was drafted 
in the war of 1812, but the retreat of the British secured him his 
discharge. He is one of the oldest living pioneers of the county. 
For two years past he has been an invalid, and confined most 
of the time to liis bed; he became associated with the Christian 



712 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Church when 19 years of age and has always led a devout Christian 
life. The subject of this sketch was born in this township in 
1843. He was united in matrimony to Miss Mildred D. Davis, a 
native of Yirginia. Their children are: Ada E., John F., Charles E. 
and Emma M. Mr. G. has resided on the homestead all bis life; 
has a farm of 60 acres, and 40 acres in sec. 26, and numbers among 
the pioneers of the county. Politically, is Democratic. The family 
are lineal descendants of the Goodrich family that emigrated to 
America in the days of early pilgrimage, and are extensively 
known. 

A. J. Griffith y physician, was born in Highland county, O., in 
1822; is son of L. L. Willin and Hannah (Hope) Griffith, who 
emigrated to Illinois in 1S42, and settled in Fulton county, where 
they resided until 1866, when they moved to this county and 
settled in Fountain Green where his father worked at his trade, 
wagon-making. He began the study of medicine in the office 
of P. S. Secon, at Fountain Green; was educated at Missouri 
Medical College, and attended medical lectures at the Jefferson 
Medical School at Philadelphia; in 1846 he began the practice 
of medicine at Foantain Green. In 1818 he was married to Miss 
Fidelia, youngest child of Stephen G. Ferris, a native of Kew York, 
who died in 1849 leaving one child, William. In 1850 he crossed 
the plains to California, where he remained two years. In 1854 
he moved to this city and followed his profession for some years, 
when he retired from practice, and in 1865 became associated with 
the Hancock National Bank, of which he is Vice-President and a 
large stockholder. He was again married in 1854 to Miss Margaret 
McClaughry, a native of New York city, by whom he has two 
children, Kate and Ralph. Mr. G. is largely interested in the 
Republican press of this city, has been a member of the Masonic 
order since 1846, and is one of the prominent business men of 
Carthage. Politically is a Democrat. 

William Griffith^ cashier Hancock National Bank, was born in 
Philadelphia, Pa., in Jan., 1849, and with his parents settled in 
this city, where he has since made it his home. In Sept., 1867, he 
was called to fill his present position in the bank, where he has 
been continuously engaged ever since. He served as Town Clerk 
one term and Town Treasurer two terms. He was married Oct., 
1873, to Miss Clara M., daughter of David E. Head. By this 
marriage they have one child, Ethil. Mr. G. is a member of the 
A. O. tJ. W. and of the Baptist Church. 

Artois Hamilton. — This pioneer settler, whose portrait is given 
on another page, was born in Tolland, Mass., Aug. 15. 1795; he 
moved to Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1822, and was married to 
Miss Atta Bentley, of that county, February 22, 1827. In 1835 Mr. 
Hamilton removed his family, then consisting of his wife and four 
children, to Hancock county. III. ; he traversed the entire distance 
with borse teams, consuming nearly two months on the road. He 
arrived at Carthage July 22 of that year. During the first two 






/ 




^ ^/rrv^J/^ 



'/ryy^U/rV^ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 715 

weeks that he spent in Carthage, himself and family slept in 
their wagons and prepared their food hard by on the prairie. He 
fed his horses on the grass which he cut as needed on the open 
prairie, where the court-house now stands. At the end of two 
weeks Mr. Hamilton leased a dwelling on the site now occupied by 
the dwelling of Mrs. Dr. Randolph, where he lived some three 
months. In the spring he purchased a small log house, into which 
he moved with his family. To this house he added other rooms 
until it was large enough to entertain travelers, and his dwelling 
thereafter became by common consent the hotel of the village, 
which he kept uninterruptedly until 1851, and maintained its repu- 
tation above the reproach of either "saint" or "gentile." He, 
withal, had leisure time to enter and improve five or six quarter 
sections of land in the vicinity of his new home. Close attention to 
his accumulating intej'ests and prudent management soon made Mr. 
Hamilton the wealthiest man in the county. 

During the eventful period of the Mormon war, he was neces- 
sarily a spectator to most of the stirring events of that time. His 
hotel being the general headquarters for the traveling public at Car- 
thage, very frequently he was compelled to entertain guests at the 
same hour holding the most antagonistic views on the Mormon 
question. When Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed at the Car- 
thage jail, Mr. Hamilton, as soon as he heard of it, went to the jail 
with a wagon and conveyed the bodies to his house, where he con- 
structed rude cofiins in which they were placed. On the following 
morning, accompanied by two of his sons and two neighbors, he 
conveyed the bodies in a wagon to JMauvoo and delivered them to 
their friends. For this humane act he was cordially thanked by 
the Mormon people, and was also ofiered substantial tokens of their 
gratitude. The last, however, he declined. During the hostiities 
that followed between the Mormons and Anti-Mormons, an artillery 
company at Carthage had, for some cause, disbanded, and a six- 
pound iron cannon belonging to it had, to some extent, be- 
come public property. Mr. Hamilton, learning that a Mormon 
squad headed by one Jo Backenstos, a " Jack Mormon" leader, 
was coming to take away the cannon, unlimbered the gun and hid 
it in a corntield, where it staid until the arrival of the State forces, 
to whom he gave it up. 

In July, 1851, a great calamity fell upon Mr. Hamilton, in the 
loss of five members of his family by cholera. One sister and a 
daughter died on the 16tli; his wife, on the 18th; his oldest son, 
Marvin, on the 19th, and his remaining sister, on the 23d. In 1852 
Mr. H. married Mrs. Susan Smith, who survives him and still re- 
sides at Carthage. 

In 1855 Mr. Hamilton laid out the town, now city, of Hamilton, 
opposite Keokuk. This enterprise did not prove a pecuniary suc- 
cess. His reticence during his life relative to this enterprise neces- 
sarily abridges what would doubtless have been a valuable and in- 
teresting portion of the history of the " City of Hamilton." It is 

42 



716 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

said by some that Mr. H. never had but one hobby in his life, and 
that was the 4th of July. It was his habit from childhood to regard 
the day as one of peculiar significance to Americans, — a day to be 
observed and honored with ceremonies appropriate to its patriotic 
inspirations. He was a leading and directing spirit in every 4th of 
July celebration taking place in the town or vicinity. 

For the celebration of the 4th of July, 1873, at Carthage, Mr. 
Hamilton had spent much time, labor and expense. The programme 
for the day was mostly gotten up by him. It was to consist, in a 
large part, of a military display and mock battle by the "Army ot 
the Revolution," as Mr. Hamilton delighted to call it. This army 
consisted of some 300 boys, for whom military hats and wooden 
guns had been provided by Mr, H. The military parade took 
place, the mimic battle was fought to the satisfaction of all, and 
the general programme for the day was carried out as the old vet- 
eran had devised. The troops were then mustered into line and 
marched to his residence, after which arms were stocked, and the 
troops were dismissed. While there, assembled at his well, he made 
the boys a little speech. "Boys," said he, "you have done nobly 
to-day; you have acted like patriots and gentlemen, and lam proud 
of you. This is the last 4tli of July I will ever celebrate, boys, 
and I want you to remember this: Mind your parents and remem- 
ber the 4th of July, and you will all make good men and be an 
honor to the country." The boys then dispersed to their homes. 
Mr. Hamilton then sat down on the porch of his home to con- 
verse with his family and visiting friends. In a short time he com- 
plained of feeling sick. He went into the house and lay down, 
while his daughter fanned him. Shortly he said he felt better. His 
sons, William and Elisha, were with him, and he conversed with 
them easily and cheerfully some minutes. Soon he ceased to con- 
verse, and lay with his eyes closed, as if asleep. It was then dis- 
covered that his limbs were quite cold, and that he was unconscious. 
Physicians were sent for and restoratives applied, but he was beyond 
the aid of medical skill, or the kind offices of friends. The old 
patriot was dead. He passed away as peacefully as an infant falls 
asleep in its mother's arms. The precise moment of his death is 
not known, but it could not have been far from one-half past six 
o'clock p. M., or about one hour after he had dismissed the " boy 
soldiers," at his house. 

Thus lived and died the patriot citizen; doubtless had he been 
permitted to select the hour of his death, he would not have wished 
it difierently. The celebration he had planned and labored for 
with such zeal, had happily passed off to his complete satisfaction. 
He had said, " Boys, this is my last 4th of July." He evidently 
thought that it was, and thus feeling, he doubtless welcomed the 
summons to rest. Four of his children yet survive him, whose 
names are as follows: William R. Hamilton, who was born in 
Johnstown, IST. Y., Nov. 5, 1829; he was elected Sherifi" of Han- 
cock county in 1858, and has filled various other offices of trust 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 717 

and honor, among which is Supervisor, etc., etc. He now resides 
at Carthage. John D. Hamilton was also a native of Johnstown, 
N. Y., and born April 30, 1833. He served as Sergeant Major in 
the 16th 111. Yol. Inf. during the war of the Rebellion. He is 
now a Clerk in the Illinois Penitentiary, at Chester, 111. Mary 
B. Hamilton, the only surviving daughter, lives at Carthage. 
Elisha B. Hamilton was a soldier in the late war, and acted as Ist 
Lieut. Co. B, in the llSth 111. Yol. Inf. He is a lawyer by pro- 
fession, and resides in Quincy, 111. He is now Inspector General 
of the Illinois National Guard, and a member of the Governor's 
Staff. 

Elisha Bentley Hamilton^ youngest son of Artois Hamilton, 
was born Oct. 5, 1838, at Carthage, 111., in the old house there, 
then known as " Hamilton's Tavern," situated on north Main street. 
Spent his early life about the farm, saw-mill and tavern, and in 
1856 entered Illinois College, at Jacksonville; graduated in June, 
1860, with the degree of B. S. Enlisted as a private, in August, 
1862, and assisted in raising Capt. McClaughry's company, which 
became Co. B in the 118th Inf. Yols., and on the formation of 
regiment at Camp Butler, was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant ; 
was promoted to 1st Lieutenant Co. B, Nov. 14, 1863. Served 
almost continuously with the regiment, which was with Sherman 
at the first attack on Yicksbui'g, at the capture of Arkansas Post, 
through the Yicksburg campaign and capture, capture of Jack- 
son,. Miss., Franklin's campaign in Western La., in 1864, and Gen. 
Davidson's march to the Gulf. [See Hist, of 118th Regt.] Was 
mustered out with the regiment at Springfield, Oct. 13, 1865, 
having served over three years. In June, 1866, Lieut. H. entered 
the office of Warren & Wheat, at Quincy, 111,, to study law, and 
was admitted to practice in the State Courts June 1, 1868, and the 
TJ. S. Circuit and District Courts in January, 1872. On admis- 
sion to the Bar, he was taken as a member of the firm, which 
became Warren, Wheat & Hamilton, afterward. Wheat, Ewing & 
Hamilton, at present, Ewing & Hamilton. On March 3, 1868, 
Mr. H. was appointed Surveyor of Customs for the port of Quincy, 
by Pres. Johnson, and re-appointed by Pres. Grant April, 1872, 
which office he resigned July, 1875, and recommended its abolition 
Jan. 14, 1873. Mr, Hamilton was commissioned by Gov. Oglesby 
as 1st Lieut, of the Quincy National Guards, a fine military organ- 
ization, and was. May 26, 1876, commissioned as Captain of the 
Co. by Gov. Beveridge. By direction of Gov. Cullom, he took 
command of the 8th Regt. of I. N. G.,and went to East St. Louis, 
during the riots of 1877, and received for his course on that occa- 
sion warm praise from the commanding General. Feb. 26, 1878, 
was placed on the staff of Gov. Cullom, as Brig.-Gen. and Chief 
of Artillery; and on Jan. 5, 1880, was commissioned by the Gov- 
ernor as Inspector General of the I. N. G., which position he now 
holds. In June, 1878, Illinois College voluntarily conferred on 



718 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Gen. Hamilton the degree of M. A. Married Sept. 10, 1878, to 
Miss Mary E. Fislc, at Qnincy, 111. 

Wi/lMm R. Hamilton, Depiit}^ Circuit Clerk, is a son of the 
venerable Artois llainilton, wliose biography is given elsewhere in 
this volume, and was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y., 
Nov. 5, 1829. He was married in this county in June, 1854, to 
Miss Martha H., daughter of Warren Miller, a native of Elmira, 
N. Y., by whom he has 3 children: Ida A., VYillard C. and 
Herbert. In 1855 Mr. H. was appointed Census-taker, and com- 
piled the records of the census of that j'ear. lie served as Super- 
visor iive years in Prairie township, and was elected Sheritt in 
1858, serving two 3'ears; in fact, his whole life has been spent in 
an official capacity. Mr. H. is one of the oldest pioneers of Hancock 
county, and at present fills the position of Deputy Circuit Clerk. 
He is grandson of Gad and Ann Hamilton, the former born April 
12, 1768, and died May 8, 1848; the latter born March 11, 1776, 
and died Aug, 3, 1851. 

William T. Hannon, physician, was born in Wood county, 0., 
in 1839. He commenced the battle of life without means, and ac- 
quired his education b}^ his own energy and industry. His earl}^ 
schooling was obtained at Waterville, O., and when 17 years of 
age took charge of the seminary in Coles county, O., which he 
conducted one year with satisfaction. He then-read law one year, 
and commenced the study of medicine with P. G.Corkins, of Lib- 
erty, Adams Co. When the dark cloud of Rebellion broke over the 
land he enlisted in Co. D, 4tli I. V. L, and served one year; was 
severely wounded on the Gasconade river. Mo., while on picket 
duty, by a minie-ball through his foot and two bayonet thrusts in his 
body. He was confined in the field hospital some time, and taken 
to the home of a local phj'sician, where he was kindly cared for 
until able to return home in May, 1862. He returned to his stud- 
ies with Dr. Corkins, and attended lectures prior to his army ser- 
vice at Ann Arbor, Mich. In 1869 he received his diploma from 
the Iowa University. He instituted the class of anatomy in that 
school, and was connected with that college for four years. He 
first began practice in Denver, Hancock Co., and in 1871 moved to 
this city, where he has since been in active and successful practice. 
In the fall of 1863 he married Miss Emma S. Young, a native ot 
Fort Madison, Iowa, and daughter of Colonel Thomas E. Young, 
of Pennsylvania. They have 5 living children: Mary L., William 
H., John T., Bertha J. and George E.. The Doctor is a member 
ot the Masonic order and one of the most prominent and success- 
ful physicians of the county. Politically, he usually votes the 
Democratic ticket. His parents, John and Fannie (Barr") Hannon, 
were natives of Ireland. His father was born in j^arragansett Bay, 
while the vessel was en route to America. He settled in Ohio, in 
1825, where they both died during the boyhood days of our subject. 

Samuel E. Harnest,, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Carthage; is son of 
John and Anna (Spitler) Harnest, natives of Upshur county, W. Ya., 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 719 

and was born in Champaign county, O., in 1835. His parents em- 
igrated to that State at an early day, and to this county in 1838, 
and resided in Hancock tp. until 1863, then moved to this tp., 
where he died in 1866. The mother still survives, in the 71st year 
of iier age. Tlie subject of this sketch was married in 1861 to 
Miss Matilda A. Walton, a native of this county, and their children 
are: ^^lary E., John W. and Frederick E. Mr. H. has a farm of 240 
acres, valued at $10 per acre; has been School Director, dnd is one 
of the early settlers of Hancock; is a member of the Baptist 
Church, and is well and favorably known. 

George W. Haynie, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Carthage; was born 
in Scott county, 111., in 1839. His parents, Henry and Nellie 
(Hight) Haynie, were natives of Kentucky, and settled in the 
above county in 1820 or 1821. His father entered land in that 
county, and moved to this county in 1853, and located in Wythe 
tp., where he died in Dec, 1872; his mother died in March of the 
same year. He was one of the oldest settlers of Scott county, and 
a pioneer of the State. The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1861 
in Co. F, 50tli Regt. I. Y. L, and served three years. He participated 
in the battle of Ft. Henry, Donelson, siege of Corinth, Corinth, 
Reseca, and was honorably discharged in 1866. He was united in 
matrimony to Miss Charlotte, daughter of Henry Bartlett, of Lee 
county, Iowa, and their two children are Nellie and Henry E. 
Mr. H. came to this county in 1853, and settled on his present 
farm in 1869. It consists of 80 acres, valued at S65 per acre. 
This valuable land is said to be the best 80-acre farm in the county. 
He is School Director, and member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically is Pepublican and was a strong Grant man. 

Ji. C. Halladat/, M . D., was born in McDonough county. 111., in 
1852; is son of John and Catharine (Fugate) Halladay, natives of 
Kentucky and Virginia, who settled in Lamoyn tp., McDonough 
county, in 1832, where he became prominently distinguished, serv- 
ing many years as Justice of the Peace, and filling many other 
offices. In 1877 he moved to Carroll county, Mo., where he now 
resides. The subject of this sketch began the study of medicine 
with Dr. D. G. Fugate, of McDonough county, and attended medi- 
cal lectures at the St. Louis, Mo., Medical School in l873-'74. He 
then entered the medical college at Keokuk, Iowa, and graduated 
at that institution in 1878. He began the practice of his pro- 
fession at Llm Tree, Hancock county, where he resided until the 
spring of 1880, when he moved here, and became associated with 
Wra. F. Hannon of this city. This firm have established them- 
selves on the Public Square and have a large practice. Dr. H. 
was united in marriage June 5, 1877, to Miss Clemmie White, a 
native of Harrison county, O. They have one child, Blanche. 
The Dr. is a member of the Hancock Medical Society, and the 
family are members of the M. E. Church; politically he is a Demo- 
crat. 



720 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

John Helfrich, proprietor of meat market, Carthage, was born 
in Germany in 1834; emigrated to America in 1849, and settled 
in Hamilton county, O., where he was engaged in farming for 
eight ye'ckYS, then started for California, going only to New Or- 
leans, La., where he stopped one year. In 1855 he moved to this 
city, and in 1860 established himself in his present business. The 
same year he married Miss Josephine Loriug, a native of this city, 
by whom he has 7 children, — Edward, Mary, Stella, Charles, 
John, George and Burt. In 1862 Mr. H. enlisted in Co. B, 118th 
Regt. I. Y. I., and served until the close of the war. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Vicksburg, Yazoo River, Port Gibson, 
Champion Hills, Black River, the charge on Vicksburg, Jackson, 
Miss., Apaloosa, Ala., and all the battles in which that Regt. was 
engaged. Two years of this service he had the position of Bugler 
Mr. H. is a member of the Catholic Church, a member of the A. 
O. U. W. and one of the oldest and most respected business men 
of Carthage. Politically he is a Republican. 

William W. Hughes, dealer in harness and saddlery, Carthage, 
was born in Bourbon county, Ky., in 1821, and son of William 
and Nancy (Hayden) Hughes, native of Maryland, who emigrated 
to Kentucky, where they both died. He came to this country in 
1854, and opened the first harness, shop in the cit}^, where he has 
since been actively engaged. He served an apprenticeship at his 
trade, in his native State, and at one time ran a drug store, har- 
ness shop and farm in this county. His advantages for education 
were limited, and he began work in a cotton factory when a boy. 
By industry and perseverance he has realized success, and has ac- 
cumulated a nice property, and is one of the oldest and respected 
merchants of Carthage. He was married in 1846 to Miss Eliza- 
beth Payne, a native of Kentucky. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic order, and of the Christian Church. He erected the store he 
now occupies in 1876, and has a very lucrative trade. Politically, 
is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have 4 children, — Perry, 
Leroy, Albert and Henry. 

George T. Sunsaker, hardware merchant, was born in Fayette 
county, Pa., in 1820. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Troutman)Hun- 
saker, were natives of Pennsylvania, and settled in Butler county, 
O., in 1821. where his father died in 1863; his mother died at Cin- 
cinnati, in 1832. He came to this county in the fall of 1860, and 
was for some time engaged in the express and postoiSce. He 
then opened a dry-goods house on the Noi'th Side, and the follow- 
ing year engaged in the grocery trade. In 1865, he opened his 
present place of business, where he has since been industriously at 
work. He was married in 1844, to Miss Amelia Coddington, of 
Cincinnati, and they have 4 children: Anna, Abbie W., wife of 
Prof. Easterday; Walter J., of the Gazette, ?a\6. Robert L. He was 
acting Postmaster two years, and express agent same time. Is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Presbyterian Church. Po- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 721 

litically, is an ardent supporter of Republican administration, and 
a citizen highly esteemed by all who know him. 

John Jackson^ proprietor of the Stevens House, Carthage, is a son 
of AYilliam and Lettie (Ellis) Jackson, who came from Kentuck3% 
their native State, to this county in 1852. Four 3'ears afterward 
they settled on the original Pilot Grove farm in that tp. , where he 
died in 1874. John J. was born in Bracken county, Ky., in 1848. 
Was married in 1870 to Miss Anna Brunk, widow of Richard D. 
Haines, a native of Schuyler county. Mr. J. remained on the 
homestead until the fall of 1879, when he assumed the proprietor- 
sliip of the Stevens House, which he is now conducting success- 
fullj'. The house, under his management, commands the patron- 
age of the best traveling public. 

James G. Johnson^ manufacturer of corn-huskers, was born in 
Jefferson county, Ky., Dec. 24, 1827, and moved with his parents, 
George and Eleanor (Guthrie) Johnson, to Adams county, 111., in 
1831, where his father died in 1869. He was entensively engaged 
in the nursery business, and was reputed the oldest nursery man in 
the county, and was extensively known throughout the county. 
His wife and mother, who survive, reside in that county. The sub- 
ject of this sketch came to this county in 1855, and located in Dur- 
ham tp., where he resided nine years. After a residence of three 
years in Elvaston he moved to Carthage, ^n 1871 his ingenious 
faculties worked out acorn-husker, upon which he obtained a patent, 
and he is now largely engaged in the manufacture of this article, 
with which he has a large and increasing trade. He erected a fac- 
tory on the lot in the rear of his residence, and has completed all 
arrangements for this trade. Mr. J. was married in 1850 to Miss 
Melvina J. Thomas, a native of this State. Their two children are 
Ella and Alice. Mr. J. is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the 
M. E. Church. His early education was limited, and his success is 
wholly due to his energy and natural inventive talent. Politically 
he is a Republican. 

Oeo. M. Kellogg^ M. D., was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
in 1830. He received his collegiate education at Oberlin College, 
O.; then he entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and 
began practice in that city. He spent the years 1857 and '58 
in Minnesota, and the following year moved to Keokuk. At the 
outbreak of the war he enlisted as Surgeon in the army, and served 
in the Department of the Cumberland under Buell. He had charge 
of the general hospitals at Lebanon, Ky., and in April, 1862, was 
sent to Virginia, and assigned to the Kanawha Division, and Chief 
Surgeon of the 8th Army Corps. He served until the close of the 
war and returned to Keokuk, continuing hie practice. He became 
interested in the study of anatomy, and delivered the lectures of 
eight sessions at the Keokuk Medical College. In the spring of 
1875 he moved to Carthage, where he has since followed his profes- 
sion. He was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah W. Brown, a native 
of Tennessee, where she was left an orphan. She was educated in 



722 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the Female Seminary, at Buffalo, N. Y., and graduated with honors 
at that school — a person of cultivated taste, refinement, educa- 
tion, and a fluent writer. She is a correspondent of some of the 
popular magazines published in the country. To this union 3 chil- 
dren have been born, 2 of whom are living, Marion and Julia. The 
Doctor is a member of the Mutual Aid Association and Medical 
Examiner, and a physician of great experience. 

Thomas J. JLane, farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Hancock county in 1841, and is a son of Frederick W". and Julia 
A. (Rucker) Lane, who came to this county in 1839; located one 
year in Chili tp., and moved to Bear Creek, where he resided till 
his death. The widow and mother and 10 children survive. The 
subject of this sketch was married in Sept., 1861, to Miss Mary E. 
Jones, a native of Cincinnati, O. They have 4 children: Mary Y., 
Lawrence D., Wilemina K. and Walter S. After marriage they 
settled on his present estate of 80 acres, valued at $35 per acre; he 
also owns 80 acres on sec. 35; same valuation. In 1862 he enlisted 
in Co. H, 118th I. Y. I., and served until the close of the war. He 
participated in the battles of Yazoo River, Arkansas Post, Thomp- 
son's Hill, Jackson, Miss., Baker's Creek, Black River bridge, 
siege of Yicksburg, Jackson (2d), and other skirmishes. He was 
wounded at Thompson's Hill in the knee by a spent ball, and lost 
a finger in a skirmish in the rear of Yicksburg, May 14, 1864. 

Samuel W. Layton^ County Superintendent of Schools, was born 
in Sussex county, Del., in 1831, son of John and Elizabeth (White) 
Layton, natives of that State, where they both died. The subject 
of this sketch came to this State in 1864, and settled in Adams 
county, where he engaged in teaching. From 1850 until 1863 he 
followed this calling in Marion county. Mo, He received his edu- 
cation at the Baptist Seminary at Palmyra, Mo., and he became a 
thorough student in the mathematical and scientific branches. In 
1865 he removed to this county, and in 1868 was married to Miss 
Mary J. Henderson, a native of Adams county. 111. He served as 
Collector and Assessor in St. Alban's tp. and has always been iden- 
tified with the interests of the county. He was elected to his present 
position in 1877. He is also member of the independent Mutual 
Aid Insurance Company, and of the Methodist Church. He is the 
father of 4 children, 3 boys and one girl; Charles, Robert, James 
and Julia, 

Chris. Y. Long., Postmastei^, is a son of Christian and Catherine 
(Yetter) Long, natives of Lancaster county. Pa., who emigrated to 
Ohio in 1837, where they resided until 1856, when they moved to this 
county and settled in this tp., where she died with cholera 
in 1848, He is a resident of this tp. They had 4 children, 2 
of whom are living: Mary A., wife of Joseph A. Deahner, 
and the subject of this sketch, who was born in Marion county, 
Ohio, in 1842. He followed farming until 1861, when he 
enlisted in Co. B, 32d 111. Yol. Inf ; was promoted to 1st Lieuten- 
ant and served until the close of the war. He participated in the 




'^i^---'^ 





CARTHAGE 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 725 

battles of Pittsbnro^ Landing, where he was wounded, and confined 
in the hospital at St. Louis, Recovering, he returned home on a 
furlough of 60 days and rejoined his regiment. Was engaged in 
the siege of Corinth, Hatchie River, siege of Vicksburg, and with 
Sherman on his march to the sea, through the grand review at 
Washington, and mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Re- 
turned home and went to Pontiac, 111., where he was engaged with 
a dry-goods firm one j'ear, when he came back to this county and 
followed farming three years. Subsequently he filled a clerkship until 
appointed Postmaster, October 28, 1873. Was re-appointed in 
1877, and has filled that oflBce to the general satisfaction of the 
public. He was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah E, Weir, a native 
of Washington county, Ind,, where she was born in 1848. Their 
two children are Mabel and Pearl. In July, 1877, he organized Co. 
G, of the 8th I. JST. G., was elected Major and commissioned Sept. 
16, 1877. His grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Young) 
Long, descendants of the family of Longs who were sold for their 
passage from Germany to America in 1760, to the Captain of the 
vessel that conveyed them to American soil. 

Edward Loioery^ farmer, sec. 4; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1814. He was married in 1841 to 
Miss Harriet Crossen, a native of Dutchess county, jST. Y. Two years 
afterward he moved to this State and located in Schuyler Co. 
where he resided until 1866, at which time he moved to this tp 
and on his present estate in 1875, consisting of 110 acres, valued at 
$45 per acre. Mr. L. has been connected with the M. E. Church 
for 40 years, and numbers among the enterprising farmers of this 
tp. He has raised a family of 6 children, all of whom are living, 
— James, Mary A., John, Andrew, Asbury and Harriet. 

Wesley If. Maniei\ son of John and Ann G. Manier, was born 
Oct. 2, 1829 ; married Oct. 25, 1854, to Sarah A. Allen, in Car- 
thage, 111., who was born in Montgomery co., Ky. - He had the fol- 
lowing brothers and sisters: Mary J, Manier, born Dec. 3, 1831, 
married Aug. 18, 185^3, to James J.W. Kelly, in Winchester, Ky., 
and afterward to William O'Neal. She died Oct. 21, 1865, in 
Carthage, 111., leaving 2 children, Anna Liza and Josephine 
Maria Kelly. John W. F. Manier, born Aug. 7, 1834, and died 
JS'ov. 24, 1860, in Carthage, 111. Martha E. Manier, born May 24, 
1837, and married Nov. 17, 1853, in Winchester, Ky., to Johii W. 
Rose; died in Mt. Sterling, Ky. Robert F. C. Manier, born 
April 24, 1839, and died July 27, 1860. Joseph W. Manier, born 
Feb. 18, 1842, now deceased. Ann A. Manier, born June 15, 
1845, and died Oct. 17, 1848. Thomas J. Manier, born June 11, 
1847, and died Jan. 18, 1865. 

Tracing the ancestry backward, his father, John Manier, was 
born Aug. 4, 1804, and married Ann G. Williams Dec. 18, 1828, 
and died in Mt. Sterling, Ky., March 17, 1866; liis wife died Sept. 
16, 1863. His father was also John Manier, who was born Dec. 18, 
1779, in Virginia; his parents were Jonathan Manier and Magden 



726 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Manier, and he died in 1856. He was married four times, to the 
followino; persons, by whom he had children as follows: John 
Manier, Sr., was first married Dec. 9, 1801, to Sibba Howell, in 
Virginia, when they came to Kentucky and settled in Fleming 
county, on the Licking river, near Gill's Mills. His first wife died 
Oct. 1, 1810. 2. To Jerusha McCartv, Aug. 15, 1811, who died 
Jan. 13, 1827. 3. To Sallie McKinzie, Dec. 18, 1827, who died 
Sept. 13, 1845. 4. To Polly A. Feron, Sept. 26, 1847, who sur- 
vived him. The following are his children and the dates of their 
births, deaths, etc.: Polly Manier, by Sibba Manier, born Oct. 
19, 1802, who was married to James Harty and died Aug. 18, 
1835. John Manier, by Sibba Manier, born Aug. 4, 1804; married 
Dec. 18, 1828, to Ann G. Williams; he died March 17, 1866. 
Howell Manier, by Sibba Manier, born Aug. 7, 1809, was married 
to Nancy Lindsay, of Mt. Sterling, Ky.; he died June 22, 1843. 
Sibba Manier, by Sallie Manier, born Oct. 29, 1828, and was mar- 
ried to Daniel Crear in Montgomery county, Ky., and is still liv- 
ing. Jonathan Manier, by same wife, was born Jan. 3, 1831. 
Martha Manier, by the same wife, was born May 29, 1833, who 
was married to her cousin, Jonathan Manier. Nancy Manier, by 
the same wife, was born Sept. 1, 1835, and was married to George 
Berkley in Mt. Sterling, Ky., where he is still living. Lydia Ma- 
nier, by the same wife, was born April 1, 1838. 

Jonathan Manier, the father of John Manier, Sr., was born in Yir- 
ginia in the year 1759, was killed in his twenty-fourth year, by the 
Indians, in 1783. He married Magdalen Peavler, by whom he had 

3 children ; Polly, who married Sailers in 1777 ; John 

Manier, born Dec. 18, 1779, and Jonathan Manier, a few years 
younger. John Manier^ or Minneer, father of Jonathan Manier, 

was born in Germany and was married to Fox. They came to 

this country before the Revolution and settled in Virginia. 

The subject of the present sketch came from Montgomery county 
in May, 1851, to Quincy, Illinois, then just past twenty-one years 
of age. He immediately commenced the study of the law, in the 
law office of Williams & Lawrence, the firm consisting of the Hon. 
Archibald Williams, afterward appointed United States District 
Judge for Kansas, and Charles B. Lawrence, afterward and for many 
years Judge of the Supreme Court of this State, now a resident of 
the city of Chicago, where he has a large and lucrative practice. He 
was admitted to the Bar to practice law by the license of the Judges 
of the Supreme Court, then composed of the Hon. S. H. Treat, 
Lyman Trumbul, and John D. Caton. His license was issued in 
1852. He came and located in Carthage, Hancock county, about 
the 1st of June, and opened a law ofiice. In the course of the year 
he formed a partnership with John M. Ferris, with whom he re- 
mained in the practice as partner until in the spring of 1856 or 
1857, when a new firm was formed consisting of the Hon. B. F. 
Scofield, John M. Ferris and himself, which was continued some 
six or eight years, the practice proving rather lucrative. After the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNXr. 727 

dissolution of that firm, he formed a partnership with Brj^ant F. 
Person, and in a few years afterward John D. Miller was admitted 
into the firm, w^iich continued for quite a number of years. His 
partner now is Mr. Miller, who was admitted to the Bar while a 
student in the ofllce of Manier & Peterson, who has made great 
proficiency in the practice of the law, and now stands deservedly 
high as a j^oung advocate and counselor. 

For the last six years the subject of this sketch has been devoting 
the most of his time in assisting the reporter of the Supreme Court 
in preparing head notes of adjudged cases, which frequently calls 
him away from home and his ofiice. His politics are Democratic, 
but not of so decisive a cast as to make him forfeit the friendship 
and esteem of many who are opposed to him politically. In matters 
of religion he does not ally himself with any particular tenets or 
dogmas, but is rather disposed to take a liberal view in all such 
matters. His portrait is given in this work. 

William E. Mason,, State's Attorney, is a native of Harrison 
county, W. Virginia, where he was born in 1852, son of Peter and 
Tabitha (Shinn) Mason, native of Connecticut, and grandson of 
Isaac and Nancy Shinn, who settled in W. Yirginia in 1810, and 
were the original founders of Shinnstown, so named in honor of the 
family. His parents came to this county in 1854 and settled in 
Durham tp., on sec. 33, where they at this time reside. The subject 
of this sketch received his early education at the La Harpe high 
school, and afterward completed his studies at Adrian College, 
Adrian, Mich., at which institution he was graduated in 1872. The 
same year he was married at Adrian, Mich., to Miss Helen, daugh- 
ter of H. Osborn, a native of Seneca Co., N. Y. The following 
year he was admitted to the Bar, and began the practice of his pro- 
fession in this city. "Was elected State's Attorney in 1876, which 
office he fills to the entire satisfaction of his many friends ; although 
young in his profession he has at this time prosecuted a number of 
important cases at Springfield, 111., with marked success. He is 
the father of 3 children, — Penfield E., Waldo O. and Yera H. 

James Madden^ farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Ireland in 1819. He was married July 22, 1840, to Miss Mary 
Wright, a native of Ireland, and the following year emigrated to 
America, stopping a short time in Canada, and locating in Rut- 
land county, Yt. Here he obtained employment on the railroad, 
and secured work in any available capacity. He traveled consider- 
ably over the different States, and Nov. 6, 1856, settled on the spot 
of ground he now occupies, which, by his energy and industry, now 
consists of 740 acres. He also owns two quarters in Rock Creek 
tp., one quarter in Prairie, and 80 acres in Pilot Grove. He 
erected his fine and commodious residence in 1861, which is the 
finest farming residence in the tp. He had no advantages for edu- 
cation, and when he landed in America he had but 50 cents in his 
pocket. Of tiie several children that have been born to him, 6 are 
living, — Frank, Eliza, Ellen, Sarah, Mary and Susan. The deceased 



7'3S HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

are Marv. James, William. Thomas. Edward and Charles. The 
family are members of the Catholic Church. 

Matthetc 3fcCl<Jti<fhry\x'AS born in Delaware county, N. Y., Jan. 
17, ISOo. He settled in Hancock county. 111., at Fountain Green, 
in 1S37. and resided there until his death, which occurred August 
12, 1S79. His mother was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and 
was a tirst cousin of Gen. Richard Montgomery, who fell at the 
storming of Quebec. Matthew McClanghry was thrice married. 
His first wife, Margaret Seal, died in ISoo, and was buried in New 
York. Her daughter Margaret still survives, and is the wife of 
Dr. A. J. Griffith, of Carthage. His second wife. Mary Hume, 
whom he married in 1S3S, was the daughter of Robert and Catha- 
rine Hume, both natives of Scotland, born near Abbotsford, the 
home of "Walter Scott. Bv this wife he had 3 children, 2 of whom, 
R. W. McClaughry, of Joliet, and Mrs. Rov. D. G. Bradford, of 
Princeton, still survive. The youngest, Mrs. S. S. Findley, died in 
Carthsige, May 19, 1S7S, aged 34 years. Mrs. Mary Hume 
McClaughry dieii at Fountain Green July 5. 1S52, at the age of 89. 
His third wife was Miss Eliza Campbell, to whom he was married 
in Xew York in the tall of 1S53, and who still survives him. 
Judge Sharp, who knew him well, thus speaks of him in the 
Gazette of August 20. 1S79 : "Mr. McClaughry was a man of 
great industry and energy of character, but his manners were always 
quiet and unobtrusive. We becAme acquainted with him in 1S41, 
and have always known him as one of the most useful, public- 
spirited and benevolent men of the county. He was widely known 
among the old settlers, and was prominent in Mormon times, as a 
staunch, reliable, but discreet opponent of Mormon aggressions. In 
his intercourse with his fellow-men he was always on the side ot 
religion and morality; charitable, but unostentatious in his chari- 
ties. He was the friend of the deserving poor, and was ever ready 
to help those who were willing to help themselves. He was a good 
man in all the relations of life, and set an example in his daily walk 
and in his intercourse with his neighbors, that young men would do 
well to follow." 

Major Bohert W. MeCUiughry. the present able and efficient 
Warden of the Northern Penitentiary at Joliet, is a native ot this 
county. He was born Juh* 22, 1S39, in a log house, where now is 
the village of Fountain Green. His tather, Mr. Matthew Mc- 
Claughry. settled there in 1 S30. His mother's maiden name was 
Mary Hume. She was the daughter of Robert Hume, a Scorchnntn, 
who tracevi his family back to the '* Lord Home," of whom Sir 
Walter Scott speaks in one of his poems. Mr. McClaughry was 
raised on his father's farm, attending school at the village during 
winters, until the winter ot lS53-'-l:, when he was sent to school at 
Macomb. III. The winter of ISoi-'S was also spent in Macomb, 
and in November, lS5ii, he entered Monmouth College, where he 
graduated in ISi^O. The vear after his irradu:Uion was spout in 
teaching in the same institution, when he was tendered the 



spout m 
; Profes- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 729 

sorsliip of Languages, whicli he declined on account of ill licaltli. 
In July, 1861, Mr. McClaugliry came to Cartliago, and in com- 

Sany witli IiIh brotlicr-in-luw, J)r. A. J. GrifHtli, jturcliaKcd of G. 
[. Cliild the Carthage JiepiMican, and isBued tne firHt number 
under tlie new management Aug. 1, 1801, Mr. McClaugljry as 
editor. Under Mr. Child it had been, as is well remembered, a 
Democratic journal, strongly opposed to ])Utting down the Jlebel- 
lion which was then raging, by force of arniH. The battle of Ma- 
nassas was fought July 22, JSGl, and the last editorial written by 
Mr. Child was an argument to j)ri>ve by its results the impossi- 
bility of putting down the Kebellion, and the necessity of letting 
"the wayward sisters go in peace." Mr. McClaughry had been an 
ardent Douglas Democrat, and supy>orted him in nothing more 
heartily than in his declaration that Kebellion must be crushed by 
force of arms, and so long as it existed there ''could be but two 
parties, patriots and traitors." Consequently he was a pronounced 
"War Democrat," and so conducted the liepuHican. 

As recruiting was at that time going quite briskly for the Union 
army, he was often called Jipon during the fall of 1801 to attend 
meetings and speak in favor of enlistments. In this way he helped 
recruit the 2d 111. (^avalry, the 7th Mo. Cavalry, part of which 
was raised in Hancock county; and, in the s])ring and summer ot 

1862, the 78th 111., the 84th 111., and the 118th 111. Inf. 

Major McClaughry was married on the 17th of June, 1862, to 
Miss Elizabeth C. Madden, of Monmouth, 111. 

On the 15th of August he enlisted as a private, in what was 
afterward known as Co. B, 118th 111. Vols. Upon the completion 
of the company organization, he was wT^amrAiOws^ elected Captain, 
receiving every vote except his own. He proceeded to Springfield 
and tendered his command to Gov. Yates, who at once commis- 
sioned him to take command of the five companies then organized 
in Hancock county, under the call of July, 1862, and conduct 
them to the rendezvous at Camp J>utler, near Springfield. This 
mission he fulfilled, and after reaching camp, the 118th regiment 
111. Vols., was com])leted, of which he was elected Major. 

In this capacity he served with his regiment in the campaign 
against Vicksburg, conducted by Gen. Sherman in the winter of 
1862; the camyjaign against Arkansas Post, under Gen. McCler- 
uand in Jan., 1863; also the campaign under Gen. Grant, which 
resulted in the capture of Vicksburg in July, 1863; participating 
with it in the battles of Champion Hills (May 16, 1863), Big Black 
(May 17), the investment of Vicksburg (May IJi), and the move- 
ments and battles of May 20 and 21, which culminated in the 
bloody but unsuccessful assault unon the Bebel works, May 22, 

1863. He also took part in the siege of Jackson, Miss., July 1863, 
after which was ordered with his regiment to Port Hudson, and 
afterward to New Orleans, reaching the latter city Aug. 16, 1863. 

About the middle of October of that year, his health failing, 
the Major came home on sick leave; but before he was able to 



730 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK CODNTT, 

rejoin his command, he was detailed hj Gen. Banks, then command- 
ing Department of the Gulf, on recruiting service, and spent the 
early months of 1864 on that duty in Illinois. 

In June, 1864, he was transferred from the field to the Fay 
Department, ordered to Springfield, and there served as Paymaster 
until Oct. 14, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out of ser- 
vice, having served three jesLrs and two months through some of 
the most difficult and exciting campaigns of the war. 

But the Major was not long permitted to remain in private life. 
In November, 1865, he was elected County Clerk of Hancock 
county, and held the office until Dec. 1, 1869. 

In 1869 and '70 he was associated with Messrs. Wm. Patterson, 
Wm. Timberman and Guy Wells, of Keokuk, in furnishing stone 
for the foundation of the new State House at Springfield, and also for 
the piers of the bridge spanning the Mississippi between Keokuk 
and Hamilton. It may here be proper to mention that he was one 
of the original incorporators of that Bridge Company, and voted 
steadily along with Col. Alexander Sympson, H. G. Ferris, A. J. 
Griffith and F. M. Corby, Esqs., against transferring the charter to 
its present owners until they would contract and bind themselves 
to make said bridge a wagon and foot hridge as well as a railroad 
bridge. They fought over the matter all one day with Mr. Strong, 
of Keokuk, and others, who represented the railroad, who urged 
that a wagon bridge could not be built in connection with a rail- 
road bridge. Major McClaughry and his associates maintained 
that it could and mv^t be so built, or they could not have the char- 
ter, and finally carried the point, to the great benefit of Hancock 
county and the community generally. 

In 1871 the Major removed to St. Louis to look after some quarry 
interests he held at St. Genevieve, but the venture proving unsuc- 
cessful, and his health failing, he returned in 1872, and was resid- 
ing at Monmouth when appointed Warden of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary at Joliet, Aug. 1, 1874, which position he still holds. 

Major McClaughry possesses remarkable executive ability, 
which, associated with good judgment and a kindly disposition, 
qualifies him pre-eminently for the position, and we but echo the 
prevailing opinion among the State officials and people, when we 
say that the penitentiary has never been under better management. 

The Major is a good writer and fluent speaker, and in addition 
to the services rendered during the recruiting days, before alluded 
to, in behalf of the Union cause, he has since made many efiective 
speeches in aid of the Republican party. 

Francis W. MoClellan^ principal of Highland School, Car- 
thage, was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1831, son of 
Robert and Eliza (Small) McClellan, both natives of that county, 
who emigrated to Will county. 111., in 1850, where they resided 
until the fall of 1857, when they moved to Russell county, Kan., 
where they yet reside. The subject of this sketch was educated in 
his native county and began teaching in Will county, 111., where he 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 731 

was enfjaged until 1856, when he moved to Tama county, Iowa. 
Here he engaged in teaching and served as Captain of Militia in 
the Home Guard. In 1863 he enlisted as Lieutenant in the 4:th 
Iowa Battery and served until the ^close of the war. Upon his 
return in 1865, he was appointed principal of the Wills School, 
Iowa, vvhere he officiated six years. In 1870 he purchased and set- 
tled upon a farm of 160 acres in Prairie tp., this county, and 
engaged in farming until appointed to his present position in 1879, 
when he moved to this city. He was married in 1856 to Miss 
Sarah A. Selvey, a native of Kendall county, 111., who died in 
1859. She was a daughter of Walter Selvey, Esq., a pioneer who 
participated in the Sauk war. He had one child by his first wife, 
Francis H. He was again married June 9, 1870, to Miss Sarah R., 
daughter of Peter Jackson, and a native of Ohio, and they have 2 
children living — Ethel C. and Myrta L. Mr. McClellan served as 
Assessor two terms in Tama county, Iowa, and was Justice of the 
Peace four years, and is a member of the Masonic order. Politi- 
cally is a Republican. 

JamenW. McKee^ farmer, sec. 16; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Brown county, O., in 1840. His parents, James and Mary (Pang- 
burn) McKee, were natives of that State, and emigrated to Illinois 
in 1857, and settled in this tp., where they resided until their 
death. The subject of this sketch was married in October, 1859, 
to Miss Margaret, daughter of Wm. Weir, a native of this county. 
To this union 7 children were born, 5 of whom are living: Ida, Al- 
bert A., Margaret J., Effie and Maud; Edgar and Clarence are de- 
ceased. Mr. M. settled on his present estate in 1865, consisting of 
40 acres, valued at $60 per acre. Also owns 33 acres of timber in 
Hancock tp. He is Road Commissioner. The family are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. M. endorses Repub- 
lican administration. 

N. P. McKee, dealer in agricultural implements, is a native ot 
Brown county, O., where he was born in 1845, and is the youngest liv- 
ing child of James and Mary N. (Pangburn) McKee, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, who settled in Ohio at an early time, and moved to this 
county in 1857, and died in 1859. He was a veteran of the war of 
1812, and his father, James, was a relic of the Revolutionary war. 
She died in this tp. in 1860. The subject of this sketch engaged 
in farming until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. F, 7tli Mo. Cav., 
and served until the close of the war. He participated in the bat- 
tles of Lone Jack, Marks Mills. Prairie Grove, and others in which 
the regiment was engaged. He was principally engaged in scout- 
ing and hunting guerrillas. He was houorably discharged and 
mustered out at Little Rock, Ark. Returning home he engaged in 
farming two years, and in 1869 joined a partnership and entered 
the mercantile trade. Three years afterward he was appointed 
Constable and served one year. The following two years he served 
as night watchman in the National Bank of this city. He then 
became interested in the sale of agricultural implements, and has 



T32 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 

established a good trade. In 1870 he was married to Miss Ella R. 
Johnson, a native of this State. To them have been born 2 chil- 
dren: William T. and Irwin G. Mr. McKee is First Lieutenant 
of Co. G, 8th Regt., I. N. G.; is a member of the Masonic order, 
and of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican. 

Thos. J. MoMahon, farmer, sec. 31; P. 6., Carthage; was born 
in Hancock county, III, in 1845, son of Andrew and Mary (Craw- 
ford) McMahon, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to this county 
in 1832, and settled near Chili, where he entered land. The follow- 
ing year he moved to Wythe tp. and secured the second farm taken 
up in that township. Grandfather Crawford also came in at the 
same time, and took up land, and the families are among the early 
pioneers of Hancock. Thos. J.'s mother died in 1870. His father 
resides in Wythe tp. Mr. McMahon has always been engaged in 
farming, and by industry and energy has made it a complete suc- 
cess. He was married in 1870 to Miss Anna, daughter of J. K. 
Shinn, a native of this county. By this marriage 3 children have 
been born, 2 of whom are living: Argyll J. and Letta May. Harry 
C. is deceased. The farm of 170 acres is valued at $60 per acre. 
He also has a large tract in Harmony tp., valued at $30 per acre. 
Mr. McM. is School Director at the present time, and member of 
the Christian Church. Politically he is Democratic. 

F. B. Miller^ of the firm of Berry & Miller, grocers and grain 
dealers, Carthage. The subject ot this sketch was born in Herkimer 
county, N. Y., in 1842; son of Erastus and Sophia (Gaylord) Miller, 
natives of Herkimer and Oneida counties, who emigrated to Han- 
cock county in 1864, and settled in Dallas tp., where he resided 
until his death in 1871. He was extensively engaged in the dairy 
business in Herkimer county, N. Y ., but lived a quiet and retired 
life during his residence in this county. The wife and mother sur- 
vive him, and are residents of Ilion, N, Y. Our subject first be- 
came engaged in the U. S. mail service, running between Ft. 
Madison and Davenport, Iowa. Two years afterward he began opera- 
tions in the dairy business in Dallas tp., in which he has been en- 
tirely successful. His stock farm at that place, consisting of 476 
acres, is considered one of the finest stock farms in the county. 
With a large and convenient factory, and from 75 to 100 head of 
cows, he does a thriving trade. Mr. M. was married in December, 
1871, to Miss Kate M. Black, a native of Pennsylvania, and their 
4 children are — Grace, Frederick B. , Henry B. and Maud, The 
eldest daughter is deceased. In November, 1879, Mr. M. commenced 
nnder the present firm name in the grain and grocery business. 
The house is one of the solid concerns in Carthage. He also has a 
farm of 185 acres of land in this tp., and is always busy in some 
department of his trade. He has been a member of the Masonic 
order for 12 years, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. The 
family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is 
a Republican. 

William H. D. Noyes, M. Z>., was born in Bowling Green, Pike 
county, Mo., in 1834. He received his collegiate education at 




CARTHAGE 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y35 

ShurtlefF College, 111., and attended medical lectures at the Mis- 
souri Medical Colle_2^e, at which institution he graduated in 1861. 
The appeal of the Government for troops awoke his enthusiastic 
nature, and he enlisted in Co. K, 16th I. Y. I., and after a service 
of four months was appointed as Surgeon in the U. S. navy, and 
assigned to the bark Brazzalier, of the JSTorth Atlantic Blockading 
Squadron, stationed at Cape Hatteras. Subsequently he was trans- 
ferred to the flag-ship "Southfield," of Eurnside's Division, and 
participated in the battles of Koanoke, Newbern, and other smaller 
engagements. From this department he was transferred to the 
hospital service, and assigned to a vessel running between St. Louis 
and Yicksburg. After a faithful service in this department he re- 
signed and began the practice of his profession at Pittstield, Pike 
county, 111., where he remained until he came to this county in 
1864, and settled in this city, where he has since been in active 
and successful practice. He was married in 1863 to Miss Elizabeth 
Lynde, a native of Griggsville, 111., who died in 1872. The Doctor 
was again married in 1874 to Miss Laura Miller, a native of Kew- 
ville, Cumberland county, Pa. They have had 2 children — Fannie 
E. and Mary C. One adopted daughter, Haidee, completes the family 
record. The Doctor was elected Supervisor the spring of 1880, 
and fills the office of Master in Masonry. Politically he is a strong 
advocate of Republican principles and administration. His parents 
were M. J. and Eliza (Tate) J^oyes, natives of New Hampshire and 
Kentucky. They were married in 1816, and the following year 
moved to Missouri, where they resided until 1842, when they 
moved to Pittsfield, 111., where he founded the first newspaper in 
that county, and died in 1867. He was a farmer, but was promi- 
nently identified with the interests of his township (Bowling Green 
Mo.). Mrs. N". is, at this time, a resident of Pittsfield, 111. 

WiUia?n Ogilvie^ farmer, sec. 8; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Columbiana county, O., in 1808. His parents, George and Isa- 
bella (Forsyth) Ogilvie, were natives of Scotland and emigrated to 
America in isOO, and the following year settled in Oliio, where 
they both died. The subject of this sketch was married in 1832 to 
Miss Hannah Campbell, a native of Armstrong county, Pa. ; to 
them 9 children have been born, S of whom are living, as follows: 
Belle, George, Elizabeth, John, AVilliam, Hannah J., James and 
Willie. Mr. O. settled in Schuyler county in 1850, where he re- 
sided until the spring of 1853, when he settled on his parents' es- 
tate in 1859, consisting of 80 acres, valued at $35 per acre. He is 
Town Trustee at the present time, and has been a member of the 
Presbyterian Church for 40 years. Politically he is a Democrat, 
"dyed in the wool," as was his father before him. 

A. W. 0''IIarra^ lawyer at Carthage, was born in Adams county, 
111., in 1857. His parents, Jefferson W. and Paulina (Robertson) 
O'Harra, were natives of Indiana and Illinois, and settled in 
Adams county in 1845, where he became prominent in the town- 
ship where he resided. He moved to this county in 1859 and set- 

43 



736 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

tied in Bentley, where he now lives. The subject of this sketch 
began the study of law in the office of C. J. ScoMeld, of Carthage, 
where he entered the Carthage College, and was graduated at that 
institution with second honors of his class. He began the prac- 
tice of his profession in 1879 in this city, and though young, is an 
able and active practitioner. 

Thomas II. Oxoen while residing in the county was one of its 
well-known and conspicuous men. He was born in Buncombe 
county, N. C, June |25, 1797. His father, Mosby Owen, was a 
well-to-do farmer in that section. At about 19, he, with his par- 
ents, removed to Franklin county. 111., and settled in the town of 
Frankfort. April 2, at the age of 21, he was married to Miss 
Mary Wren, a native of Kentucky. About eight years afterward 
he became a professor of religion, and united with the Old-School 
Baptist Church, and soon after became an ordained minister, which 
position in good standing he ever afterward held. Mrs, O. also 
became a member about the same time and continued faithful 
through life. 

In 1831 he removed with his family to Hancock county and set- 
tled six miles east of Carthage, — at that time not laid out. Mr. O, 
soon became prominent, religiously and politically. He led in 
constituting the first and all theBaptist Churches organized in the 
county while he was a resident, \having sometimes the supervision 
of three or four, preaching alternately. He was long a member of 
the Middle Creek Church. 

Mr. O. was strongly attached to the Democratic school, and was 
very popular with his party. He was several times elected to the 
Legislature, and held other offices of honor and trust, as will ap- 
pear in the course of this history. Flis friends claim that he was 
a strong Anti-Mormon — ''Held Mormon doctrines in perfect ab- 
horence, considering them a great nuisance and detriment to tlie 
country, and encouraged every lawful means to get rid of them; 
but disapproved of many of the unlawful measures taken by the 
party. He was a law-abiding man, and approved of the course 
that Governor Ford took in regard to sending troops to quell the 
disturbances and keep peace." 

In the winter of 1840 he sold his farm to Joseph Craven, and 
purchased property near JSTauvoo and removed there. The same 
year he was appointed Postmaster at Nauvoo, to succeed Almon 
W. Babbitt. In 1849 he sold off all his effects, and started for the 
gold Held of California, accompanied by his two sons, L. F. and 
J. C. Owen, leaving wife and j^ounger children with his son-in-law, 
Newton Cauthorn. They were over a year on the way; took the 
southern route, and did not reach California till the spring of 1850. 
Hesettled on a farm in Suisun valley, Solano Co., 50 miles west 
of Sacramento, and sent for the remainder of his family. In the 
fall of 1852 he was elected to the California Legislature on the 
Democratic ticket, and served through the term, thus terminating 
his official career. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 737 

Longing for the Clmrch privileges to which lie had been accus- 
tomed, lie began to look about for the scattered members, and 
found enough to organize a Church of the O. S. Baptists, at Santa 
Rosa, Sonoma Co., the first of that order ever founded in the State. 
In 1860, Mr. O. wrote a book, entitled " Rise and Progress of the 
Church," many of which are now in possession of his friends in 
Hancock. In 1867 he located in Xapa Co., where he resided till 
1876. Here his wife died in the 79th year of her age. 

Latterlj, Mr. O. resided with his children at Santa Rosa, broken 
in health of body and mind, till the 27th of Feb., 1880, when he 
quietly passed away, in the 83rd year of his age. 

The deceased left a number of children, some of whom were 
well known in the county, viz: 

Adaline, eldest daughter, married in 1835, to A. B. Welch; died 
in Appanoose 1852. 

Mosby Riley, eldest son, married to Miss Henrietta Patten, 
of Knox Co., in 1842; taught school in Hancock; studied law in 
Peoria and served as Mayor of the city; to Quincy in practice 
of law; thence to Benton, Franklin Co., 111., where he was killed 
in the Rebellion troubles in 1862. 

John Wren went to Cal. in 1S51; to Arizona in 1864, as Captain 
of a volunteer Co.; was elected to Territorial Legislature, held other 
Government positions, and died there in 1877. 

Leander married a daughter of Joshua Hobarts; resides in 
California. 

Minerva, now Mrs. Newton Cauthorn, of Middle Creek, Carthage 
township. 111. 

Carroll, Ellen (Mrs. Cannon), Thomas Jefferson and Martin 
Van Buren all reside in California. 

William A. JPatterson, one of the early settlers (coming here in 
1836), was born in Patterson, Putnam Co., N. Y., Jan. 24, 1811; 
leaving Somerstown March 2, 1836, he came the whole distance to 
this State by horseback, arriving in Coles county the 21st of that 
month; in April he came to this county, having spent a week in 
Iowa; this year he bought J of sec. 29, Prairie tp., and at once 
commenced work. He built a log house 16 feet square on this 
place in 1839 and moved into it, where he kept bach part of the 
time, and part of the time had a family with him. In 1842 he 
married Mrs. Georgiana Allen, and continued to live in this cabin 
and another until 1847. This farm and one on sees. 5 and 6. Bear 
creek tp., also one on ^ sec. of 22, Prairie tp. and a |- of sec. 27, 
were all first improved by Mr. Patterson. His health failing in 
1847, in March he removed to Carthage, where he took a prominent 
part in the politics of the county, running in 1848 for Sheriff on 
the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by 75 votes majority; 
being a candidate again in 1850, he was elected; at the expiration 
of his term of oftice lie erected the ''Patterson House," on the 
southwest corner of the public square, opening it to the public; 
in the fall of this year (1853) he was elected County Treasurer, 



738 HISTORY OF HANCOCK. COUNTY. 

which office he held three terms. He kept the hotel until 185Y; this 
year he sold the hotel and entered into partnership with Jacob 
Shoel in mercantile business; three years afterward they dissolved; 
in 1866 he entered partnership with Mr. Hunsaker, and three 
years subsequently they dissolved; in 1872 he bought back the 
"Patterson House," which he conducted until 1879; but since 
1877 he has been keeping one of the largest stocks of groceries, 
crockery, etc., in the city. 

Matthew Patterson, the grandfather of the subject of the sketch, 
was an officer in the British army, and came to America connected 
officially with the engineer corps, during the French and Indian 
war, and was retired on half pay; he settled in Putnam county, 
N. Y., where he was living at the breaking out of the Revolutionary 
war. His son, Alexander K., married Elizabeth Palmer, a native 
of Connecticut, and they were the parents of Wm. A., the subject 
of this notice. Her father, Ebenezer Palmer was a minute-man 
during the Revolution, The Palmers were of English descent, of 
Puritan stock, and emigrated to New England in an early day. 

An amusing instance of pioneer history we will record here, as it 
occurred in the early days of Mr. Patterson's residence in this 
county, and when a small log building was the court-house. The 
Grand Jury held its meeting under a tree in a ravine near by, and 
the Petit Jury was holding its meeting in the open air at a little 
distance, when a thunder-shower began to approach. The Constable 
in charge, anxious to have his Jury agree in time to get in-doors 
before the rain commenced on them, and seeing that they were not 
likely to agree, threw off his coat and declared that if they did not 
instantly come to an agreement he would thrash every one of them. 
They instantly agreed, — so the story goes. The Constable was 
brought up before the Court and fined, but the fine was remitted. 

Mr. Patterson as well as being an early settler has done 
much toward developing and improving this county, and always 
threw the weight of his influence as well as substantial aid, in 
favor of education, temperance and good order. He is one among 
a very few of the '•' Pioneers " that are still living, and we present 
his portrait on another page. 

Luke P. Prentice^ retired farmer, was born in Otsego county, 
N. Y., in 1817, and is a son of Nathan and Eliza Briggs, natives 
of New York and Connecticut, who emigrated to Illinois in 1836 and 
settled in McDonough county, where they resided until 1846, when 
he moved to this county and settled in Nauvoo, where they both died. 
He was an early settler of both counties, and residing on the 
main road for many years, was widely known and highly esteemed 
by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch was married in 
1847 to Miss Christiana Hall, a native of Erie county, N. Y., who 
died in 1853. Two children were born to this marriage, Lucia 1., 
wife of William Walters, residing at Dallas City, and Mary E., 
wife of James Gill, deceased. His present wife, Lydia Quimby, is 
a native of Ohio. They have had 3 children, Wm. H., Ella 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 739 

and Addie. Mr. P. still owns the homestead at Nauvoo, and has 
for many years been largely engaged in real estate transactions. 
He was Alderman of Nauvoo many years, and served one year on 
the Town Board. When Ford called for troops, he was one to 
respond to the call with the militia of McDonough county. His 
opportunities for an early education were quite limited, but by dint 
of energy and frugality helias accumulated a handsome property. 
In 1874 he settled on his present estate, where he is living in re- 
tirement from all active pursuits. The family are members of the 
M. E. Church. Politically he is a Republican. 

Jesse B^ Quinhy was born in Harford county, Md., August 5, 
1822. His parents settled in Wilmington county, O., where he 
was converted and joined the M. E. Church. In 1S41 he came to 
Knox county. 111., and qualified himself for the ministry at Abing- 
don College. In 1848 he entered the ministry of his chosen 
Church, serving his first year on the Macomb circuit, the next 
year on the Carthage circuit, the next on the Nauvoo, to which 
place he moved in 1851. In the latter place,.. April 25, 1852, he 
married Miss Elizabeth H. Betts, and their children were: Mary 
Elizabeth, Erasmus Collins and Wilbur CliafFee, the second of 
whom only now survives. Mr. Quinby continued in the ministry 
until 1862, when he was on the Kickapoo circuit in Peoria county; 
here his health began to fail and he returned to Abingdon and 
engaged in merchandising. At this place, April 22, 1864, his wife 
died, and the same year he removed to Cavthage, continuing in 
the same business, and adding agricultural im])lement3 to his 
trade; in this place he married Miss Mary R. Sympson, of Car- 
thage, daughter of Alexander and Nancy Sympson. By this mar- 
riage were born Nancy Addie, Mattie Bell, Mary Sympson and 
Jessie May; the latter died in infancy. Nov. 21, 1878, Mr. Quinby 
ran a nail into his foot at Ferris, which eventually produced lock- 
jaw and intense suffering, resulting in his death, Dec. 4 following. 
He retained his faculties till the last, being able to converse intel- 
ligently except when under the strong influence of opiates. The 
funeral, which was one of the largest ever in the place, was con- 
ducted by an old friend of the deceased. Elder F. M. ChaSee. The 
burial was under Masonic honors. 

During a residence of less than 14 years in Carthage, Mr. Q. did 
more for the prosperity of the city than any other citizen in the 
same length of time, having built a dwelling house in' the sum- 
mer of 1865, and in 1867 he erected a business block, on the north 
side of the square, at a cost of $6,000. The Gazette oftice still 
occupies the upper floor of this building. His loss to the business 
community was deeply felt, and his character and principles will 
last so long as life and reason endure. The wife and mother who 
survives is a- daughter of Col. Alexander Sympson, who was born 
in Green county, Ky., Nov. 8, 1807. In 1829 he was married 
to Miss Nancy Caster, and in the spring of 1837 settled in Mc- 
Donough county, Illinois. In 1844 he moved to Carthage while 



740 HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the people were agitated by the Mormon question, and took strong 
Anti-Mormon ground. In 1855 he was elected a clerk of the Illi- 
nois House of Kepresentatives, and at the demise of the Whigparty 
went with the Republicans. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he 
threw his whole soul into the conflict as a supporter of the Union, 
and accepted a commission as Captain and Quartermaster, and 
afterward was assigned to the staff of Gen. Chittenden, where he 
soon obtained the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. At Stone river he 
displayed great personal gallantry and took part in the Chicka- 
raauga campaign, and received the thanks of Gen. Rosecrans for 
the performance of his duties at Chattanooga. In 1864 he resigned 
liis commission in consequence of his shattered health, and that of 
his wife ; subsequently he was awarded the contract for grading 
the Carthage & Burlingt(.>n Railroad, in which lie was engaged 
at the time of his death, Aug. 15, 1867. His character as a private 
citizen was too well known to need comment from the pen of the 
writer. He was a man of strongest convictions, a neutral upon no 
question. His hospitality was unbounded. He would befriend the poor 
and assist the needy, regardless of his own M'ants. At his death 
he was Treasurer of the Carthage Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, 
and was buried with honors by that fratcrnit}-. The bereaved widow 
and mother survived his loss until Dec. 14. 1867, when her spirit 
winged its way to its brighter and happier home. She was born in 
Halifax county, Virginia, June 30, 1803, and emigrated to Green 
county, Ky., in her youth, and was the last of a family of eight 
children. Mr. Quinby's portrait appears in this book, 

D?'. J. M. Randolpli was born in Adams count}', near Gettys- 
burg, Pa., Aug. 26, 1818 ; he attended the colleges of Gettysburg 
and Canuonsburg, but on account of declining health he relinquished 
his studies before giaduating ; in 1840 he came to Illinois and 
studied medicine under Dr. Pearce, of Canton, 111. ; he then attended 
medical lectures at Cincinnati two terms, and afterward located 
for practice at Eirmingham, Schuyler Co., 111. ; in a year or two he 
became part owner of a mill at Lamoine, McDonough county, to 
which place he removed, meanwhile continuing the practice of 
medicine; in 1850 he was elected to the Legislature from Mc- 
Donough county; in 1851. he abandoned the medical profession 
and removed to Plymouth, Hancock Co., where he engaged actively 
and successfully in the mercantile business ; in 1856 he established 
a branch store at Carthage; he ultimately disposed of his Plymouth 
trade and moved to Carthage, in October, 1867. Sept. 25 of this 
year he married Miss Anna G. Walker, youngest sister of Hon. 
Pinckney H. Walkei-, of Rushville. 

Dr. Randolph, being a firm believer in the principles of temper- 
ance, entertained but little hope of the growth of Carthage until 
the question of license was settled by an overwhelming vote of the 
citizens against further tolerating liquor-selling. His energies 
were thenceforward devoted to building up the town. As a pre- 
liminary step, the establishment of Carthage College received his 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 741 

warmest support; in 1S73 he erected a handsome brick residence, 
which, together witli subsequent improvements, cost nearly or quite 
$20,000; in 1875 he built a fine two-story brick business block on 
the north side of the public square, at a cost of $5,000; the same 
year he built two tenement houses, and in other ways he did much 
to build up and improve Carthage. 

In 1874 or 1875 he disposed of his dry-goods business in Car- 
thage to W. D. Bennett, who had long been with him as a sales- 
man; a branch store at Burnside he continued to own until his 
death, which occurred April 12, 1876, from paralysis; his widow 
and two sons, James and Arthur, survive him, and reside at the 
homestead, in Carthage. Walter, another son, was killed at Fort 
Madison, June 16, 1879, as he was attempting to get aboard a train 
of cars. 

Dr. R. was a reticent man concerning himself and private affairs, 
but in all his dealings with his neighbors and the public, he ever 
maintained the highest integrit}', and was generally considered 
one of the most perfect men, morally, in the count}'. He was a 
Presbyterian, but had never transferred his Church membership to 
this city. He was a constant attendant at Church services, and lib- 
erally supported the interests of religion. 

As one of Hancock county's most honored, beloved and respected 
citizens, who have passed away to that world. from which none re- 
turn, we present on another page of this volume a portrait of Dr. 
Randolph, engraved from a picture taken at the age of 40 years. 

A. B. Regnier^ insurance agent, is a son of Dr. Felix Regnier, 
now living with him, who is a native of Otsego county, N. Y., and 
came to Marietta, O., with his parents when two years of age. He 
was born Dec. 25. 1801, was educated at Marietta, and studied med- 
icine with Dr. Hildreth, a celebrated author and scientist of early 
days. He received his diploma from the Medical Society of Ohio, 
and began the practice of his profession at Gallipolis about 1824. 
He was married in 1826, to Miss Eliza DeVacht, a native of (ialli- 
polis. In 1831 he removed to Jacksonville, and in 1833 returned to 
Ohio on account of his wife's declining health, but buried her on 
the way home. One girl, Josephine, now deceased, was the only 
child. Mr. R. afterward became successfully engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession at Harmon, Ohio, a suburb of Marietta, where 
he married Elizabeth Barber Sept. 24, 1835. She was born in 
Harmon, Feb. 24, 1807, and died Aug. 22, 1859. By this marriage 
3 children were born, all of whom are living: Austin B., Felix, 
Jr., and Charles F. He was again married, May 1, 1S61, to Miss 
Julia C. Gardiner, a native of Ohio, who was born July 24, 1S23, 
and died July 10, 1877, leaving one child. Earl. The grandfather 
of our subject was Dr. John Jiaptiste Regnier, who was born in 
Paris, France, in 1769. His maternal grandfather was Colonel 
Levi Barber, of Harmon, O., who represented his district in Con- 
gress, was president of the Marietta branch of the State bank of 
Ohio, and held various otlier responsible trusts. T!ie subject of 



742 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

this sketch, Austin B., was born at Harmon, O., May 13, 1835, on 
the site of the old block house at the confluence of the Muskin- 
gum and Ohio rivers, the place where the first settlement by 
whites was made west of the Allee^hany mountains. He graduated 
at Marietta College in 1857, and began the study of law with Judge 
Arius Nye, and David Alban, In 1859 he graduated at the Cin- 
cinnati law school, and began the practice of his profession in that 
city. Subsequently, his health failing, he abandoned his profession, 
and engaged in various out-door occupations. He moved to this 
county in 1866, and followed farming for 14 years. He has 
recently removed to Carthage, and is engaged in the business of 
fire insurance. Among his companies are the old Continental, of 
N. Y., and American Central, of St. Louis. He was married June 
21, 1860, to Miss Eunice E. Anderson, of Marietta, O., who was 
born April 4, 1841. Their children are: Austin B., Jr., Louis E., 
Eunice A., Mary E,, David A., Felix and Gertrude. 

Perry Beger^ a farmer, sec. 27; P. 0., Carthage; is a native of 
Upshur county, W. Va., where he was born in 1836. His parents, 
Abram and Pamelia (Roherbaugh) Roger, were natives of that State; 
came to this county in 1859, and settled in Carthage tp., where 
he resided until 1876; then he returned to Virginia, and is now in 
the 88th year of his age. He w^as an early pioneer of Virginia, a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the father of 23 children by 
two marriages. His first wife died in 1872. The subject of this 
sketch came to this county in 1858. He was married in 1860 to 
Miss Susan F. Boothe, a native of this county. Of their chil- 
dren 6 are living; namely, John A., Nancy A., Peryger, Maggie, 
George F. and Victoria. Mr. Reger located on his present farm 
of 80 acres in 1876. Politically he has always endorsed the Demo- 
cratic platform. 

James W. Richard, Professor of Latin and History, Carthage 
College, was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1843. He received 
his early education in the Roanoke school at Salem, Virginia, and 
entered upon a course of studies in the college at Gettysburg, Pa. 
He graduated at that institution in 1868, and served as tutor eight- 
een months prior to his coming to Illinois. He was a thorough 
reader and student, especially of the sciences, and devoted three 
years of his life to the study of theology. In 1871 he accepted a 
pastoral call of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Sterling, 111., 
where he was married the following year, to Miss Matilda E. Tress- 
ler, a native of Perry county. Pa. They are the parents of one 
child, Mary L. Prof. Richard became a resident of Carthage in 
Aug., 1873, since which time he has been engaged in his pres- 
ent position. He has always taken an active interest in the 
■cause of religion, and his life has been consistent with his profes- 
sion. He is a devout member and supporter of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church and fills the ofiice of Secretary of the Synod of 
Central Illinois, and is Pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church of 
Carthaffe. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 745 

Edward M. Hobbins^ dentist, was born in Lagrange county, Ind., 
in 1842; is son of Epijaah and Mary (Clark) Robbins, natives 
of Pennsylvania and New York, wlio came to this county in 1861. 
lie is a practicing physician and a resident of Osage, Kan. Edward 
M. came to this county with his parents and settled in Nauvoo, 
and in 1862 enlisted in Co. H, YSth 111. Vol. Inf., and served until 
the close of the war. He participated in tlie battles of Chicka- 
mauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ilidge, Lookout Mountain, Buz- 
zard's Iloost, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, Bentonville, with 
Sherman on his march to the sea, and through the grand review at 
Washington. During the entire service he was absent from his 
command but two days. He was married in 1870 to Miss Mary 
Brownlee, a native of this county, and daughter of Samuel Brown- 
lee, and their children are: Eulalie, Eddie and Sammy. Mr. 
Robbins has been in his present place five years, and has a large 
practice, lie is a member of the A. O. IJ. W., I. O. O. F. and 
Knights of Pythias; family are members of Trinity Lutheran 
Church. Politically, is a strong Republican , 

George J. Rogers, lawyer, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1824; 
son of Penuel and Mary (White) Rogers, natives of that State, who 
emigrated to this State in 1865 and settled in Qaincy, where his 
mother died in 1867. His father is at this time a resident of that 
city. George J. secured his classical education in the office of 
Jas. R. Dayton, of Quincy. He was admitted to the Bar in 1848, 
and read law in the office of Almeron Wheat until 1849, when he 
crossed the plains to California. In two j'ears he returned and 
began the practice of his profession at Quincy. In 1854 he moved 
to this city, and in the fall of 1857 was married to Miss Mary F., 
daughter of Major John Scott. Mr. Rogers was City Clerk at War- 
saw, and in 1860 was appointed U. S. Marshal to take the 8th 
census of the county, which he executed with ability and satisfac- 
tion. He was a member of the Board of Education some years and 
was elected County Clerk in 1869. This office he filled until 1877 
and then returned to the duties of his profession, to which he has 
since devoted his time. He is the father of 7 children, 5 of whom 
are living: Minnie, wife of Lieutenant J. W. Carlin, U. S. Navy; 
Hiram S., Anna, Nellie C. and John W. Politically Mr. R. is a 
Democrat. 

Charles O. RoTirer, proprietor of the Rohrer House, was born Mar. 
15, 1843 in Asch, Austria; isason of John Adam and Reginia (Wald- 
zeck) Rohrer, natives of that empire, where his father died in 1860. 
His mother with one child emigrated to America in 1861, and 
resided in this city. Charles G. emigrated to this country with a 
younger sister in 1860, and settled in Vicksburg, where he was 
engaged in liotel business for two years, then entered the mer- 
cantile business which he disposed of in 1863, and turned his 
attention toward the liberation from Confederacy. He was a strong 
adherent of the Union cause, and during his confinement in the 
Confederate lines was subject to many trials and sufierings. He 
came to this county in 1863, and worked at his trade, painting, and 



746 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

in 1866 returned to Yicksburg where he remained two years, then 
came back to Carthage, where lie has since made it his home. He 
was married in 1S7T to Miss Kate L. Dedwiler, a native of Chester 
county, Pa. He opened his fine residence as a hotel in June, 1878. 
The house under liis charge has an extended reputation, and is 
patronized wholly by the traveling public and commercial men. 
The cuisine and all appurtenances are of the best. Mr, R. is 
agent for the Northwestern National Insurance Co., of Milwaukee, 
the German, of Freeport, a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. 
orders, and the family are members of the M. E. Church. He is the 
father of 2 children, Willie L. and Ralph G. 

A. J. Mucker, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Grant county, in 1830. His parents were James M. and Julia A. 
(Loyd) Rucker, natives of Virginia, who came to Illinois in 1835, 
and settled in Schuyler county, where he resided until his death. 
His mother also died in that county. He was married in 1852, in 
Schuyler county, to Miss Abigail Lashmet, a native of North Caro- 
lina. He came to this State when three years of age. Mr. and 
Mrs. R. have 3 living children — William E., John T. and Mary E. 
They came to this county in 1865, and settled on his present estate, 
consisting of 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. R. is School 
Director, and is an old settler of Illinois; is a well-known and 
honored resident of the county. His advantages for education were 
limited, and his success has been attained by his own industry. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

^. liucker, farmer, sec. 29; P. O., Carthage; was born in Kenton 
count}', Ky., in 1826. His parents, William M. and Julia A. 
(Loyd) Rucker, were natives of that State, and moved to Schuyler 
county, 111., in 1835, where they both died. He was married in 
1843, in Schuyler county, to Miss Polly A. Lashmet, a native of 
Virginia and daughter of John Lashmet, a pioneer of that State. 
Mr. R. has one adopted daughter, Adaline, wife of Thomas Metcalf, 
of this tp. He came to this county in 1865, and located on his 
present farm, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre. His 
advantages for education were limited, but through energy and 
industry he has secured a good farm and comfortable home. Politi- 
cally he has been an advocate of Democratic principles, and always 
voted that ticket. 

TFm. W. Sachnan. farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Carthage; was born 
in Jefferson county, Va,, in 1816; is a son of William and Susanah 
(Wright) Sackman, who settled in Morgan county, 111., in 1828, 
where he purchased patent land and resided until 1835, when he 
moved to Schuyler county, Mo., where he died in 1874. His wife 
died previously in Ohio. He was for 50 years a minister, and was 
well known throughout the State. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1842, in Schuyler county, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of John Baker, a native of Tennessee. By this marriage 3 children 
have been born, 2 of whom are living, William F. and Erastus B. 
Mr. S. came to this county in April, 1847, and settled at West 
Point, in St. Alban's tp., where lie resided until 1856, when he 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y47 

moved to his present home. He has a farm of 201 acres, and is 
one of the early pioneers of the county and State. He was Magis- 
trate for 20 years, and is well and favorably known. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 

James Sample^ fnrniture dealer, is eldest son of Robert and 
Jane (Hawthorn) Sample, natives of Pa., who emiojrated to Illi- 
nois in 1S50, and settled in Canton, Fulton county. The following 
year he moved to this county and settled in Hancock tp., where 
Mrs. Sample died in 1868. Mr. S. has been prominently identifi- 
ed with the interests of Hancock tp., and resides with a sister. The 
subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster county. Pa., in 1826. 
lie remained on the farm until 1852, when he was married to Miss 
Eliza, daughter of Samuel Spangler, a native of Cumberland 
county, Pa. He moved to Carthage and opened a shop, where he 
applied himself to his trade, cabinet-making, and undertaker of the 
city. When the war broke out he enlisted in Co. B, llSth Regt. 
I. Y. I., was promoted to Lieutenant, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Haines' Bluff, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Thompson's Hill, 
Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, where he was sent out on a 
reconnoitering expedition 20 miles from that place, and while in 
command of the company was ambushed and shot through the 
shoulder. He was secured by the rebels, and carried to a rebel 
house, where he was left for dead, and afterward rescued by the 
Unipn forces, and conveyed to a farm house, where he was kindly 
cared for, and confined to the house six weeks, when he was sent 
home. For several years he was greatly disabled by this wound, 
and his resignation was accepted with ofiicial inducements to 
occupy other positions, which he declined. AVhen able, with the 
little accumulations saved from his army service, he began at his 
trade on a small scale, and by energy and industry is enabled to 
occupy a good position in the business community of this cit}'. In 
1875 he erected the store he now occupies, 20 by TO feet, and car- 
ries a stock of 84,000, and enjoys a liberal patronage. They have 
one child, adopted, Katie. The family are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Politically Mr. S. is Republican. 

Charles J. Scofield, lawyer, was born in Carthage, 111., in 1853; 
is son of Charles and Elizabeth (Crawford) Scofield, natives of 
Kew York and Kentuckv, who emigrated to this county' in 1850, 
where he died in Jan., 1857. She died May 27, 1877. Charles J. 
began the study of law in the ofiice of Scofield & Hooker, of this 
city, and attended school at Canton University, Mo,, where he was 
graduated in 1871. Three years afterward he took the degree of 
A. M., and began the ])ractice of his profession in this city. In 
June, 1875, he was appointed Master in Chancery, and in March, 
1879, the partnership of Dayton <Sl Scofield was formed. In 1876 
he was united in marriage to Miss Rosa, adopted daughter of Dr. 
A. Spiiler, of this city. Mr. S. served as Town Attorney; is a 
member of the I. O. M. A., and a member of the Christian Church. 
Politically, is a Democrat, and although young in years, is one of 
the most earnest and able workers in the legal profession. 



Y^8 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

T. J, Soojield^ law)^er, is a son of Charles R. and Elizabeth (Craw- 
ford) Scofield, early settlers of this county, where they both died. 
He was born in Carthao;e in 1856; began the study of law in the 
office of Edmunds & Hooker, of this city; was educated in the 
Carthage College, and after graduation was admitted to the Bar in 
1878. He was married in 1877, to Miss Georgia H., daughter of 
Judge H. Edmunds, of this city. She is a native of this county. 
They have 2 children, whose names are Charles J. and Jessie. 
Mr. S. spent a portion of 1877-'8 in Colorado, and began practice 
in this city in the fall of 1878, forming partnership with J. C. 
Williams. He is a member of the I. O. M. A., and politically is a 
Democrat, 

Thomas Coke Sharp was born Sept. 25, 1818, at Mt. Holly, N. J. 
His father, Rev. Solomon Sharp,' was a native of the eastern shore of 
Maryland, and a noted pioneer Methodist preacher of the Philadel- 
phia Conference. His mother was. a member of the extensive 
Budd family, of Pemberton, Burlington county, N. J. The earliest 
recollections of Thomas C. were of Trenton, N. J. After that his 
father was stationed at Philadelphia, then Wilmington, Del., Salem 
Circuit, N. J., Christiana Circuit, Del., Smyrna Circuit, Dover 
Circuit, and thence back to Smjrna, when, on account of age and 
disease, he was placed on the superannuated list, and died soon 
after. 

In 1835 Thomas entered Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn.^ but 
took only the scientific course. In August, 1837, he entered the 
law school of Judge Peed, Carlisle, supporting himself during the 
last 18 months of his law^ course by teaching the male high school 
of the town, which he took charge of at the age of 20 years, and 
during a six months' absence of Prof McClintock was a tutor of 
mathematics in Dickinson College. He graduated in the law school 
and was adnnitted to the Cumberland Count}' Bar, April 14, 1840. 
In July of the same year he started West, arriving at Quincy 
August 11. Here he opened a law office, but after a few weeks 
became discouraged with the prospect and changed his residence to 
Warsaw, where he arrived Sept. 24, 1840; remained there continu- 
ouslj'^ until Dec. 26, 1865, and then removed to Carthage, where he 
has reside^l ever since. On his arrival at Warsaw he opened a law 
office and continued the practice for about a j'ear, but being afflicted 
with a dullness of hearing, which seriously interfered with him 
in the trial of cases, he became discouraged, abandoned the practice, 
and did not resume the same until 1858, since which time he has 
been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession. 

At the time of his arrival in Warsaw the only newspaper pub- 
lished in the county was the Weste7'n Worlds which had been 
established in that town by D. N. White, afterward of the Pitts- 
burgh Gazette, in May, 1840. Mr. W., becoming convinced that 
Warsaw did not offer sufficient inducements for him to remain 
there, determined to return to Pittsburgh, and offered to sell the 
office to Mr. Sharp and James Gamble, his foreman, who was an 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 749 

excellent practical printer, now an eminent physician of Le Clerc, 
Iowa. The boys (Air. S. bein^^ the oldest, and only 22 years of age) 
bit at the bait, and on the 6th of Iliovember, 1840, became pro- 
prietors. They were both green in business matters, but managed 
to make a paper which was highly complimented by citizens and 
the press for its typographical and editorial excellence. It was 
Whig in politics, but in the spring of 1841, Mr. S., who had been 
raised a Jackson Democrat, and who had been drawn into the 
Harrison ranks by the cry of retrenchment and reform, raised in 
the hard cider campaign of 1810, drifted back to his first love, as 
soon as the tariff and financial schemes of the Whigs developed 
themselves in Congress, and from that time on the paper main- 
tained a neutral position in politics. In May, 1841, the proprietors 
deeming the name of the paper too big for the size of the town it 
was published in, changed it to Warsaw Signal. In Nov., 1841, 
Mr. Gamble retired from the firm, and from that time until the 
summer of 1842 the paper was conducted by Mr. S. alone, when, 
becoming convinced that the establishment could never pay the 
debt accumulated upon it, he gave it up, and it ao^ain went into the 
hands of D. N. AYhite. 

At the time Mr. S. came to the county there Was but little feel- 
ing discernible on the surface against the Mormons, but the syco- 
phancy of politicians to the Mormon leaders had disgusted some of 
the people, and the Mormons themselves, who were very humble 
and docile when they first came, were daily growing insolent and 
overbearing. The conduct of the Legislature in 1840-'41 in grant- 
ing the charters they asked for with all the powers they sought to 
have inserted, and the anxiety of both Whigs and Democrats to 
cater to them with the evident purpose in each party that the 
other should not get the lead in securing Mormon favor, created 
much dissatisfaction; but it appeared but little on the surface. 
Judge Douglas was appointed to the circuit in which Hancock 
was situated, and presided for the first time in the Hancock Circuit 
Court at the March term, 1841. To placate the Mormons who had 
become embittered against the Democrats in Missouri, appeared to 
be a part of his mission, and he came under a promise to appoint 
J. B. Backinstos, a Jack Mormon, Circuit Clerk; but the Judge 
saw signs of dissatisfaction, -^vhich caused him to pause, and J. C. 
Davis received the appointment. At the June term, however, the 
Judge appointed Gen. J. C. Bennett, of the Nauvoo Legion, Mas- 
ter in Chancery. This appointment, it was tliought, was made in 
order to give the Mormons the ofiicer who had power to issue writs 
of habeas corpus in the absence of the Judge, and thus defeat any 
attempt that might be made to transport any of the Mormon lead- 
ers to Missouri, under a requisition from the Governor. On the 
making of tiie appointment, the Signal opened fire and denounced 
the toadying manifested by i)oliticians to the Mormons, particularly 
referring to the appointment of Bennett as one not fit to be made. 
This article brought to the surface all the latest disafiection which 



750 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

had been smoldering in the breasts of the people, and the result was 
a sudden outburst of indignation from members of both political 
parties. The Mormons were also terribly excited. The Signal 
followed up its assaults on the politicians and the Mormons, until 
the matter appeared to be ripe for action, when, on its own hook, 
it called a convention to nominate an xA.nti-Mormon ticket. The 
first attempt was a failure, owing to the notice being too short, but 
the few who met adjourned to a subsequent day, when a full con- 
vention assembled and a ticket for county officers was nominated. 
Some of the Democrats got up an opposition, but the Anti-Mor- 
mons carried the election by a good majority. By the next year 
the Mormons had increased to such an extent that they and their 
friends carried the county, as they did at all subsequent elections 
during their stay. The Signal continued, liowever, to pour hot 
shot into the Mormons until its suspension. 

On Sept. 6, 18i2, Mr. S. was married to Mrs. Hannah G. Wil- 
cox, widow of John R. Wilcox, one of the original proprietors of 
Warsaw, and lived with her until her death, which occurred at 
Carthage, Oct. 3, 1879. She was a lad}' highly esteemed and re- 
spected by all who knew her. She was the mother of 6 children, 
one by her first husband, still living, and 5 by her last, 3 of whom 
survive her. 

After the suspension of the Warsaw Signal, Mr. S. employed 
himself in clearing land, intending to engage in farming, but after 
about eighteen montlis' experience, concluded that nature did not 
intend him for a tiller of the soil, and made an arrangement for re- 
suscitating the Warsaw Signal, which was effected in Feb. 
1844, succeeding the Warsaw Message, conducted by Mr. Gregg. 
As the organ of the old settlers or Anti-Mormons of Hancock 
county, the Signal, after its resuscitation, became famous through- 
out the whole country. Upon the head of its editor, whose slash- 
ing articles made the fur fiy, the wrath of thfe Mormons was poured 
with concentrated venom. He was the subject of their vitu- 
peration and ridicule, and was more dreaded and hated by the 
whole Mormon tribe than any other Anti-Mormon in the county. 
The editorials of the Signal were extensively copied into other 
papers throughout the country, and from their pugnacious and 
violent character, people at a distance were led to believe that 
" Old Tom Sharp" (as the Mormons were accustomed to call the 
young man who wrote them), was a perfect walking arsenal, his 
person bristling with bowie knives and pistols, who would ratlier 
fight than eat, instead of the mild-mannered, good-natured and 
rather conservative individual that he has always appeared to his 
most intimate acquaintances. 

At the time of the resuscitation of the Signal excitement in the 
county ran high on the Mormon question, and the advent of such 
a hot-blooded, slashing writer as Mr. S. at the head of the Anti- 
Mormon newspaper, was not calculated to allay it. While the 
Signal was lashing into fury the blood of the Gentiles, outside of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 751 

Nauvoo, internal dissensions spran^^ up within the city, caused by 
the secret propagation of Jo Smith's famous revelation, sanction- 
ing polygamy and enjoining its practice on the Saints, and the 
secret practice of polygamy under the name of spiritual-wifeism, 
by many of the leaders. Against this doctrine and the practice 
under it, several of the most influential and wealthy of the Mor- 
mon brethren rebelled. Great excitement ensued, and finally the 
protesting brethren bought a printing office and commenced the 
publication of the Nauvoo Expositor. The first number ap- 
peared filled with proofs of the existence of the revelation, which 
the leaders had not dared to publish, aud of attempts made by 
sundry Mormon leaders to seduce virtuous females, under the 
guise of "Thus saith tlie Lord." The crisis had become immi- 
nent; it would not do for such literature to be circulated in the 
Holy City, and therefore the city council was convened, an order 
passed declaring the Expositor a nuisance, and the Marshal was 
ordered to suppress it, which he proceeded to do by breaking up 
the press and furniture, and scattering the type' through the 
streets. The dissenting Mormons fled the city, seekino- refuge 
with the Gentiles in the various towns, and the story of their 
treatment, added to the fiery appeals of the Warsaw Signal., lashed the 
Anti-Mormons into a perfect foam of excitement. Writs were issued 
for Jo and Hyrura Smith, an officer sent to Nauvoo to arrest them, 
but they refused to obey. Tlie Governor was appealed to, the mil- 
itia of neighboring counties ordered out, and soon Gov. Ford in 
person appeared in Carthage. In the meantime Jo Smith had 
declared martial law, and converted the city of j^Tauvoo into a 
camp, allowing neither [ingress nor egress without a pass. Writs 
were now issued against Jo Smith and others for treason, and 
officers sent to Nauvoo to make the arrests; but their mission was 
futile. Governor Ford then commenced negotiations with Jo 
Smith and the Mormon leaders, and by promises induced them to 
surrender. To the Anti-Mormons, who understood the situation, 
the whole afiair had now assumed the form of a broad farce. Jo 
Smith controlled a large majority of the votes in the county, he 
elected whom he pleased for county officers, these officers selected 
the jurors; and what fear need Jo and his fellow prisoners have of 
a conviction when they could, through their minions in office, 
select the jurors that were to try them? Jo Smith did not fear, 
and had no need to fear the law, no matter what outrage he might 
commit on life or property. The only thing he feared was the 
mob. When Mr. S. who was in Carthage heard of the determina- 
tion to disband the troops, knowing that the Warsaw force was 
already in motion to Nauvoo under previous orders issued by the 
Governor, he borrowed a horse and rapidly rode toM'ard Warsaw 
to stop the further progress until official orders could reach them. 
He met the advance at Prentice's shanty, a halt was called, the 
men formed inline by Mayor Aldrich, who M'as in command, and 
the announcement made that orders had been countermanded, and 



752 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

that they would halt where the^y were until official orders were re- 
ceived. The men called on Aldrich for a speech, but he declining, 
Sharp was called for and he addressed them in his usual fiery style, 
but declined to recommend any course of procedure. He tlien 
mounted his horse and returned to Carthage, meeting the Gover- 
nor's messengers a mile or two away. After he had left, volunteers 
were called for to go to Carthage, and the result was, that a part 
of this force marched to Carthage, and killed Jo and Hyrum Smith. 
This occurred on the 27th day of June, 1844. The death of their 
leaders broke the power of the Mormons in Hancock, and the 
riddance of the county of the whole tribe became only a question 
of time. The indignation against the Anti-Mormons, on account 
of the killing of tjie Smiths, was intense outside of the county, 
and the Signal was kept hot in its efforts to vindicate them. 

In September, 1844, occurred the famous "Wolf Hunt "War." 
Handbills were issued announcing a wolf hunt on a certain day, 
and giving the programme in the usual style. The getters up of 
the handbills designed nothing more than a hona fide wolf hunt, 
and had not the most distant idea of any interference with the Mor- 
mons; but, after the bills were out, the Saints began to suspect that 
maybe they were the wolves wliich were to be hunted, and expressed 
their suspicions to some Anti-Mormons. The wags took the hint, 
and soon stuffed the Mormons with the most enormous stories of 
the thousands and tens of thousands that were coming from Mis- 
souri and the surrounding counties to take part in this wonderful 
hunt. The Saints, who had grown timid since the death of Jo 
Smith, became seriously alarmed, and sent deputations to the Gov- 
ernor asking for protection. The Governor allowed himself to be 
humbugged, and called out the uniformed companies of Springfield, 
Jacksonville and Quincy, and ordered them to proceed to Hancock 
to disperse the expected mob. Col, E. D. Baker (afterward killed 
at Ball's Blufl) was put in command of this force. The army came, 
accompanied by the Governor, but when Hancock was reached, and 
the truth became known in the camp, the position of the Governor 
became highl}^ ridiculous. He was simply furious, and to redeem 
himself, concluded he would accomplish at least the arrest of some 
of the Anti-Mormon leaders, whom rumor pointed to as being con- 
cerned in the killing of Jo Smith. Writs were therefore issued in 
I^auvoo for Sharp and Williams. A constable named Rose went to 
Warsaw and arrested Sharp, but was told by him that unless the 
citizens of Warsaw so advised, he would not go to Nauvoo. The 
citizens objected, and Rose left town. Ford's army was then ap- 
proaching, and Sharp and Williams skipped across to Alexandria 
to await developments. The Governor and his soldiers finally en- 
tered Warsaw to find that the birds had flown. The whole perform- 
ance had become exceedingly ridiculous, and Ford seemed anxious 
to get out of his scrape, by accomplishing at least something by the 
expedition, which was highly expensive to the State. He therefore 
sent Col. Baker to Alexandria authorizing him to negotiate with 



'':^^Pi 




\ 




(^-/z^f L J^^/>^^1, 



WILCOX Tp. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 755 

Sharp and "Williams for their surrender, on terms; that is, they 
should give bail and be allowed to go free. The treaty was signed. 
Col. Baker pledged himself that it should be observed to the letter, 
or he would send Sharp and Williams back into Missouri. Sharp 
and AYilliams then went to the Governor's camp in "Warsaw; the 
Sheriff read his writ to them, and turned his prisoners over to Col. 
Baker, who accompanied them to Quincy, where Judge Thomas 
was holding Court. IS o eftbrt was made to confine the prisoners, 
and they went where they pleased. The matter coming up before 
Judge Thomas, his Honor refused to observe the terms of the 
treaty, which required that the Attorney-General, who was pi-esent, 
should admit that the crime charged against the prisoners was not 
evident, or the presumption great, so that they .could be admitted 
to bail; but consented that if the prisoners would waive an exami<- 
nation, he would hold them to bail in a small amount. This was 
agreed to under protest of innocence; bail given, and the farcical 
character of the whole proceeding made more apparent than ever. 
It was on this occasion that Judge Douglas, entering a crowd 
which was making merry at the Governor's ridiculous position, ex- 
claimed: "Gentlemen, this matter has passed beyond ridicule; 
it is time for sympathy." 

At the October Term of Court following, indictments were 
found against five leading Anti-Mormons and four others, who were 
said to be concerned in the killing of the Smiths. These indict- 
ments were procured by the perjured testimony of Mormon wit- 
nesses. Mr. Sharp was one of the persons indicted. After the 
adjournment of Court no eftort was made to arrest tlie defendants 
until some time in the winter, and this was so handsomely frus- 
trated, that it WHS not repeated. At the March term of the Circuit 
Court, the five principal men indicted appeared. Judge Young pre- 
siding. By consent of Josiah Lamborn,*who had been sent by 
the Governor to Hancock to prosecute the defendants, and who, 
by the by, was the strongest prosecutor in the State, the defendants 
were recognized to appear from day to day during the trial, and 

were held under no restraint. The trial occupied days, and 

was conducted throughout with as much decorum as any trial ever 
conducted in Hancock county, the slanderous statements of John 
Hay in the Atlantic Monthly to the contrary, notwithstanding. 
Everybody respected Judge Young, and not the slightest indignity 
was ofiered to him. Mr. Lamborn made no complaint of unfair 
treatment, but on the other hand expressed himself as having great 
leniency accorded to him, the Court, by consent of the defendants, 
adjourning over at an early hour in order to give Mr. L. time to 
send for a witness to try and corroborate one of his impeached wit- 
nesses. The prosecution made out their case by three Mormon 
witnesses, and the defendants so completely and overwhelmingly 
impeached them by contradictory evidence and the contradictions 
they made of themselves on cross-examination, that when Mr. 
Lamborn arose to address the jury, he said he would not ask the 

44 



756 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

jury to believe them ; that in tlie course of his practice he had never 
known witnesses as etfectnally broken down. In reference to Mr. 
Sharp it was not pretended that he went with the crowd that did 
the killing to the jail; all he was accused of was stirring up the 
boys in that little speech he made at Prentice's shanty. The sub- 
stance of that speech was proved by willing witnesses to the jury, 
and there was nothing in it but what made up the burden of Anti- 
Mormon speeches of that day. The jury was out but a short time, 
and brought in a verdict of " JSTot guilty," and as had been pre- 
viously arranged, there was no demonstration of applause in the 
audience. Throughout the whole trial there was no " armed mob 
in the court-house," which '' stamped applause or hissed defiance, 
according as they approved or disapproved the proceedings." This 
charge, made by John Hay, in his Atlantic Monthly article, and 
copied into Davidson & Stuve's " History of Illinois," is a lie 
made out of whole cloth. Nor is it true that the whole people 
knew the defendants were guiltj^, for it was a matter that Anti-Mor- 
mons were very close-mouthed about ; and who were concerned in 
the affairs and who were not, was known only to the people gener- 
ally by uncertain rumor. 

Mr. Sharp continued at the head of the Warsaw Signal until 
the Mormons had evacuated Nauvoo in the fall of 1846. In the 
final war Mr. S. acted as an aid to General Singleton who first had 
command, and after his retirement he occupied the same position 
on General Brockman's staft*; was in the battle at jSTauvoo and was 
sent with the Lima Company to make a feint on the Mormon bat- 
tery on our right, while tlie General at the head of the main force 
made a flank movement on the left. This feint executed, Mr. S. 
with his command joined the main force, conveyed the orders 
that brought the 1st Regiment into the fight, and in person led the 
2nd Hegiment up to tke support of tire exposed artillery; during 
which movement several of the men were wounded. 

After the Mormons had left the country, Mr. S. turned the Sig- 
nal over to Thomas Gregg, and engaged in various out-door busi- 
nesses, his long confinement to the office and the excitement of the 
Mormon struggle having worn on his health, so as to make the 
change necessary. 

In the spring of 1847, Mr. S. was elected a member of the Con- 
stitutional Convention with four others from Hancock county, and 
assisted, as a member of said Convention, in drafting the constitu- 
tion, which was adopted by the people in 1848. 

In the winter of 1851, having been elected Justice of the Peace, 
at a time when there was a vast deal of business in that line in 
Warsaw, he returned to the office work. In 1853 he was elected 
first Mayor of Warsaw, and kept the office for three successive 
yearly terms; was again elected in 1858 and 1859. In 1854 he 
started the Warsaw Express^ neutral in politics, and mainly de- 
■ voted to the railroad projects then warmly discussed in the county. 
He tired of this in about fifteen months, and sold out to G. G. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y57 

Galloway. During the Mormon war, Mr. S. ceased to be a parti- 
san Democrat, but acted with the ])arty in the main, until the in- 
troduction of the Nebraska bill, in 1854, by Mr. Douglas, when he 
joined the anti-Nebraska opposition, and drifted with it into the 
Kepublican party, with which he has been strongly and zealously 
identified ever since. 

In the summer of 1S56, he was nominated by the Republicans 
of the then 5th Congressional District, as a candidate for Congress 
to succeed Colonel Richardson, who had resigned to be a candidate 
for Governor. The district was overwhelmingly Democratic, and 
the nomination was but an empty honor, but Mr. S. canvassed the 
district, making speeches in every county. 

In 1864, being called on by the Union League of Hancock coun- 
ty, to take charge of a Union paper, he started the Warsaw New 
Era, which he conducted successfully for one year, and after that. 
it seeming to be the general wish, outside of Warsaw, that the 
paper be removed to Carthage, as more central, he sold out to 
Alex. Sympson, in June, 1865, and the material was taken to Car- 
thage, placed in the hands of -F. E. Fowler, and the Carthage Ga- 
zette started by him June 29, 1865. In the fall of 1865, Mr. S. 
was nominated by the Republicans for County Judge, and being 
elected, he assumed the duties of the office, and removed his family 
to Carthage. This office he held four years, was nominated unani- 
mously for re-election, but the Democrats having regained their 
ascendancy in the county, temporarily lost at the close of the war; 
the whole Republican ticket was defeated. At the close of his offi- 
cial career as County Judge, he formed a partnership with H. W. 
Draper, and with him practiced law three years. In December, 
1869, at the urgent solicitation of Mr. Fowler, who had received a 
Government appointment, Mr. S. assumed editorial control of the 
Carthage Gazette^ expecting it to be but temporary; but his 
old passion for the journalistic profession being revived by edito- 
rial work, he, in June, 1870, bought the office, and with the excep- 
tion of about thirteen months, when the office was in the hands of 
C. M. Shultz, has continued the management ever since. During 
this time he has continued in the practice of the law, now being 
the head of the law firm of Sharp & Berry Bro6. Mr. Sharp's por- 
trait is given on page 38Y. 

Will 0. Sharp, photographer, was born in this county in 1854' 
is the son of Judge Thos. Sharp of this city. He served eight 
years in the printing office, and opened his present place of busi- 
ness in 1878, where he enjoys a fair trade. He was married in 
April, 1878, to Miss Georgiana Cannon, a native of this tp. They 
have one child, named Ethel K. Mr. S. is a member of the A. O. 
U. W., and is a respected citizen. 

J. Mack Sholl, hardware merchant, firm Sholl Brothers. The 
subject of this sketch is a native of Preble Co., O., and was born in 
1851. His parents were Jacob and Mariah(Mack) Sholl, natives of 
Pennsylvania, who came to this county in 1852, and is a resident 
of this citv. He established himself in the mercantile trade in 



758 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

1866, and was succeeded by our subject and his brother Aleck, at 
this time Cashier of the Illinois State Penitentiary. Mr. S. was mar- 
ried in Sept., 1879, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Geo. T. Wilson, a 
native of Warsaw. The firm of Sholl Brothers is one of the oldest 
in the city and carries a stock of $4,000, with a good trade. Mr. S. 
is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Republican. 

A. G. Shultz, firm Foutch & Shultz, merchants. This firm was 
established in 1878. The house carries a stock of $1,600 and has 
a good trade. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Rockbridge county, E. 
Ya., in 1843, son of Jackson and Elizabeth (Spliter) Shultz, who 
emigrated to this county in 1854, and is now an established mer- 
chant of this city. 

A. 0. lived on the homestead until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. 
H, 118th. I. V. I., and served until the close of tlie war. He 
participated in battles of Arkansas Post, Thompson's Hill, Mission- 
ary Ridge, Raymond, Vieksburg, Black River Bridge, Jackson, 
Miss., where he was taken sick and put on detached service, and 
filled his honorable career in the Union cause, and was honorably 
discharged. He returned home and entered the mercantile trade 
in partnership with O. P. Carlton. Two years afterward he sold 
and engaged in the cigar trade one year, when he moved to Adrian, 
111., and represented himself in the business circle of that place in 
the dry-goods trade, where he remained two years and returned to 
this city. He was married in 1878 to Miss Amanda E., daughter 
of John L. Foutch. They have 2 children, John L. and Grace. 
He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Baptist Church. 
Politically he is a Republican. 

Charles E. Smales^ market, Carthage, is a native of Virginia, 
where he was born in 1848. His parents, Matthias and Melinda 
(West) Smales, are residents of that State. He enlisted in 1862 in 
Co. H, 50tli Yol. Inf., and served nearly three years. He was 
assigned principally to detail service, and was honorably discharged 
at the close of his service. In 1865 he came to this State and 
located in McLean county, where he was married in 1869, to Miss 
Lucy F., daughter of John Benson, an early settler of that count}', 
where he died in March, 1877. The wife and mother survive. To 
this union 3 children have been born, all of whom are living: 
Clyde, Clara and Dixie. Mr. Smales was engaged in his present 
occupation at Lexington, McLean county, and moved to Carthage 
in 1870. He opened his present place of business in 1873, and en- 
joys a lucrative trade. He is a member of the Masonic order and 
A. O. U.W., and one of the active business young men of this city. 
Politically, is Republican. 

William T. Smith, druggist, established in present location in 
1876. Carries a stock of $2,500, and has a good patronage. He 
was born in Adams county, 111., in 1851; is son of John K. and 
Susan (Curry) Smith, who emigrated to the West in 1832, and set- 
tled in Adams county, near Columbus; subsequently he moved to 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Y59 

Clayton, where he resided until his death, which occurred in Feb., 
1880. His wife is still living in this city. Mr, S. was married in 
18S0 to Miss Lillian Fieldinsf, daughter of Mrs. R II. Hardy. He 
is a member of the A. O, U. W. and of the Episcopal Church of this 
city, and is one of the active business men of Carthage. In poli- 
tics, isRepublican. 

William M. Spangler, retired farmer, was born in Cumberland 
county, Pa,, in 1822; is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Trego) 
Spangler, natives of that State, who emigrated to this county in 
1838, and settled in Fountain Green tp., where he engaged in farm- 
ing, and resided until his death. Wm, M. was married in 1844 to 
Miss Emily Renshaw, a native of Sangamon county. 111, They 
have had 8 children, Y of whom are living — Matilda, Evaline, Vir- 
ginia, Josephine, Mary, Nellie and James R, Mr. Spangler is one 
of tlie oldest living pioneers of Hancock county. He moved to 
this city and settled on his present home in 1866, where he is liv- 
ing upon the fruits of his industry. His advantages for education 
were limited, and only such as were accorded to the pioneer youths 
of Illinois, He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 
politics he was, until the Rebellion, a Democrat, but now endorses 
Republican principles, 

Adam Spitler^ retired physician, is a native of Augusta county, 
Va,, where he was born in 1816, He received his early education 
in his native county and entered the university at Louisville, Ky,, 
at which institution he graduated in March, 1850. The following 
year he began the practice of his profession in Upshur county, Va,, 
where he resided 11 or 12 years. In 1857 he settled in this city 
and followed his professional calling until the spring of 1880. He 
then retired from the active duties of life, and is living upon the 
fruits of his well-earned industry. He was married in 1851 to 
Miss Carrie A., daughter of James Janney, a native of Virginia, 
He is a member of the American National Medical Association, 
President of the Hancock Medical Society, and a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church since 1833. Until 10 years of age he 
lived in Augusta with his parents, Daniel and Eleanor (Emory) 
Spitler, both natives of Virgina, who moved from Rockbridge to 
this county in 1854, and settled in St. Mary's tp. ; subsequently he 
moved to Carthage, where he died in 1861. She died in 1875. The 
family number among the early settlers and are highly respected in 
this community. 

John D. Stevens, retired, was born in Greene county. 111., in 
1826; is a son of Joseph and Ehnira, deceased, natives of New 
York city and Vermont, and among the early pioneers of that 
county, where they were married. Joseph was a hatter by trade and 
traveled extensively through the "Western country, trading in furs 
among the Indians. In 1828 he moved to Hazel Green, 
Wisconsin, and became engaged in the lead mines at that place. 
In the fall of the same year he sent his wife and 2 children down 
the Mississippi river, on a keel-boat, and landed on the east bank 



760 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of the river, where Little Cincinnati now is, and made his 
settlement in what is now Louisiana, Pike county, Mo. 
Here he established a trading pOst and engaged in the fur 
trade. Large bands of Indians sought his post to trade, 
and he was widely known among the tribes of the West. 
From that point he came to this county in 1833, and settled in what 
is now Chili tp., where he entered 2|- sections of land, upon which 
he made improvements and engaged in farming. He was at one 
time Mail-carrier and Contractor, and kept the first hotel in 
his growing settlement. He was widely known throughout the 
county and was among the early pioneers of tlie State and county. 
He died on the homestead in iSi6. The widow and mother sur- 
vived him until 1863, when her spirit took its flight to its better 
home. 

The subject of this sketch has been engaged mostly in farming 
and mining. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, and re- 
mained until 1855, when he returned, having an eventful journey 
by way of Arizona and Texas. Mr, S. was married in 1857 to 
Miss Julia A. Towler, a native of Ind. To this union 3 children 
have been born, all of whom are living: Leoua M., Clara B. and 
Almira A. He engaged in farming and became an active partici- 
pant in the public issues of the county. In 1870 he was elected 
Sheriff of the county, and re-elected in 1872 to the same office, the 
duties of which he filled with satisfaction to his constituents. He 
also was Justice of the Peace in Chili tp., and has been otherwise 
distinguished. In 1876 he erected the Stevens House, at a cost of 
$11,000, furnished, which he conducted successfully 11 years. In 
1879, by reason of poor health, he rented the house and retired to 
the quietness of his home. The Stevens House is located on the 
south side of the Square, is built of brick, and will accommodate 
many guests. Its arrangements are of the best, and its location 
is all that could be desired. In fact, this is a reliable and the only 
first-class hotel building in the city. 

X. C Stevenson., retired, was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1809; 
is a son of Sater and Priscilla (Cole) Stevenson, both natives of 
that State, where she died in 1815, He moved to Franklin 
county, 0., where he died in 1849, L. C. came to Illinois in 1836, 
stopped one year in Chicago, and settled in this city in 1837, where 
he engaged in the cabinet and furniture business, in a log shanty 
that occupied the present site of the bank. Some years afterward 
he purchased a farm, and engaged in that business until he retired 
from all active pursuits, to the quietness and comforts of his pleas- 
ant home. He was married May 23, 1844, to Miss Susan Gallop, 
a native of Rockland, where she was born April 26, 1827. Of 
their 11 children 5 are living; viz., Charles, Willie, Hattie, Fred- 
erick and Edward. Mr. S. is one of the oldest living settlers of 
Carthage, honored and respected by all who know him. Politi- 
cally, he is a descendant of the old-line Whig party, and a strong 
advocate of Republican principles. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 761 

J . B. Strader, firm of J. B. Strader & Son, grocers. This firm 
was established in 1863, and was located on the lot of ground now 
occupied by the Hancock o^ational Bank. In 1864 Mr. S. pur- 
chased his present premises, and from a small capital has gained a 
success, and is one of the prominent and active merchants of this 
city. The firm cany a stock of $6,000; a large warehouse is con- 
.nected in the rear, and a large trade is realized in thejsale of feed and 
hay, sawed and split fence posts and drain tile. Mr. Strader was 
born in West Yirginiain 1822; is a son ot Martin and Mary (Rohr- 
bough) Strader, natives of that State, both deceased. He came to 
this county in 1856 and settled in this city. For nearly two years he 
was engaged in the lumber business, and taught school four years, 
and engaged in various speculations until 1863. He was married 
to Miss Susannah Shultz, a native of Virginia, who died in 1855. 
They had 4 children: David S., Ellen J., Lenton M. and Willis L. 
He was married to his present wife, Miss Maiy Rogers, in 1865. She 
is a native of Yirginia. Mr. S. has been Superintendent of the 
Sunday-school in the M. E. Church 11 years, Trustee of the Church, 
and is highly esteemed by all who know him. The junior partner 
of this firm, D. S. Strader, was born in Upshur county, W. Va., in 
1848. He was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia J. Mathews in 
1867, who was born in Gallapolis, Gallia county, O., in 1846. 
Their children are Eddie L., Frank A. and William A. 

C. W. Taylor, firm of Tayloi Bros., grocers, was born in Gar- 
rard county, Ky., in 1841; is a son of David and Eliza (Thompson) 
Taylor, natives of that State, where he died in 1855. The widow 
came to this county in 1856, with 9 children, and settled in this 
city. Our subject was engaged in clerking until 1862, when he 
enlisted in Co. B, llSth 111. Yol. Inf., and served until the close of 
the war. Participated in battles of Chickasaw Blufts, Jackson, 
Miss., and all the engagements of the regiment. He was married 
in 1871 to Miss Margaret Latimer, a native of Adams county, by 
whom he has 3 children, Charles E., William R. and Joseph, 
This firm was established in 186s and has a good trade. Mr. T. 
was Town Trustee one term; is a member of the A. O. U. W. and 
is a Republican. 

E. D. Taylor, firm of Taylor Bros., grocers, brother of the pre- 
ceding, was born in Garrard county, Ky., in 1845. E. D. became 
associated with his brother in l.s69. In 1875 he went to Nebraska 
and Kansas, and engaged in sheep-raising, but returned after a few 
years. Mr. T. was Town Trustee two years; is a member of the A. 
O. U. W., and of the military and fire department, and one of the 
city fathers. Politically, he is a Republican, and is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 

D. L. Tressler, late President of Carthage College, though but 
a few years a citizen of Hancock county, deserves some notice in 
this work, and we give his portrait on page 441. 

He came here an entire stranger, to take a Professorship 



762 , * HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

in the new College, was chosen its President and also its Treasurer, 
and by bis kind and Christian deportment, his zeal and earnestness 
in the cause of education, his courteous manners, his talents and 
eloquence, he soon endeared himself to his college associates and 
pupils under his charge, and won in a high degree the public 
esteem. Born in 1839, he had not reached half the allotted three 
score and ten, and was but barely 40 when called away from the 
broad and still unreaped field of his usefulness. 

President Tressler, in addition to his college duties, was Pastor 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carthage, and also fre- 
quently assumed calls to preach in neighboring pulpits of kindred 
denominations. He was greatly instrumental in building up the 
Church in Carthage, and contributed freely of his time, talents and 
means toward the erection of the fine edifice belonging to it. On 
last New Year's eve, a new bell, having been placed in position, 
was dedicated; and in the hour of the Old Year's departure, it was 
tolled — " ringing the Old Year out and the New Year in." On 
that occasion. President Tressler made a feeling address, in the 
course of which he said, " For whom of us all shall this bell first 
toll the funeral knell?" An ear attuned to prophecy might have 
interpreted in its clear tones, as they quiveringly died away on 
the prairies, the answer — '■'-For David Loy Tres8l6r\ " for within 
60 days of the new year, that bell tolled its first funeral notes for 
him. 

Tolling, tolling! 
Stirring passions past controlling ; 
Every measured knell was rolling 
Over hearts by grief oppressed. 

Ringing, ringing! 
Every solemn peal was singing 
Of a new-born spirit, winging 

Swift its way to perfect rest. 

?^' "'■'.= Moaning, sighing! 

Echo of the heart's out-crying 
When its treasured all is lying. 
Stricken ere the harvest time. 
Calling, greeting 
Anguished souls with soft entreating, 
Soothingly the words repeating — 
" Transferred to a better clime." 

President Tressler's father was a man of character and note in 
Pennsylvania, ever active in the cause of education and of the 
Church in which he was an exemplary member. He built of his 
own means an institution of learning at Loysville, called the Loys- 
ville Academy. In this institution David Loy received his prep- 
aration for college, and after his graduation became its principal. 
The war took teachers and papils to the '' tented field," and the 
Academy became a Soldiers' Orphans' Home, uader the care of the 
State, the property still in the ownership of the Tressler estate. At 
enu^th it was sold, through the exertions of President Tressler, to 




I %y 




^^ ^(tZc 



ROCK CREEK TP. 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 765 

the Lutheran Church, of Pa., for a permanent Orphans' Home, and 
is now occupied as such. 

President T. was one of a large family; his eldest brother, a 
young man of much talent and high promise, died at the age of 
24, while occupying the chair of mathematics and natural philos- 
ophy in the Capital University at Columbus, Ohio. 

The widowed mother still lives in Carthage, as well as one 
sister, Mrs. Prof. J. AV. Richard, and youngest brother, Dr. M. 
L. Tressler, druggist and bookseller. 

As preriously stated, Prest. Tressler was Pastor of the large 
Lutheran Church in Carthage, a position which he sustained for 
seven years. This fine edifice, the finest and costliest in the county, 
stands as a monument of his energy and labor. 

The following notice of President Tressler's life and work is 
copied from t\iQ''- Carthaginian,''^ the college journal for March, 
1880: 

"death of president tressler. 

" It becomes our mournful duty to chronicle the death of our be- 
loved President, Rev. Prof. D. L. Tressler, Ph. D. This sad event 
occurred at his home in Carthage, at seven o'clock, Friday morning, 
Feb. 20th. On the 1st of Feb. he went to West Point, a village 
twelve miles distant from Carthage, to fill an appointment for 
preaching. Owing to the bad condition of the roads he made the 
trip on horseback, a mode of traveling to which he had not recently 
been accustomed. On his arrival home in the evening he was very 
much fatigued, and found that he had taken a severe cold. He 
heard his college classes on Monday, but did not feel well enough 
the next morning to continue his work. On Thursday evening he 
presided at a faculty meeting held at his residence. A day or two 
afterward typhoid pneumonia made its appearance. This grad- 
ually assumed a rheumatic character, and was soon followed by a 
complication of other disorders. During the last week of his sick- 
ness he was delirious much of the time. In his intervals of con- 
sciousness he spoke tender farewell words to the members of his 
family, commending them to the loving care of God, and rejoicing 
in the blessed comforts and triumphs of the Christian faith. 

" As we stood by the bedside of this good and useful man, and 
saw him calmly and peacefully breathe his last, it was hard to 
realize that one so eminent in the Master's service upon the earth, 
and just in the prime of life, and who but a few weeks before was 
80 active and hopeful among us, was passing away from our bodily 
sight. It is difficult to think that he is gone. Why should he be 
taken? This is a mystery whicli, perhaps, we can not now under- 
stand, but we know that God rules wisely and well, and we humbly 
submit to His will. 

"Dr. Tressler was born Feb. 15, 1839, at Loysville, Pa. His father 
died in 1859. His aged mother, -1 brothers and 5 sisters survive 



766 HISTORY OF HANCOCK cor>"rT. 

bim. He was faithfully instructed by his parents in the truth of 
the Scriptures, and at an early age united with the Lutheran 
Church of which they were prominent members. He prepared for 
college at the Loysville Academy, an institution founded by his 
father. In 1S57 he was admitted to the sophomore class of Penn- 
sylvania College at Gettysburg, from which institution he was 
graduated with honor in 1S60. having received the appointment of 
valedictorian of his class. Soon afterward he took charge of the 
Loysville Academy, which he conducted with success. While en- 
gaged in teaching he also pursued the study of law. In 1S62 he 
raised a company of volunteers, and entered the army as a Captain. 
He participated in the battles of South Mountain. Antietam, Fred- 
ericksburg, and Chancellorsville. receiving two severe wounds at 
Fredericksburg. In lS6i he was admitted to the Bar. and devoted 
the next five years to the practice of law. In 1S65 he was mar- 
ried to Ada J., daughter of B. Mclntyre, Esq. In 1S70 he re- 
moved to Mendota, 111., and in the same year entered the Lutheran 
ministry and accepted a call to Leua, 111. In 1S7'2 he was elected 
to a professorship in Carthage College, and the following year he 
was chosen president of the same institution. In connection with 
the duties of this otfice he had charge of the financial affairs of the 
college, which gave him a great deal of additional labor, and he 
was also Pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church of the city. 

*• President Tressler possessed a rare combination of excellent 
qualities which admirably fitted him for the important position 
which he held. He was a man of high purposes and indomitable 
energy, of quick intellect and fine business tact, of a kind, gener- 
ous and sympathetic nature, of a cheerful disposition, inclined to 
look upon the bright side of things, of ready and pleasing address, 
capable of easily adapting himself to all classes of people and 
making the humblest feel at ease in his presence. 

'* With untiring efforts and unfiagging zeal he labored for the wel- 
fare of Carthage College, and, through this instrumentality, for 
the advancement of Christ's kingdom and the promotion of God's 
glory. In this great work he sacrificed his life, and in iiis death 
the "Church has "lost one of her most etficient leaders,' one of her 
most useful servants. But his memory will abide with us as an 
inspiration to stimulate us to increased activity in the glorious 
cause to which he was so earnestly devoted. 

"The funeral was largely attended. Many persons from a dis- 
tance were present. Rev. Mr. Kuhl conducted the services. The 
church was heavily draped. A number of beautiful rioral ofier- 
ings testified to the hio;h esteem in which the deceased was held by 
loving friends. Rev. Mr. Sparr, of Fairfield, Ia„ read selections 
from the Scriptures. Rev. Mr. Behringer, of Mendon. 111., ofiered 
prayer. Dr. Rhodes, of St. Louis, delivered the discourse. This 
was followed by brief addresses by Rev. Mr. Anderson, of the 
Congregational* Church, of Quincy, and Rev. Dr. Craig, of the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 767 

Presbyterian Church, of Keokuk, la. Rev. Mr. Culler, of Newton, 
la., prononnced the benediction." 

J. C. Willimns^ merchant, was born in Madison county, Ky., in 
1819; is son of Richard G. and Catherine (daughter of Col. John 
Holden), early pioneers of Clark county, Ky., where he died in 
1S76. She is still a resident of that county. The subject of this 
sketch came to this county in 1S57 and settled in this city. He 
became engaged in the mercantile trade as early as 1844, and estab- 
lished in this city in 1857. He erected the building he now occu- 
pies in 1866, and carries a stock of $10,000, and has a fair trade. 
He was married in 18.50 to Miss Mary Collier, a native of Lincoln 
county, Ky., where she was born in 1826. He represented this 
district to the Senate, member of the 27th General Assemblj^ in 
1871 and 1872. Has filled the office of Town Trustee, President of 
the Town Council and is otherwise identified with the interests of 
the count}'. He has been a member of the Masonic order 35 j^ears, 
and is one of the oldest and most highly respected merchants of 
this city. Oscar "W., "William, Josiah J., Susan and Jessie are his 
living children. 

J. J. Williams, lawyer, was born in Carthage in 1858; is son of 
J. C. AVilliams, one of the oldest merchants of this city. He re- 
ceived his education at the Carthage College, and was graduated 
at that institution in 1877. He began the study of law with 
Edmunds &, Scofield of this city, and was admitted to the Bar in 
1879. The same year formed the present partnership of Scofield and 
Williams, and began practice in this city. Politically, he is a 
Democrat. 

Henry C. Wilson, livery stable ; established in this business in 
1879, moved to present location in April, 1880, where he keeps a 
large stock of horses and carriages at all times. He was born in 
Carthage, 111., in 1844 ; is son of J. and Mary (Stuart) Wilson, who 
came to this county from Kentucky in 1834, and settled in this tp.; 
subsequently he removed to this city and opened the Wilson House, 
where lie became popularly known and resided until his death in 
1873. He entered and purchased land on sec. 16, and dealt con- 
siderably in landed property, and was one of the early pioneers of 
Hancock county. His widow is still living in this city. Henry 
C. was married in 1865 to Miss Ellen E. Ferry, a native of this 
county. To them have been born 4 children, 3 of whom are living, 
— Roila H., Mary L. and Tessie, 

Stephen S. Wilson, miller, succeeded S. L. Hobart in the 
purchase and business in the mill in 1876, where he is doing a 
good business. He also owns a farm of 250 acres in this tp., 
valued at $20 per acre, and deals considerably in stock. He was 
born in Garrard connty, Ky., in 1844; is son of James F. and 
Elizabeth (Stewart) Wilson, natives of New York and West 
Virginia, who emigrated to this county in 1849 and settled in this 
tp. on sec. 16, wliere he resided until his death in 1854. She died 
in 1864. Our subject enlisted in April, 1861, in Co. D, 16th I. V. I.,^ 
and served until July, 1865. He participated in the battles of 



768 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Corinth, Stone River, Murfreesboro, and with Sherman on his 
march to the sea, through the grand review at Washington, and was 
mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. He received a slight 
wound in his left handiat Benton ville, and was twice taken prisoner, 
but escaped. He was married in 1869 to Miss Arabella Buckman, 
a native of Kentucky, who died in 1872, leaving one child, Lela B. 
He was a^ain married to Miss Leah Johnson, a native of West 
Virginia. Mr. W. is Trustee of the town and was elected Assessor 
in April, 1880; is a member of the Masonic order, and of the M. E. 
Church. Politically is Republican. 

William Wilson, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Rock Castle county, Ky., in 1835; is son of James and Elizabeth 
(Stewart) Wilson, who emigrated to Hancock county in 18^9, and 
settled in Carthage tp., where he resided until 1858. She died in 
1868. The subject of this sketch was married in 1864 to Miss 
Lydia, daughter of Joseph Deuel, a native of Ohio, and their 7 
children are: Ida L., George C, Ellen, Eva, William, Mary and 
Lula. Mr. W. settled on his present land in 1872, consisting 
of 140 acres, valued at $50 per acre. He is a School Director, and 
in politics is a Republican. 

James F. Woodhurn; P. O., Carthage; was born in Carthage in 
1839, son of William and Gracie (Irving) Woodburn, natives of 
Kentucky, who emigrated to this county in 1834 and settled in this 
tp,, where he entered 40 acres of land, and is yet a i-esident of 
Carthage, in the 75th year of his age. She died in July, 1872. 
The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1862 in Co. B, 118th I. Y. I., 
and served until the close of the war. He participated in the 
battles of Arkansas Post, Yicksburg, and in nearly all the battles 
in which that regiment was engaged. By exposure in the service 
he lost his sight and slowly became totally blind. He was able to 
complete his service and return home, where he engaged in farming 
until his sight was entirely gone. He was married in 1869 to Miss 
Angeline, daughter of Thompson T. McCants, a native of this tp. 
To this union one son has been born, John E. Mr. W. is ably 
supported by the Government in his affliction, and resides in the 
quiet and enjoyment of his home. Politically he is divided, and 
casts his vote only for those whora he considers capable and 
trustworthy. 

Stanley" Edwards Worrell was born in Carthage in April, 
1845, about five months before liis father, Lieut. Franklin A. Wor- 
rell, was killed in the Mormon troubles. After his father's death, 
his widowed mother (Anne Elizabeth Lawton) resided chiefly in 
Quincy, for seven or eight years, until her re-marriage with Dr. 
George L. Hewitt, and for a number of years thereafter, when they 
removed to Hannibal, Mo. At Quincy and Hannibal young Stan- 
ley W'as reared, and in the latter place he is settled, having married 
Miss Virginia Warner, in New Hampshire, about New Year's 
day, 1873. 

FranTdin A. Worrell was a Pennsylvanian, a nephew of Elisha 
Worrell, Esq., and the late Rev. Joseph Worrell, of Chili; and emi- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 769 

grated with his mother (now Mrs. Leebrick) and brothers to Quincy. 
There the family settled, and Frank located in Carthage and en- 
gaged in merchandising. During his short career in that place he 
gained the reputation of an active, excellent and public-spirited 
young man, and died much regretted. 

Colman Wyatt, farmer, sec. 22; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Cheshire county, Ky., in 1817. When one year old he was taken 
to Knox county, Tenn., by his parents, where they died. "When 
17 years of age he started for the West, arriving in this tp. Nov. 9, 
1834, with but 50 cents in his pocket. He entered 90 acres of his 
present farm, which was but a wild prairie, upon wliich he settled 
and has since made it his home. He was married in April, 1835, 
to Miss Elizabeth Kimbrough, daughter of James Kimbrough, 
deceased, an early pioneer of Hancock county. To this union 4 
children have been born, all deceased. Mr. Wyatt is one of the 
oldest living settlers of this tp. and county. He hauled the first 
foot of lumber ever brought to this tp. His advantages for educa- 
tion were limited, and only by industry, economy and energy has 
he succeeded. The homestead now consists of 120 acres, valued at 
$40 per acre. He took an active interest in the Mormon difficul- 
ties, being in active service with the militia in 1844, by which ser- 
vice he lost a crop from his improved, lands. Politically he is a 
Democrat. 

D.J. Wylie, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Carthage; is a native of 
Garrard county, Ky., where he was born Nov. 16, 1822. His pa- 
rents, John and Mary (Thompson) Wylie, were both natives of that 
State. The wife and mother, with 9 children, moved to McDon- 
ough county in 1850, where she resided until her death in Febru- 
ary, 1875. The subject of this sketch was married Nov. 4, 1845, 
to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Patterson, of Madison county, 
Ky. Three children, the fruits of this marriage, are all married, 
as follows: Mary J., wife of F. M. Esterbrook, residing in Ne- 
braska; Sarah M., wife of Wm. Coker, of this county; and Ange- 
line, wife of Geo. T. Proctor, resides in this tp. Besides, Mr. W. 
has one adopted son, George. Mr. Wylie came to this county in 
1850 and settled on sec. 16, in this tp. A few years later he moved 
to Carthage, where he resided some years, and in 1857 purchased 
his present farm, of Artois Hamilton, consisting of 160 acres, val- 
ued at $60 per acre. The same year he erected his present fine 
residence, and now has one of the best improved farms in the 
county. His opportunities for education were very limited. Left 
without means, his accumulations and his position have been se- 
cured only through energy and industry. In politics he was for 
years an old-line Whig, but now indorses the Democratic platform. 
His first vote cast was for Millard Filmore. 

TOWNSnir OFFICIALS. 

We give a list of the Supervisors, Clerks,^A88e8Sors and Collec- 
tors who have served Carthage township since its organization, 
with the years of the beginning of their respective terms: 

\ 



770 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

SUPERVISORS. 

James A. Winston 1850 J. M. Randolph 1871 

John Booth 1851 W. C. Williams 1872 

Claiborne Winston 1858 Melancton S. Carey , . . . 1873 

Mela;ar Couchman 1863 Wesley H. Manier 1874 

John W. Cherry 1864 Hiram G. Ferris 1876 

Thos. C. Miller 1866 Melancton S. Carey. . 1877 

John M. Ferris 1867 George J. Rogers. 1878 

Nathan Cutler 1868 Wm. H. D. Noyes 1880 

John D. Miller 1869 

CLERKS. 

Emanuel Showers 1858 Nathan Cutler 1873 

William J. Dale 1859 Oscar W. Williams 1873 

Emanuel Showers 1863 John Elder 1874 

Hiiddleston M. Steater 1866 D. C. Cutler 1876 

James Abbott 1868 John F. Scott 1878 

E. T. Dorothy 1870 John K. Alexander 1880 

ASSESSORS. 

John Carlin 1858 Thos. J. Kimbrough ... 1870 

Melgar Couchman 1859 Ephraim P. Dorothy 1873 

Chas. B. Ruggles 1863 Thos. J. Kimbrough 1873 

Thos. B. Griffiths 1863 Washington Martin 1874 

AVilliam Ogilvie 1864 A. J. Carlton 1875 

Jackson Shultz 1866 Wm. A. Cutler 1878 

F. M. Fain 1867 Ste. S.Wilson 1880 

Peter Wolfe 1868 

* 
COLLECTORS. 

W. H. Williams 1858 J. H. Kirkpatrick. 1871 

Walter B. Loring 1863 Washington Martin 1873 

Charles B. Ruggles 1863 A.J.Carlton 1873 

Jas. B. Crawford 1864 Stevens W. Merrill 1874 

Daniel P. White 1865 Wm. A. Cutler 1876 

Wm. Kimbrough 1868 George T. Proctor 1877 

Asbmy Ruggles 1869 Cicero L. Roll 1879 

A. J. Carlton 1870 John Fletcher 1880 



PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. 

This township, 5 — 6, is, as its name implies, all prairie land, ex- 
cepting about two sections of dwarf woodland on the breaks of 
Long creek. Lying so far inland, it was not settled as early as 
those portions of the county nearer the borders; but later it began 
to fill lip with enterprising farmers, and has now become one of the 
best improved townships in the county. It is favored with more 
railroad line than any other township. It has the T., W. & W. 
running across it from Elvaston to Carthage, six miles; about the 
same length of the T., P. & W"., northeastwardly; and fully seven 
miles of the Q., C. & B. running southwardly. There is no point 
in the township, except its extreme northwest corner, that is more 
than two miles from one of these roads. 

Being in the center of the great Hancock prairie, it contains the 
highest land between the river and Crooked creek, and with Rock 
Creek township, constitutes the dividing line between those waters. 

Its one village is the thriving and pleasant town of Elvaston, on 
its west line, laid out May, 1858, by Albert L. Connable and George 
B. Smythe, of Keokuk; E. C. A. Cushman, of Hamilton, and W. 
L. Judson, of Elvaston. 

Among the early settlers of Prairie (most of whom had pre- 
viously resided in other townships) we name William R. Hamilton, 
Ebenezer Rand and his sons, James Tweed, Joseph W. Hawley, L. 
Wells, George Wells, William A. Moore, Henry Walker, John 
Lively, W. H. Moore, the Ewings, Rohrboughs, etc. 

EELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

At Elvaston there are two or three Church organizations, each 
with small but neat and substantial church edifices. The Presby- 
terian and the M. E. societies hav^e been organized ten or twelve 
years, and have now regular services and good and increasing con- 
cfresrations. 

A large portion of the people of Prairie, on its eastern border, 
bordering on Carthage, connect themselves with the Churches at 
the county-seat. 

BIOGKArHICAL . 

We continue the history of Prairie township, by giving detailed 
biographical accounts of the most prominent residents, so far as 
spju-e jjermits: 

Dr. Thomas Boude, an old settler in this county, was born in 
Bracken county, Ky., June 18, 1800; his parents were John and 

(771) 



772 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Ann (Thome) Boude, the first a native of Lancaster, Pa., whose 
father was Joseph Boude, a native of France, and reared in England. 
He came to America in 1740. Ann (Thome) Boude was a native 
of Scotland, and was married at Marietta, Pa. Pier husband, a 
farmer, died in Brown county, O., and she died at the residence of 
one of her children in Bracken county, Ky. The subject of this 
sketch was educated in the public schools of Ohio and at the Acad- 
emy of Chillicothe, O. He commenced his medical studies at the 
age of 21 with Dr. Mackie, of Augusta, Ky., remaining with him 
about four years, attending one course of lectures at Lexington, 
Ky., and one at Philadelphia, Pa., also practicing with the Doctor 
the latter part of this four years. In 1826 he moved to Felicity, 
O., where he practiced medicine 15 years. May 20, 1824, he married 
Martha B. Sharpe, a daughter of Thomas Sharpe, of Bracken 
county, Ky., and formerly of Maryland. Dr. B. came to this 
county April 8, 1854, locating on sec. 14, this tp., where he has 
resided to the present. On settling here he bought 480 acres of 
land, a part of which he has since given to his sons, so that now 
the homestead consists of 187 acres. The improvements on this 
place were mostly made by the Doctor. His children are Mary A., 
John Knox, Edgar Austin and Charles Eugene, besides 2 deceased; 
Thomas, who died in infancy, in Felicity, O., and Euphrasia J., 
who died at the age of 17, at Oxford, Butler county, O., where the 
Doctor resided 12 years. The first 10 years of his residence in this 
county the Doctor followed his profession, but since then has de- 
voted his attention to farming, in which he has been quite suc- 
cessful. One season he raised 1,800 pounds of honey. Mrs. Boude 
died Sept. 11, 1875, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
was laid at rest in the cemetery at Carthage. Dr. B. was formerly 
a Whig, but is now a Republican. He is also a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, which relation he has now held for 50 years. 
William Clarh, farmer, sec. 18; P. O., Elvaston; was born in 
Adams county, O., in 1823. His parents, John and Elizabeth 
(Gall) Clark, were natives of Ireland and Virginia, who settled in 
Ohio, where they both died. The subject of this sketch came to 
Illinois in 1847, and located on a farm in Peoria county. In 1863 he 
moved to this county and settled on his present estate of 100 acres, 
valued at $60 per acre. Mr. C, has never been married. He is a 
man of unostentatious manners, and follows a quiet, unobtrusive 
life in the enjoyment of his home, which is properly carried on by 
a sister. Politically he was a strong abolitionist, and now is an 
earnest advocate of Republican administration. 

Henry Davis was born in Bedford county. Pa., Dec. 9, 1815, and 
is a son of William and Maria (Putt) Davis (deceased), also natives of 
the same county. Mr. Davis was reared on a farm, and at the age of 
18 he removed with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, where he 
engaged as pilot on a steamer between Zanesville and Dresden, for 
three years. He then went to Jackson county, Ohio, where he 
operated a steam grist and saw mill for about five years. He then, 




/n^ o-T^-cC 



PRAIRIE T.E 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 775 

in 1846, came to this county and settled in Prairie tp., where he still 
resides, and is engao^ed in farming and stock-raising. He was 
married in 1840 to Miss Marj' Ann Tyler, by whom he has had 
8 children; of these, 4 are living; viz., Jane, James A., Maria E. and 
Kichard Edwin. His son James A. served three 3'ears and four 
months in the late war, for Uncle Sam, in Co. B, llStli I. Y. I., and 
participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Yicksburg, Thompson's 
Hill and others. He was sick and at the point of death at Paymond 
while in the service. He was a member of a scouting party at Baton 
Pouge for some time. 

John W. Ewing, farmer, sec. 29; P. O., Elvaston; is a son of 
John C. and Isabel (Huston) Ewing, natives of Kentucky and 
Pennsylvania, .who came to this State in 1847 and located in Adams 
county. Three years afterward they moved to this county and 
passed the remainder of their lives upon earth. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Brown county, O., in 1828. He was united in 
matrimony with Miss Mary, daughter of James Tweed, in 1860. To 
this union 7 children have been born, — Emma E., James E., Wesley 
C, Ella E., Effie E., Ida M. and Alice. Mr. E. settled on his present 
farm in 1876, consisting of 178 acres of valuable and productive 
soil. He fills the office of School Director, and is highly esteemed. 
Politically, he is always Democratic. 

James F. Harper^ M. D., Elvaston, was born in York county, 
S. C, in 1819, and is a son of James and Nancy (Dodds) Harper, 
natives of that State, who settled in Obion county, Tenn., in Feb- 
ruary, 1825, where they both died in December, 1838. The 
subject of this notice began the study of medicine at Tipton, 
Tenn., with an elder brother; studied the English and Latin 
branches thoroughly, and attended lectures at the medical school 
at Memphis, Tenn., in 1846-'7; began the practice of his profession 
in Tipton county, Tenn., where he continued with success until the 
breaking out of the war, when he moved to Clayton, Adams county, 
111., in October, 1862. Seven years afterward he moved to this 
county, settling in Elvaston, where he has since been in successful 
practice; but prior to this, he had graduated at the medical school 
in 1870. In 1844 he married, in Tipton county, Tenn., Miss 
Elizabeth S. Johnston, a native of South Carolina, and of their 5 
children 2 are living : Margaret J., wife of Salem Anderson, of 
Adams county, who have 5 children — Nina, Frank, Robert, Lena 
and Everett; Ella, wife of William Mack, who have 2 children, Pearl 
and Nellie; the deceased children are Nancy C, and 2 who died in 
infancy, and Martha A., wife of W. H. Marshall of this county; she 
died in December, 1877, leaving 2 children — Rub}^ and one not yet 
christened. Since 1843 the Doctor has been a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an Elder for 20 years, 
but is not now acting in that capacity. As a physician he has a 
successful practice, and as a citizen is highly esteemed by the com- 
munity, 

45 



776 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

George Johnson, grain and coal dealer, Elvaston, was born in 
Franklin county, Pa., in 1816; his parents, Samuel and Hannah 
(Arabj) Johnson, were also natives of that State, both deceased; he 
was married in 1840 to Miss Mary McClintock, a native also of the 
Keystone State, and in 1849 they located in Ohio, where they re- 
sided until 1866, when they moved to McDonough county, 111., and 
in 1875 to this county. By trade Mr. J, is a carpenter, and has 
devoted the most of his life to this business and farming. He 
established himself in his present business in 1875, in which he has 
a large trade. He has 7 living children: Harriet, Susan, Francis, 
Samuel, George, Jane and Finley. 

Joseph Johnston, of the firm of Watt & Johnston, grain deal- 
ers, Elvaston, was born in Scotland in 1832; he came to America 
when 16 years of age, and for many years was engaged in the cot- 
ton business in New Orleans. In 1858 he married Miss Jennie 
Young, a native also of Scotland, His health failing him, he visit- 
ed Europe in 1870, being absent four years. As he returned to 
this country he stopped one year in Detroit, Mich., and the fol- 
lowing year he settled in Elvaston. In 1876 he was admitted to 
partnership with A. Watt in their present business, in which he 
has since been successfully engaged. The firm deal largely in 
grain and hay, and are the largest business house in Elvaston. Mr. 
J. is a Freemason and a Presbyterian. 

William N. McCall, farmer and grain dealer, is a son of Eobert 
S. and Jemima (Nelson) McCall. natives of Tennessee, both de- 
ceased. He was born in Washington county, Tenn., in 1817; he 
was married in Virginia in 1845, to Miss Sarah S. Lyon, a native of 
the same State; he moved to this county in 1851, and upon his 
present estate the following year. His farm consists of 244 acres, 
valued at $40 per acre. Mr. McCall has served as Supervisor, 
Assessor, Town Clerk and Postmaster at " McCall's" station, 
named in honor of him ; he has also been Justice of the Peace 
seven years, and is now filling his second terra in that ofiice. Of 
his 11 children 9 are living: Robert F., Amanda L., John W., 
Florence E., George W., Tennessee A., Wm. H., David B. and 
Charles W. Mr. McCall is a Democrat. 

Thomas McFa/'land was born in Clermont county, O., in May, 
1837; his parents were John and Phcebe (Smith) McFarland, na- 
tives also of Ohio, the first of Scotch-Irish descent and the last of 
German ancestry. They came in 1842, to Adams county, 111., 
where Mr. McF. now lives, his wife having died there in 1844. 
Thomas was educated in Hancock county common schools and the 
seminary at Warsaw; at the age of 25 he rented land and put in 
30 acres' of corn. The following year he bought 65 acre's more of 
land east of Carthage, where he lived one year. He then went to 
Idaho and Colorado, where he followed mining, etc., for eight 
months; returning, he bought 60 acres of land in Carthage tp. ; one 
year afterward he moved to McCall's station, where he bought 80 
acres; then moved two miles south and bought 160 acres, N. W. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 777 

quarter of sec. 16. After living here two years, he purchased 
120 acres on sec. 2, where he now resides. He now owns 288 acres 
of land. He has been successful in liis present business, that of 
stock-raising. In January, 1862, he married Louisa McColm, 
daughter of John McColm, of Clermont county, O., and of Irish 
descent. They have 4 children, namely, A. Homer, Charles T., 
Jennie Rachel and May. Mr. McF. has served in his tp. as Collec- 
tor, Road Commissioner, etc., filling nearly all tp. ofiices. He is a 
Democrat. 

Samuel P. MeGaw. — The founders of the family in America, 
of whom our subject is a descendant, was John McGaw, a native 
of the north of Ireland. In company with his brother William he 
emigrated to America some years previous to the Revolutionary 
war, and located in Abbeville district (now county), Soutli Carolina. 
John McGaw served in the Continental army under "Washington, 
He died in Abbeville count}', leaving a large family, namely, John, 
the grandfather of our subject, Samuel, Benjamin, Josiah, Moses 
and others. John, the last mentioned, was born and* raised in 
South Carolina, where he lived until 60 years of age and over, 
when became to Illinois and settled at Little York, Warren county, 
where he died. He married a Miss Cochran, and his -1 children 
were, Agnes, the mother of the subject of this sketch, Mary, now 
deceased, Jane, also deceased, and John P., who is living in Bates 
county, Mo. 

Samuel McGaw, a grandfather of Samuel P. McGaw, was 
born in South Carolina, where he lived all his life. He married 
Miss Anderson, of that State, and their children were, John (the 
present Samuel P.'s father), Mary, James, Clark, Caroline. John 
was born in 1801, and Oct. 5, 1824, he married Agnes McGaw, 
his cousin, at Abbeville, S. C. She was born in 1803, and in 1833 
they moved to Preble county, Ohio ; in September, 1835, they came 
and settled in Warren county, near Little York. John died on 
an island above Oquawka, June 30, 1S38, leaving a family of 6 
children, — Sarah, Samuel P., Mary L., John B., James A. P., and 
the last, Agnes, was born after her father's death. After the settle- 
ment of the father's estate it proved to be insolvent, leaving the 
children in destitute circumstances. The eldest child was but 13 
years old, and there was only one grown relative in the State, an 
aunt. The grandfather on the mother's side, John McGaw, came 
to Illinois and took the children with him to Warren county, and 
they lived with him from l.s3s to 1842. 

Samuel P. McGaw, the subject of this biographical notice, was 
born Oct. 5, 1827, and Oct. 14, 1851, he married Alvira J. Hop- 
kins. In the fall of 1842 Mr. Mc Gaw went to his uncle's at 
Oquawka, Daniel M. Gordon, who had married Jane Mc Gaw, to 
learn with him the tailor's trade ; he served four years ; at 19 years 
of age he opened a shop at Oquawka and continued it six years. In 
November, 1852, he was elected Sheriff of Henderson county on the 
Whig ticket ; at the close of his term in 1854 he bought a farm in 



778 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 

that county west of Biggsville. April 5, 1855, his wife died, leav- 
ing two children, Sarah L. and John H. The last died Oct. 2, 
1855. Nov .5, 1856, Mr. McGaw married Mrs. Elizabeth P. {nee 
Leslie), widow of Milton McGaw, and a native of Ohio ; her parents 
were from South Carolina and of Scotch-Irish descent. 

In August, 1862, S. P. and his brother John raised a full com- 
pany (Co. K) of men to serve in the Union army, John being 
elected Captain ; they were mustered in at Quincy, 111., and at- 
tached to the 84th 111. Yol. Inf , commanded by Col. Waters ; S. P. 
served with the regiment 1-| years ; was at the battle of Perry- 
ville. Stone river, etc., and was severely wounded Sept. 20, 1863, 
at the battle of Chick^mauga: his left arm was completely shattered 
by a minie-ball. He was honorably discharged Feb. 25, 1864. 

Returning home to Henderson county, he sold his property, 
and in the spring of 1866 moved to Hancock county, locating in 
Montebello tp. near Elvaston, where he bought a farm ; he sold 
that place afterward and moved to his present farm on sec. 17, 
Prairie tp., of 240 acres, with a fine two-story house, good out build- 
ings, etc., all of which improvements were made by Mr. McGaw 
since he came to the place. 

In politics Mr. Mc G. is a Republican ; is now Assistant U.S. 
Marshal to take the census of the west half of Hancock county ; he 
has held nearly every township office, including that of Supervisor, 
Justice of the Peace, Collector, etc. He is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, where he is an Elder. His wife is also a member 
of that Church. 

Their children are : Francis A., James W., Albert G., Gracie E., 
Alice L. and Mary A. Mrs. Mc Gaw's child by her former husband 
is Melissa, who married Rev. R. T. Presly, a Presbyterian minister 
living at Mt. Sterling. Sarah L. married Thos. S Riddell, and 
lives near her father's. Frank is attending college at Carthage, 
and Alice L. is at Urbana, Ohio, attending school and boarding 
with her uncle. 

As one of Hancock county's most respected and representative 
citizens, we give Mr. Mc Gaw's portrait in this volume. 

Ehenezer Rand was born in Marblehoad, Mass., March 26, 
1804. His father's name was Enoch Rand, and a native of N. H.,and 
his mother's name was Marj^ Hills, married in 1803. About three 
years after his marriage, Enoch Rand, a carpenter by trade, went 
on board at Rye, N. 11., the ship Congo, bound for the coast of 
Africa, and was never afterward heard from, ship and all on board 
supposed to have been lost at sea. The widow was left quite desti- 
tute, but managed to support herself, son and mother, by weaving 
cotton cloth at eight and ten cents per yard — that being before the 
advent of cotton factories. 

Mr. R. well remembers the w^ar of 1812-'15, between the U. S. and 
Great Britain, being then about 8 years old. Could see from his 
house in Marblehead the British frigates cruising in the bay, and 
once saw the Constitution chased by two of them into the harbor. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 779 

He also saw the battle and heard the guns, off Marblehead, of that 
desperate struggle between the Shannon ^nd the Chesapeake. 

At 14 Mr. R. was apprenticed to the boot and shoe making busi- 
ness, which he followed for many years, both there and in Carthage. 
On Christmas day, 1826, he was married to Miss Hannah Galley, a 
daughter of Capt. Tliomas Galley, at Marblehead. In 1830 both 
families removed to Illinois, stopping at Lewistown, but in 1831 
settling at Camp Point, in Adams Go. In 1837 he removed to 
Carthage, and in 1854 bought land in Prairie township, two miles 
southwest of town, where he has since resided. Mr. R. has been 
three times married, his first and second wives being sisters, Han- 
nah and Elizabeth Galley. His present wife, 7iee Miss Joanna C. 
Lawton, is the second daughter of Rev. John Lawton, of Car- 
thage, to whom he was married Apr. 22, 1842. 

James P. Sincle, farmer, sec. 8 ; P. O., Elvaston ; is a native 
of France, where he was born in 1833. He emigrated to America 
in*.1855, and located in Bear Creek tp. The following year he was 
married to Miss Justine Jolidon, a native of France. Subsequently 
he moved to Missouri, then to Pleasant Hill tp., Pike Co., from 
which point he made his final settlement on his present estate, con- 
sisting of 360 acres, vahied at $40 per acre. He has had .10 chil- 
dren, 9 of whom are living — Peter, Mary, Frank, George, Ellen, 
Agnes, Annie, Alice and Jessie, the two last, twins. Family are 
members of the Catholic Churcli. Mr. S. has by his own energy, 
industry and economy succeeded in securing his large farm. Po- 
litically he binds himself to no party, but casts his vote for the 
man he deems worthy of support. 

John Somerville, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 14, was born in 
Blair county. Pa., at the village of HoUidaysburg, Feb. 22, 1828; 
his parents were James and Susan (Stover) Somerville, the first a 
native of Hollida^^sburg and the other of Maryland, near Fred- 
ericksburg. At the age of 1.5, John, with the rest of the family, 
came to Wayne county, Ind.; he received his education at the 
public schools in Pennsylvania and Indiana; was employed during 
his early years in farming; in 1849 he came to Hancock county, 
locating at Carthage, and worked at farming; the following year 
his parents came to this county and settled in Carthage; his mother 
died in 1855. In 1853 his father went to California and returned 
in 1856; he died in 1871; both are buried in the old (Jarthage 
cemeter3\ In July, 1861, John enlisted in the 16th 111. Vol. Inf, 
as wagon-master; March 9, 1862, he enlisted in the 7th Mo. Cav., 
with which he served 3 years and 11 days, as Orderly Sergeant. 
Aug. 16, 1862, he was in the battle of Lone Jack, and Dec, 1863, at 
that of Perry Grove, Ark. His company was^continually employed 
as skirmishers at Mark's Mills, Ark. ; he and 120 wagons were 
captured, but in 11 days he escaped while the guard was taking 
him and some others for water. 

James Somerville had 8 children, 5 of whom were girls; the 7 
living children are: John; Samuel, who died in California; Ruth, 



780 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the wife of James Byers, of Clark county, Mo. ; William, who was 
a Captain in the 16th Reg. 111. Inf., and since the war has been con- 
nected with the internal revenue service; Mary Jane, now the wife 
of John Mofiitt, of Chicago; Maria, now the wife of C. E. Stead- 
man, a lawyer at Osage Mission, Kan.; Susan, wife of J. W. Hobbs, 
in Keokuk; and Hattie, who is unmarried. 

John Somerville was married to Sarah Iluntoon, April 7, 1870, 
and they have one child, and. Mrs, S. has one by a former husband, 
Mr. Bentley. The names of these 2 children are William S. 
Bentley and Susan Somerville. 

William Stetvart, farmer, sec. 9 ; P. O., McCall Station ; is a 
native of Ireland, where he was born in 1815. He was married in 
Scotland in 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, a native of that country. 
The following year they crossed the sea to America, and located in 
Steubenville, O., where he resided until he moved to his present 
home in 1S67. His farm of 250 acres is valued at $50 per acre. 
This he has secured by his untiring energy, industry and economy. 
When he stepped upon the "land of the free" he had not a dollar 
to his name. He is the father of 12 children, 8 of whom are living 
— Sarah, William, Jane, Thomas, Mary, John, Catharine and 
Martin. In politics Mr. S. voted with the old-line Whigs, and now 
strongly endorses the Republican administration. 

Henri/ M. Walker, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Carthage; was born in 
Campbell county, Ky., March 21, 1S27. His parents, George and 
Rachel (Clark) Walker, were natives of Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania, and emigrated to this county in 1833, with their family; but 
prior to this, he made a visit in 1831, and entered a quarter-section of 
land, and was among the earliest pioneers to make a settlement in 
Walker tp., where he resided until his death in October, 1879, in 
the 76th year of his age; the widow and mother survives in the 72d 
year of her age. 

The subject of this sketch was married Sept. 22, 1853. to Miss 
Sophronia Ann Rankin, who was born June 8, 1833, in Harrison 
county, Ky., daughter of James S. and Sarah Josephine (Laughlin) 
Rankin, both natives of Kentucky, and of Irish and German de- 
scent. They are the parents of 7 children, 6 of whom are living, 
namely: Charles W., born Dec. 30, 1855; George Sanford, Feb. 4, 
1857; Franklin Wilson, March 28, 1858-. John H. C, Aug. 29, 
1861; Oscar H., Oct. 17, 1862, and Rachel Josephine, March 21, 
1866. Benjamin Washington was born Feb. 22, 1876, and died 
three days afterward. 

Mr. W. settled on his present estate in 1866, where his home 
farm consists of 320 acres. He is the largest landholder in the 
township, owning altogether about 1,000 acres; he is also an exten- 
sive stock-raiser and dealer. In 1849 he went tc California, where 
he prospected for three years and was successful. He is a Demo- 
crat, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist 
Church. 

Alexander Watt, of the lirm of Watt tfc Jolinston, merchants 
and grain dealers, Elvr.ston. was born in Philadelphia county, Pa., 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 781 

Feb. 4, 1820. His marriage to Miss Sarah Donald, of the same 
county, occurred in 1845. Four years later he came to this county, 
and engaged in farming in Durham tp. His wife died in 1863, and 
in 1866 he moved to, and established his present business at, Elvas- 
ton, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged. 
The junior partner of this firm was admitted to the grain and hay 
trade in 1876, and the house control large shipments of grain to 
various points. Mr. W. was again married, to Miss Fannie C. 
Wilcox, a native of Connecticut. To this union 2 children, Lyman 
and Herman, have been born. Mr. W. is a member of the M. E. 
Church. 
Judge Wesley Williams was connected as foUo^vB: 
Roger Williams is the first in the line of ancestry of the Williams 
family that can be traced in this country with any certainty. The 
first residence of the family in America was in Brunswick county, 
Ya. The family is of AVelsh descent and came from Wales or 
Scotland before the American Revolution. He is said to have 
been married seven times and raised a large family of children, 
who have since scattered to all parts of the United States. He was 
killed at an advanced age and his body found secreted in the hol- 
low of a tree. He was supposed to have been killed by some one of 
his negroes. The date of his death is not known to the writer. 

Hukey Williams, one' of the sons of Roger Williams, lived in 
Brunswick county, Ya., between the Meherin and Nottoway 
rivers. The date of his birth is not known, or whether he was 
born in this country, or before his father emigrated. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah Jones, who was a sister of Roger Jones and 
William Jones, also of Welsh extraction, either in 1762 or 1763. 
The Jones family are said to have been related to Paul Jones, who 
distinguished himself by his bravery in the war with Great Britain. 
That family resided in Granville county, N. C. Hukey Williams, 
not long before the birth of his son John Williams, and in the year 
1764, was strangely murdered and robbed by two desperate men. 
The circumstances of tlie affair, as handed down, are these: He 
traded principally in the town of Petersburg, Ya. On his way 
there one morning he heard the cries of a woman in distress a short 
distance from the road, in the thick pine woods. He immediately 
urged forward to her assistance and found the woman and two men 
who were about violating her person. He assaulted them and they 
fled, leaving the woman. He took her behind him on his horse and 
learning that slie was the wife of a respectable citizen, carried her 
to her house, where he tarried for dinner at the urgent request of 
the lady and her husband, after which he proceeded on his way to 
Petersburg. This was the last time he was ever seen alive, and not 
returning home, innuir}' was made and it w^as ascertained that he 
never arrived in Petersburg. Search was then made along the 
road and his dead l)ody was found about two miles from the house 
where he took dinner, a short distance from the road, sunk in a 
little pool of water in the creek. H was recognized, taken home 



782 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and buried, bat no cine led to the discovery of the assassins until 
about eighteen months afterward, when the gentleman whose wife 
had been rescued on riding into Petersburg discovered Mr.AVilliams' 
horse hitched in the outskirts of the town, which he immediately 
recognized. He went into town and gave information of his dis- 
covery, when the officers and citizens placed persons to watch the 
horse and see who should come after it. Toward evening two men 
came to where the horses were fastened and one of them took this 
horse and the other another one near by. They were both arrested, 
and the gentleman's wife was sent for, who on sight recognized and 
identified them as the two men who had attempted to violate her 
person and from whom the deceased had rescued her. They were 
tried and convicted of the murder of H. Williams and were both hung 
in Petersburg, but before execution they confessed the murder. They 
said they killed Mr. Williams because he assaulted them and res- 
cued the woman, and also for his horse and his money. The horse 
and his watch were all that was recovered. After his death 
his wife went back to her relatives in Granville, N. C, and 
took her son, John Williams, with her. She subsequently married 
Mr. John Bobbit, by wliom she had 3 sons, Archibald and Clai- 
borne. The Hon. Archibald Williams, late of Quincy, 111., was 
named after the first. Arch Bobbit died while young. Claiborne 
Bobbit about 1857 was living in the extreme southern part of 
Tennessee. 

John Williams, son of Hukey Williams, was born Sept 19, 1764, 
in Brunswick county, Ya. After his father's death, and while an 
infant, he was taken by his mother to Granville county, N. C. He 
was raised by his uncle, Roger Jones, with whom lie lived and 
clerked in his store until her marriage. He was married to Amelia 
Gill, in Franklin county, N. C, at her father's residence, on ISTov. 
15, 1787, and in the same year emi2;rated and settled in Lincoln 
county, Ky., where he resided until his oldest children were born. 
He then moved to Montgomery countv, Ivy., where all his other chil- 
dren were born, and where he remained until the spring of 1831, 
when he moved to Adams county. 111., where he remained until his 
death, which took place Oct. 11, 1833, from the fever and ague. 
When he came to Illinois he intended settling in Hancock county, 
but was induced not to do so on account of the Black Hawk war. 
He never was a very stout man, but never had a gray hair or lost a 
tooth. His hair was curly and black as jet. He was a man of 
great sobriety, strict order and piety, having been nearly all his life 
a very zealous and exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He was aged 72 years and 22 days at his deatii. His 
wife, Amelia, the daughter of Joseph Gill, was born in Franklin 
county. May 28, 1772. She died at the residence of her daughter, 
Amelia Thompson, in New Hartford, Pike county, in the summer 
or fall of 1852. Her mother's name was Owens before marriage. 
The Gills and Owens vrove all of Welsh descent. The following is 
an account of the children of John and Amelia Williams: 




.J# 







PRAIRIE T.R 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 786 

Joseph Gill Williams, born in Lincoln county, Ky., Jan. 9, 1789. 
He died Feb. 18, 1857, of rheumatism, on Licking river, near the 
mouth of Beaver creek, in Bath county, Ky., since which most all 
of his children have departed this life. Wesley Williams, born in 
Lincoln county, Ky., on March 2-4, 1792; died at the residence of 
his daughter, Isabel C. Spangler. He came to Illinois about the 
year 1823, first settling in Quincy, 111., and afterward coming to 
Hancock county at its first organization, in 1825 or 1826. Aug. 
14, 1829, he was appointed the first Clerk of the Circuit Court by 
the Hon. Richard M. Young, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. 
The first Courts were held at Montebello, the site of which is a few 
miles above the city of Hamilton. When Carthage was made the 
county-seat, in 1835, he moved and settled there. He continued to 
reside there for many years, and at one time was the incumbent of 
most of the county ofiices. He was married twice; first to Elizabeth 
Ayres, in Bourbon county. Ivy., April 2, 1816, and second to Ruth 
Scoby, June 9, 1831. Sarah Jones Williams, born in Lincoln county, 
Ky., Dec. 11, 1793; married Jesse Steel, and died in Adams county 
in 1851. John A. Williams, born in Montgomery county, Ky., 
Nov. 15, 1795; married Miss Ann Alphrey in 1826, and removed 
to Adams county, III., near Liberty, where he died, in 1845, from 
the effects of a fall from a house being raised. Francis T. Williams 
was born Sept. 20, 1797; now deceased. Amelia Williams was born 
July 15, 1799; married Thomas Thompsen in Quincy, 111., in the 
fall of 1831, and is now deceased. Archibald Williams was born 
June 10, 1801, and was married to Miss Nancy Kemp; died at 
his residence in Quincy 111, Sept. 21, 1863. Isabel Williams was 
born March 27, 1803, and died Dec. 10, 1827, in Kentucky. Robert 
R. Williams was born May 5, 1805, and died Aug. 22, 1841, in 
Qnincy, 111. Ann G. Williams was born Sept. 6, 1808, and was 
married to John Manier Dec. 18, 1828; died at her home in Mt. 
Sterling, Ky., Sept. 16, 1863. William Thomas Williams was born 
April 10, 1810, and is still living, near Mt. Vernon, Ills. George 
W. Williams was born Aug. 11, 1812, and is still living, near 
Quincy, 111. 

Wesley Williams, son of John and Amelia Williams, had 8 
children, as follows: Eli H. Williams, born June 18, 1817; now re- 
siding in Carthage, 111. Samuel Otis Williams, born Aug. 20, 
1819, and died in Carthage, Nov. 28, 1844. John N. Williams was 
born Nov. 7, 1821. Mary A. Williams was born May 5, 1824; 
died May 14, 1840. Isabel Cutler Williams was born Aug. 
22, 1832, and was married to Samuel L. Spangler Sept. 26, 1850. 
Wesley C. Williams was born Aug. 12, 1833, and was married to 
Miss Mary C. Morse June 6, 1860. Olive Catharine Williams was 
born June 7, 1835, and married to Henry S. Baker, July 16, 1857, 
Henry Clay Williams was born July 5, 1837, and died Sept. 5, 1839. 

Judge Wesley Williams was one of the earliest and most re- 
spected pioneer settlers of this county. He was born in Lincoln 
county, Ky., March 24, 1792, and was the second child of John and 



786 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Amelia (Gill) Williams, who were married in Franklin county, IN". 
C, Kov, 15, 1787, and immediately settled in Lincoln county, Ky., 
where they resided until 1794, when they removed to Montgomery 
county in that State. They had a family of 12 children, most of 
whom settled at an early day in Adams county, 111. 

Our subject served one campaign in the war with Great Britain, 
and also in some of the Indian wars with Gen. Harrison; he also 
filled many offices of trust and honor. While in Kentucky he was 
elected and commissioned as an Ensign of the*14th regiment, July 
17, 1818, and was commissioned Captain of the 71st regiment 
Nov. 6, 1821, by Gov. John Adair. July 2, 1824, he was commis- 
sioned Lieutenant of the 34th regiment. In 1825 or 1826 he 
came to Illinois, locating at Quincy Sept. 6, 1827. He was com- 
missioned one of the iirst Justices of the Peace of Adams county, by 
Gov. Ninian Edwards. 

Upon the organization of this county (Hancock) he removed to 
Montebello, where the first Courts were held. He was appointed 
the first Circuit Clerk, Oct. 27, 1829, which office he held till 1841. 
The first Circuit Court was held at the house of James White, Esq., 
at the head of the Lower or Des Moines Rapids. He also was ap- 
pointed the first Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and 
filled that .office until 1837. He was also Judge of Probate from 
Nov. 21, 1829, to April, 1836; was appointed Recorder of the 
county Nov. 21, 1829, and re-appointed Jan. 15, 1831, and held the 
office till 1838; was commissioned Notary Public Jan. 18, 1831; 
May 13, 1833, he was appointed Postmaster at Carthage, by Wm. T. 
Barry, then Postmaster-General; in 1835 he was elected Recorder, 
the office having then been made elective; in 1853 he was elected 
Justice of the Peace for Carthage precinct, and in 1854 re-elected; 
in June, 1857, he was elected Police Magistrate of Carthage, 
which office he held until about 1868, when he removed to Elvaston. 
When Carthage was made the county-seat he moved to that place, 
and attended the first Circuit Court, held June 4, 1833. He soon 
afterward purchased several lots here and built the first house 
erected iu Carthage; it was located on the north side of the Public 
Square near the present postoffice. His son, Wesley C, born Aug. 
12, 1833, was the first white child born in the town. 

Besides devoting so much of his time to the service of the pub- 
lic, Judge Williams was at difterent times extensively interested in 
and identified with the business interests of the county. He built 
and operated the old Crooked creek mill near the bridge on the 
Macomb road; also engaged in mercantile business at Carthage, 
and followed farming to some extent. 

He was married April 2, 1816, in Bourbon county, Ky., to 
Elizabeth Ayers, and they had 4 children: Eli H., of Carthage; 
S. O., now deceased; John W., of Kentucky; and Mary E., de- 
ceased. His second marriage was to Mrs. Ruth Scoby, June 9, 
1831, in this county, and they had also 4 children: Isabel, now 
the wife of Samuel C. Spangler; Wesley C, Olive C, now the 



. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 787 

wife of Henry S. Baker; and Henry C, who died in infancy Sept. 
5, 1839. 

Judge AVilliams died at his son-in-law's, Sam'l L. Spangler, May 
12, 1870. In all the public offices which he filled he showed great 
competency and ability, and won many friends by his integrity. 
He was of a lively and genial disposition and possessed great 
conversational powers. His great mental capacity fitted him for 
almost any position. For many years he was a member of the 
Methodist Church. As in his private life and business relations, 
so he was in religion, free from all ostentation. He was also a 
member of the Masonic order, and was buried with full Masonic 
honors. 

Wesley Cutler Williams, second son of Wesley W. and Ruth 
(Scoby) William?, now re ides on sec. 15, Prairie tp. He received 
his early education at the common subscription schools of this 
county ; in 1852, when about 19 years of age, he went to California, 
overland, leaving here March 1 and arriving Sept. 12 at Colusa and 
Red Blufi^, Cal. When near Humboldt he bought two ponies for 
another man and himself, and in company with another of the train, 
struck out for themselves. While camping out one night the In- 
dians stole their ponies. On M'aking in the morning and finding 
them gone, they commenced looking around for them. Mr. Williams 
was the only man who had a revolver, and one of the party asked 
him for it, saying he would go and look for water, leaving him in a 
small patch of sage brush. Soon hearing a hallooing, he looked 
over the brush and saw his two comrades chased by 12 Indians. He 
fell in with the others and ran, expecting to be overtaken and killed 
every minute. Mr. W. says he tried to pra}^, and the only thing 
he could tliink of to say was, " Xow I lay me down to sleep!" 
They finally outran the Indians, and footed the rest of the distance, 
some 300 miles". While in California he was engaged nearly all the 
time in the freighting business, in which he was quite successful. 
In 1850 he returned to this county, and June G, lb59, he married 
Miss Mary E. Moore, daughter of Andrew Moore, an old settler in 
this county, who located in Bear Creek tp., in 1835, He and his 
wife now reside in Marion county. 

The subject of this sketch has principally been engaged in farm- 
ing and raising and dealing in stock. In politics he is a Democrat. 
He served as Supervisor of Bear Creek tp., in 187l-'2, and in the 
town of Carthage in 1873 ; in the spring of 1880 he was elected to 
that office in the tp. where he now resides. The first time he was 
elected on an independent ticket, but the last two times on the 
Democratic. 

Mr. and Mrs. W. have a family of 4 children, all boys : Homer 
G., born July 13, 1863 ; John ^V.. Nov. 18, 1865; Archibald, March 
21, 1868 ; and Robert, Sept. 20, 1873. Tlie first child, Hebe, born 
Sept. 14, 1861, died the 30th of the same month, and Edward, born 
Dec. 2, 1S69, died Aug. 11, 1^70. 

Mr. Williams, like his father, is eminently respected by all, not 



<^^ HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

onlv for his business integrity, bnt for his social qualities and con- 
versational powers, as is -proven by his being elected as Supervisor 
in a Republican township, where they voted for the man and not 
the •' party.'' 

As one of Hancock county's substantial and representative citi- 
zens, we present Mr. Williams' portrait in this volume. 

George Wills, farmer, sec. 30: P. O.. Elvaston; was born in Cay- 
uga county. X. T.. in 1S30. In 1S42 he came to this county -with 
his parents, Lorenzo and Lucy A. ^Lowry) TVills. both natives of 
the same State. They settled in Carthage tp., and in 1S46 moved 
to Prairie, and located one mile east of ^Ivaston. His house was 
open for entertainment to travelers, and was the first hotel in the 
place. He was widely known throughout the county, and highly 
esteemed by all who knew him. Both died at this place. The subject 
of this sketch was married in 1S51. to Martha, daughter of Thomas 
Bedo. of Anderson county. He erected his present residence in 
1S6S. and is largely and successfully engaged in farming. His farm 
of one-half of sections 31 and 32 is valued at 8^' per acre. He also 
has a farm of 160 acres in Montebello tp., and 20 acres in Bear 
Creek. His educational advantages were very limited, and his 
success is entirely due to his industry and economy. He is a mem- 
ber of the Town Board, and is a well-known and highly-respected 
citizen. 

William L. Whittlesey, County-House Superintendent, was 
born in Butler county. O.. in 1S37. and is a son of Samuel and 
Posanna iLewis^ Whittlesey, who emigrated to Illinois in 1S50 
and located in Adams county, where Mrs. W. died Feb. 3, 1S64. 
The same year Mr. W. and children came to tliis county, where 
they resided until his death. Jan. ]5. 1S75. The subject of this 
sketch was married in 1S63 to Miss Mahala Prather. a native of 
Indiana, and of their 5 children 3 are living: Sarah E., 
James E. and Ida B. Mr. W. was elected to his present position 
in IS 77. which he has filled to the highest degree y>i satisfaction. 
Politically he has always been a stalwart Democrat, and endorses 
the principles of that party. The family are members of the M. E. 
Church. 

OFFICIALS. 

The Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and Collectors who have 
served or are now serving Prairie township are about as follows: 

SUPERVISORS. 

Wm. X.MoCaU l!?55 David Mack 1S66 

Dennis Smith 1858 William A. Patterson 1S6T 

Lorenzo Wells 1859 Bovd Braden 1S68 

Wm. X. MoCall 1861 Wm. R. HamUton 18T0 

Lorenzo Wells 1862 J. R. [Miller 1875 

Wm N. McCall 1863 Saml. P 'MeGaw 1876 

Elmore J- Rohrbousb 1864 Wm. H. Moore 1879 

Wm. N. McC&U. . .". 186.5 W. C Williams I5«?l) 



HISTOKT OF UA>*COCK COr>TY. 



7S9 



CLERKS. 



Ebenezer Rand 1S55 

T. B. Wallace ISoT 

James S. Miller 1S5S 

Wm. M. Ewing 1S(>0 

Ebenezer Rami. 1hV2 

James M. McCall 1S63 

T. G. Moore 1S65 

John B. Henrv 1S66 

Wm.y. McCall 1S6S 



John Ashlock 1869 

John R. Karr ISTO 

Huirh Markev 1ST3 

J. fl. Lemon" 1ST4 

J. S. Spander ISTo 

M. H. Cochran 1ST6 

John J. Randlemon 1S7T 

M.H. Cochran 1S7S 

Washington Enlow ISSO 



ASSESSORS 



D W. McCall 1S.50 

Henry Davis 1S56 

Thonias Gill ISoS 

D. W. McCall lSo9 

James S. Miller 1S60 

Charles Abbott 1S61 

D. TV. McCall 1S62 

Wm. R. Hamilton 1S63 

Joseph Miner 1864 

G W. Zem 1S65 

Wm. Rohrlx>uffh 1S66 



John R. Miller 1S6S 

John Ashlock 1S70 

David Miller 1S71 

Wm. X. McCall 1S72 

James Tweed 1S74 

E. J. Rohrbough 1875 

J. 55. Spangler.^ 1876 

Thomas G. Moore 1877 

James Tweed 1878 

John L. Rand 1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Tnomas P- Gill 1855 

D. C. Miller 18^56 

Wm. X. McCall 1858 

Orlan Abbott 1859 

Thomas T. Gill 1860 

Wm. Rohrbouffh 1861 

Wm.X. McCall 1863 

J. W. Ewing 1863 

"VN m. A. Moore 1864 

E. J. Rohrboueh 1865 

A. E. Boude 1866 

James Tweed 1867 



Wm. A. Moore 1868 

Thomas McFarland 1869 

A. J. Moore 1870 

Isaac Roseberry 1871 

Henrv S Batchelder 1873 

A. J. Moore 1874 

S. P. Mc-Gaw 1S75 

Thomas ^IcFarland 1876 

TMlson M. Wetzel 1877 

Thomas J. Ruddell .- 1878 

Georire S. Walker 1S80 



MONTEBELLO TOWNSHIP. 

This township, numbered 5 — 8, was probably named for Monte 
Belle, in France (now the practice to write it Montehello). Who 
had the honor of naming it, we do not know. There were French- 
men about the fort and along the river when the village on the 
rapids received this cognomen, but none of its proprietors were 
French. It was laid out in 1832 by Luther Whitney and William 
Yance, on the southwest of sec. 18, the place now owned by C. F. 
Darnell, two miles above the present site of Hamilton. 

This towDship, containing the settlements of John Waggonner, 
Luther Whitney, Rich and Cheney and others of the period pre- 
ceding organization, may be called one of the oldest settled in the 
county. Who made the actual first settlement in the tow^nship, 
may now never be known ; but we can learn of none earlier than that 
of Mr. Waggonner in 182J:. There were several in it, however,before 
organization (1829), settled along the river and on its contiguous 
bluffs. Among them, we can recall the names, besides Messrs. 
Waggonner, Whitney and Cheney, of Wm. Yance, Isaac R, Camp- 
bell, John Johnson and Hazen Bedell. Among those of a later 
period are Oliver and Cyrus Felt, Samuel Steele, John Gordon, 
John Cochran, A. P. Cochran, Abram Smith, Enoch D. Brown, 
Frederick Loring, James and Mathew Gray, Dr. Adolphus Allen, 
Homer Brown, Ebenezer Carrier, H. R. Dickinson, Bryant Bart- 
lett, Austin Wardwell, Gen. R. F. Smith and others. 

Messrs. O. and C. Felt, with Major Wm. Smith, of La Harpe, 
came to the county with a stock of goods; and while the latter 
went to Crooked Creek with a portion, the two brothers established 
on the rapids at Montebello. The elder Felt died a few years after- 
ward, and Cyrus continued the business. The County Court was 
held there for several terms, and at that day Montebello was one 
of the most important points in the county, rivalling Yenus at the 
head ot the rapids, and competing with her for the county-seat. 
It is now dead and vacated. 

We have above mentioned the men of the township previous 
to organization. Others are also worthy of mention. Of these was 
Isaac Newton Waggonner. His name stands on the record of the 
Hancock County Pioneers' Association, as (at that date) the earliest 
living settler in the county. Isaac IN. was a youth of about 15 in 
1824, when liis father settled on the homestead at Riverside. He 
soon took to the water, first as assistant on the keel-boats, then 
running the river, and as a pilot to steer them, under Captain 
James White (whose daughter he married), and afterward for 
many years on steamers plying between St. Louis and the lead 

(790; 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. ' 791 

mines of Galena and Dubuque. He was first pilot apprentice with 
Capt. Throckmorton (name of boat not recollected), and afterward 
with the same officer, on the celebrated Warrior and was on that 
vessel at the time of the capture of Black Hawk on the upper 
Mississippi. 

Mr. W. was a pilot on the river almost continuously, sometimes 
as part owner of the boat he steered, for many years; "and he knew 
as much of the Mississippi slouglis and bluffs, and sand-bars, 
whirlpools, snags and eddies, and how to manage a steamer in all 
the vicissitudes of river navigation, as perhaps any other man who 
ran its waters. 

Later in life he left the river and devoted himself to the duties 
of his farm and the care of a steam mill and shipping house at 
Kiverside. He was a remarkably quiet and unostentatious man, 
firm in his convictions, and respected by all his neio-hbors. He 
died Jan. 27, 1877, aged about 68 years. 

Hamilton is now the only town in the township, includino- Oak- 
wood, a separate survey, but united by act of incorporation. It 
lies at the foot of the rapids, opposite Keokuk, Iowa, between 
which, across the Mississippi river, lies tlie great iron railroad and 
wagon bridge. It was laid out in 1852, by Bryant Bartlett, Wm. 
R. Hamilton, Powers Ritchey, Henry R. Dickinson, Sanford 
Fauglit, Henry Davis and George Edmunds, Jr. The late Artois 
Hamilton, of Carthage, was an active proprietor, but we find the 
record uses the name of his son, William R., who was then a 
young man. Samuel Gordon, residing at the place, was also inter- 
ested, having furnished a portion of the land, but his name does 
not appear of record. In the Hamilton Dollar Monthly of June, 
1873, is a notice of the origin of this town, which we reproduce 
in part in this place: 

"The eight or ten square miles of territory — embracing bluff", 
river- bottom, slough, hill and dale, woodland and sand-rido-e — 
lying opposite Keokuk, the "Gate"' of Iowa, is dignified by* act 
of General Assembly with the title of city — the OrrY of Ham- 
ilton. 

People abroad might very naturally conclude that it received its 
name, as all the other twenty odd Hamiltons in theU. S. did, from 
Alexander Hamilton, one of the Fathers of the Republic; but it 
did not. 

"There is a legend that runneth in this wise: That in the vears 
of the dim past, in the beginning of the embryo city that was to 
rival the then thriving village across the water, a conclave of the 
proprietors was held to give the bantling a name. Of these pro- 
prietors we can only now name the following: Brj^ant Bartlett, 
who had supplied much of the hard labor and a good deal of the 
gas; Henry R. Dickinson, also a hard worker on the foundation of 
the city; Samuel Gordon, who had resided on the spot, as child 
and man, from the time whereof the memory of man runneth not 
to the contrary, and who furnished a goodly portion of the land- 



792 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and Artois Hamilton, of Carthage, who was supposed to hold 
pretty considerable sized money-bags. Money, ' the root of all 
evi],' is also considered the root of some good, and in this case 
was regarded as the 'one tiling needful,' so it was decided to give 
the new town the name of the holder of the aforesaid money-bags, 
in the hope that the honor might induce him to ' shell out.' Of 
course other names were presented and duly discussed, — as * Bart- 
lett,' 'Gordon,' 'Rapids City,' "East Keokuk,' etc., etc. But 
the question of finance outweighed all others, and it received the 
name it now bears. 

"And Mr. H. did "shell out' for a time, and commendable 
efforts were made by all concerned to build up a city. But the 
fates were against them, and a contrary decree had gone forth. 
The city would not come. They ]>lanned, they strove, they gassed; 
they planted stakes, they run streets and alleys, they laid out 
wharves and dykes. In their very desperation the}' invoked the 
aid of the Commonwealth, and its august representatives at 
Springfield came to their aid, and passed an act compelling it to 
be a city at any rate, — for, said they, the peoj^le will come to it 
afterward. But with an un]iardonable lack of discernment and 
hard common sense, the people still stay away — congregate in 
other places. And so he of the money-bags, long ago seeing how 
things were going, — or standing sti]!, rather, — shook the dust oft' 
his teet and left in disgust, and the city which once knew him so 
well, now knows him no more. * * * * * 

'* But, seriously, there was a wrong committed. The place 
should have been called ' Bartlett.' In ALr. Bartlett's fertile 
brain it was first conceived. He originated the thought. He 
labored hard, in and out of season, to put it on its legs; not always 
wisely, perhaps, but with a zeal that knew no abatement, an 
energy that never flagged, and a conviction that seemed prophetic. 
lie struggled against difficulties; indeed he overcame difficulties 
tliat would have disheartened many other men. It was the object 
of his aftections and the burden of his thoughts for twenty years; 
and they failed in duty to him when they gave it the name of 
another. We are not aware that he ever aspired to the honor, or 
desired such a result. Certain it is that he labored as zealously 
after the naming as before, and for long years continued to cherish 
the hope of his earlier days. But even his faith at length gave 
out, and he, too, pulled up his stakes and planted them in another 
field." 

Oakwood was laid out in June, 1S55, by John Morse, Thomas 
J. Potts and T. Dewitt Carey. It lies a half mile east, and now 
comprises the third ward of Hamilton. 

Hamilton was incorporated into a city in 1S59. 

Besides originating the city of Hamilton, Messrs. Bartlett and 
Dickinson, by their untiring zeal and energy, in conjunction with 
Henry W. Sample, Esq., of Keokuk, and others, succeeded in es- 
tablishing a steam ferry between the two points. At that time the 





.-4-. 



%fe*. 



^^•. 



^,J//MiAXryx 



AUGUSTA 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTV. 795 

whole river bottom was covered with dense timber and fallen 
trees; and numerous sloughs and sand-bars rendered the construc- 
tion of a road across and a landino^ place at the sliore, a matter of 
great difficulty. Tiiese were gradually made to disappear, at great 
labor and cost; and when the bridge was built and the ferry sus- 
pended, a crooked dyke was left, which has since been taken and 
improved by the bridge company, as an approach to the bridge. 

THE KEOKUK AND HAMILTON BRIDGE. 

A railroad and wagon bridge was built under a charter from the 
States of Illinois and Iowa, ratified by Congress, and was opened 
to the public in June, 1S71. It is constructed entirely of iron, 
excepting the road bed, which is of heavy-sawed white-oak lumber. 
It was about two years in building, delayed at several different 
times by ice and high water. Its cost was one million and five 
thousand dollars ($1,005,000). It is two thousand one hundred 
and ninety-four (2,194) feet long, and rests on eleven stone piers, 
exclusive of the abutments. Its draw, for the passage of steam- 
boats and other river craft, is 378 feet in length, turned by steam 
machinery on a pivot in the center. One end of this draw, when 
in ])lace, rests on the abutment at the Iowa shore — the main chan- 
nel of the river being on that side, as it sweeps around the point. 
The bridge was built by the Keystone Bridge Co., of Pittsburg. 
As a matter of public interest, and for future reference, we insert 
below its 

RATES OF FARE. 

For a foot passenger. S .05 

For man and horse 15 

For one-horse vehicle 20 

For two do. do. 25 

Head of cattle, each 10 

Head of sheep and hogs, each 05 

President of the Bridge Company, Andrew Carnegie, New 
York; Theodore Oilman, Treasurer, New York. 

Hazen Bedell was the first Postmaster in Montebello, appointed 
by President Jackson in 1829, and holding it till ls35, when he 
died. Was succeeded by John Johnson till his death in 1836; 
then Cyrus Felt, till 1S41 ; then Enoch D. Brown for about a year, 
when it was removed to Dr. Allen's town, Des Moines city, and 
there kept by Levi Jackman. In 1843 again at Montebello, 
E. D. Brown, P.M. In 1845 Mr. B. removed to Quincy, and B. 
B. Gates was P.M. Brown returned in '47, and was reappointed, 
and held it till 1853, when it was removed to Hamilton. Here 
Dr. Githens was first P.M., then John C. Cox to '57, Thomas 
Keid to '61, Benjamin J. Welch to '64, E. C. A. Cushman to '66, 
James Nolan to '69, Thomas Gregg to '76, and then and ever 

46 



T96 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

since Dr. Githens again, after an interregnum of a quarter of a 
century. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

The first preaching in Montebello remembered bj Mr. Gordon, 
then quite young, was by Kev. John Lawton, of Carthage, in 
ISSJ:, '5 and '6. As Eevs. Peter Williams and Charles Robisuu 
both resided in the vicinity precedent to organization, there doubt- 
less must have been preaching years before Mr. Lawton came to 
the county. Of this, however, we have no proof. 

The first Church organization of which we have any account, in 
Montebello, was at Riverside, about 1S59, Rev. Joseph Mason 
officiating as Pastor for some six months. The membership was 
limited to nine, six female members and three males, namely: 
John Morse, William Donald and A. H. Leavings. Mr. Mason 
was followed by Rev. John G. Rankin, of AVarsaw, Rev. Mr. 
Henry, and by Rev. Wm. C. Merritt, who remained its Pastor till 
1856. About this time the society built a new house of worship 
at Oakwood, and soon afterward Rev. Mason again became its 
Pastor, and so remained until in 1S59, when such changes in his_ 
doctrinal views occurred as led to his removal. During the early 
period of the Rebellion Rev. E. X. Bartlett, who had been driven 
from Missouri for his Union sentiments, was engaged as Pastor 
between this Church and the young Church at Hamilton. 

This Church was organized in 1S59, with a membership of fifteen 
persons, names not obtained. Mr. Bartiett remained two or three 
years. In course of time the Presbyterian element becoming pre- 
dominant, the organization was changed to Presbyterian. They 
were without a church building until lS74.when a neat little church 
was erected, the society previously using the Baptist church part 
of the time. 

The Baptist Church (Missionary Branch^i was organized in 1S52 
by Elder Henry Davis, who removed to Texas in 1S56. In 1S57, 
Elder Caleb M. Sewell organized a Free-Will Baptist society, and 
the Brick Church was soon after built by them. Mr S. resided in 
the town, and remained its Pastor mainly until his death in !N'ov., 
1S75. Since his death the society has been without a regular Pastor 
most of the time. Latterly Rev. D. C. Miller, a physician of the 
town, occasionally supplies the pulpit. 

The M. E. organization was etfected about the time the town was 
laid out, with a small membership. The church building they oc- 
cupy was erected say six or eight years thereafter. Latterly its 
membership has been about 60. which is as large as that of any of 
the others. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

Short biographies of many of the most prominent settlers and resi- 
dents of Montebello township afiord the most interesting feature of 
its historv. and they here follow: 



UISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 79Y 

J. A. Anderson, Hamilton, was born Sept. 25, 1816. He waa 
taken by his parents, Robert and Nancy Anderson, when quite 
youn^ to Clark Co., Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. In 
1850 he enc^a^ed in the manufactory of cars and agricultural imple- 
ments in Springtield, Ohio. He continued at this business until 
1855, when he went to Minnesota. He was one of the framers of 
the constitution of that State, and also served in the 2d Minnesota 
Legislature. He came to this county in 1873, where he has since 
resided. Mr. A. was first married in 1843 to Catharine Miholland, 
who died in 1856. In 1859 he was again married to Louesa Ritcli, 
by whom he has had 3 children. He also had 3 children by his 
former wife. 

R. W. Alvorcl was born in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., Dec. 
29, 1823. His parents were Samuel and Ursula (Smith) Alvord. 
Mr. Alvord was raised on a farm, and received a common-school 
education. He came to this county in 18"16, and was engaged in 
farming. He was married in 1850 to Miss Angeline Sullivan, by 
whom he had -4 children, of which only one is living; namely, 
Susannah (now Mrs. Amasa Ilager). Mr. Alvord is engaged in 
fruit-growing and gardening. 

Rev. Samuel Alvord^ father of the above, was born in Mass., 
Mar. 16, 1784, and died in Hamilton, 111., Aug. 13, 1871, in the 
88th year of his age. In 1804 moved to Madison Co., N. Y.; 
in 1810, to Lockport; in 1825 to Chautauqua county; in 1830 
to Warren Co., Pa., and finally, in 1846, to Hamilton. AVas 
twice married; to Miss Bates in 1809, and afterward to Miss Ursula 
Smith, with whom he lived nearly 51 years. United tirst with the 
Presbyterian Church at 17; afterward, 1809, with the Baptist. 
Licensed to preach in 1812, was a successful and earnest preacher. 
Pastor of several Churches in N. Y. and Pa. Never resumed pastoral 
labor in 111., but frequently preached to destitute Churches, as op- 
portunity offered. He was a great sufferer during the latter years 
of his lite, bnt calmly awaited the end. 

Rev. B. Ajyplehee is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, 
where he was born Sept. 5, 1820. He is a son of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth (Ghoist) Applebee. At the age of 17 years he was 
brought by his parents to Fulton county, 111., where he remained 
till he was of age. 

He was educated at Marietta, in that county. He is conversant 
in all languages connected with his ministry. He was licensed to 
preach, July 25, 1845, and was ordained Elder in 1850. In 1847 
he traveled Carthage circuit, which then comprised all of Hancock 
county and a part of both McDonough and Schuyler counties. His 
work in this itinerancy was blessed with glorious results; on the 
above named circuit the first and second years. Two hundred and 
twenty-five accessions were made to his societies. He re-organized 
the societies which had been scattered by the Mormons. He also 
organized the first Methodist society in Etamilton. Rev. Applebee 
was Pastor of the M. E. Church at the following important stations: 



798 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Carthage three years ; Galesburg, and built the first church there; 
Peoria tour years, and man}' others. He is the present Pastor of 
the M. E. society in Hamilton, and is closing up the 35th year 
of his ministry. The following is an extract from the Kauvoo 
Independent: 

" The Rev. B. Applebee is a minister of great convictions, of 
ministerial obligations, as well as marked pulpit and revival ability, 
and a leader in the great moral and religious reforms of the age. 
He was the lirst Pastor of the M. E. Church in Hancock county 
to re-organize Methodist societies and Sunday-schools, after the 
Mormon trouble, throughout this county. In 1847 he came to 
Carthage, as I have before stated. He was a most efficient minis- 
ter, then a young man acting a prominent part in the public 
gatherings connected with Sunday-school celebrations; and on the 
4th of July, 1848, he visited the city and addressed the Sunday- 
school which assembled on that day in the Ilibbard Grove, south 
of the city. He visited the city again in 1856 and conducted a 
quarterly meeting. He is now (Feb. 20, 1880) again in the city, 
and has met with a cordial welcome in the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Schwarz, besides the love and respect of many others." 

Ilev. A. was joined in the bonds of holy matrimony, Feb. 12, 
1849, to Miss Catharine Gardener, daughter of an early pioneer of 
this county, 4 children being the fruit of this union; viz., Mary 
M. (now Mrs. D. B. Spencer), of Iowa; Jabez 0., a line scholar, 
having gi-aduated in the Wesleyan University; John W. (dec.) and 
Pytsea B. 

J. M. Berry is a native of Merrimack county, N. II., and was 
born April 25, 1821. He is a son of Joshua and Patience C. 
Berry, who were both natives of the same State, In 1858 he was 
joined in marriage to Miss Harriet M. Berry, of his native State. 
This union was blessed with 3 children: of these only one is 
living, Mary (now Mrs. Gilman), who resides in Burlington, Iowa. 
Mr. Berry came to this county in 1858 and settled in Montebello 
tp., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. He owns a farm of 123 acres in sec. 36. 

Homer D. Brotvn was born March 9, 1846, in Quincy, 111., and 
is a son of Homer and Hannah Brown. He was married, Oct. 26, 
1869, to Miss Alice Harvey, by whom he has 2 children: Nellie 
and Harvey. Mr. Brown is the proprietor of the Montebello Nur- 
series, ot Hamilton, and has a large local trade. In 1880 he was 
unable to supply the demand. He makes a specialty of the Ben 
Davis apple; has tliis year (1880) over three acres of this kind 
alone. Mr. Brown is also proprietor of the Wildcat Springs, that 
are becoming popular as a place for summer resorts. 

Dr. Thomas J. Bull., dentist, Hamilton, was born July 6, 1810, 
in New York. He was brought In- his parents to Ohio, where he 
was reared to manhood. He staid there until 1855, when he came 
to this State, and soon after to this county, where he has since 
resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was educated 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 799 

in this business in St. Louis. The Doctor was married Dec. 16, 
1834, to Nancy A. Westcott, by whom he has had 12 children; 
9 living, — 5 sons and 4 daughters. 

J. M. Campbell^ fiirmer, sec. 24; P. O., Elvaston; was born Jan. 
28, 1843, in Pennsylvania. He was brought by his parents, James 
and Eliza Campbell, to this county in 1852, wlien nine years of 
age. Here he was reared, and in 1862, when he was only 19 years 
old, he enlisted in the military service in Co. A, 118th Keg. 111. 
Mounted Infantry. He was mustered out Nov. 7, 1862. He par- 
ticipated in the battles, siege, and surrender of Vicksburg, Cham- 
pion Hills, Thompson's Hills, Arkansas Post and many others. 
He returned home in October, 1865, having served three years. Mr. 
C. was married Nov. 21, 1872, to Harriet Houston, and of their 
4 children 3 are living; viz., James W., Anna G. (deceased), Her- 
bert L. and Thomas O. 

iLhenezer Carrier was born in Connecticut Sept., 1811; came to 
this county in 1840, and was married the same year to Martha S. 
Winans, daughter of Alfred L. Winans, an early pioneer of this 
county. Mr. Carrier has resided in Hamilton ever since his 
settlement in this county,, He took an active part against the 
Mormons, at one time just escaping death at their hands. They 
stole wood from him and he had them arrested and tried at Warsaw, 
and was coming home after night when they, intoxicated, took him 
out of the wagon to kill him, and would have succeeded had it not 
been for Mr. Hyde. 

Joseph Gate, who has traveled from ocean to ocean, and wit- 
nessed many interesting sights, was born in Stafford county, N. H., 
Jan. 20, 1811, and is a son of Walter and Polly (Wiggins) Cate, 
the latter of whom is deceased. He was reared on a farm and 
educated in a common school. He came to Quincy, 111., in 1837, 
where he became acquainted with Miss Sarah J. Wilson, whom he 
married March 8, 1838. They have had 5 children, of whom 3 are 
living; viz., Margaret J., George A. and Horatio W. The latter is 
now in California. Another son, Joseph, was killed at the siege of 
Yicksburg in the struggle for liberty during the late war. During 
the first gold excitement in 1849, Mr. Cate went overland in an ox 
wagon to California. In 1851 he returned by way of the Isthmus 
of Panama. In 1852 he again went to California, and returned in 
1854. In 1855 he removed to this county, where he still resides. 
He was a farmer until he became disabled, when he sold his farm 
and removed to Hamilton, where he now resides in that portion of 
the town known as Oakwood. 

Charles L. Cochran was born Feb. 20, 1823, in Randolph 
county, this State. He was brought by his parents, John and 
Mary Cochran, to this county when eight years of age (1831), where 
he was reared to manhood. His educational facilities were 
much limited. He went to the first school that was taught in Mon- 
tebello tp. The school was held in a log structure about 14 by 16 
feet, by Mrs. McKinney. About that time the Black Hawk war 



800 HISIOKY OK llANCOOK OOVNIY. 

wufi under wav. Oharlos L. had oiio brother, who was a soUlier of 
the "band of ranjivrs. " Time rolled on and notliinij transpired 
worthy of note till the rise and trouble of ]\[orinonisin, when 
the Smiths were killed. About this time he took an active part in 
expelliuix them from the State. Mr. C''i>chran remained here until 
IS.'i-i. when he went to Oalifornia. He remained in the Western 
Territories and along the Paeitie eoast for IT^'ears, w1um\ he returned 
liome. His vocation is that of farminij, etc. His father died Jan. 
10. 1843, at the ripe aa:© of 7'2. Mr. Cochran is Vice-Prosidont of 
the "Old Settlers' Association." 

Dr. Sylvester L. Comer, deceased, was born Sept. '.>, 18;10, in 
C>hio. He was broui^ht bv his}>arents, when a child, to (''arthag-e, 
this county, where he was reared and educated. He also at- 
teiuied school at Jacksonville, and after studying medicine under 
some very skillful physicians here, he attended the Cliicago and 
the Keokuk medical colleges, at the latter oi which ho graduated 
with honors. During the war Or. Comer was Surgeon in the Keo- 
kuk hospital. After the war closed he came to this county and 
followed his ]u-ofession till his death, March 3, 187!K Dr. Comer 
was married Sept. '2. 18(>*J, to Alice (iriswold. To them were born 
4 children, 3 of whom are living — llattie L., Samuel H., Frank G. 

J\muJous Carlos Allen Cuthviaii was born at Hartford, Yt., 
June 5. 1811. His father, Joshua Cusliman, was born Sept. 20, 
1778, at Alanstield, Conn., and his mother, Mary Dorman Rridge- 
luan, was born Nov. '24, 1783, at Hanover, N. II., near Dartmouth 
College. Mr. Cushman was a descendant oi the Cushmans who 
were connected with the expedition oi the Mayllower. aiul a relative 
on the one side of the celebrated Laura Hridgeman, and of Char- 
lotte Cushman on the other. 

At Lebanon, N. II., Mr. Cushnum in his youth, learned the 
trade of machinist, which, however, he never followed, except as 
manager. 

On May 30, 1838, having emigrated to C^hio, he was nu\rried in 
Muskingum county to IMiss ^largaret A. Painter, who still sur- 
vives him. In Licking county in that State and afterward in St. 
Louis, Mo., he was engaged for several 3-ears in the manufacture 
aud sale of the Parker Keaction and Percussion Water-wheel. He 
renu>ved to Ohio in 1834, to St. Louis in 1840, to Hancock county 
(Pilot Grove'l in 1851, and to Hamilton in 1853. Here he was one 
oi the tirst settlers, and was ever one of its most }niblic spirited 
men, frequently holding ollice under the town and city government. 
His imiin business was that of real estate and insurance, but he 
also long held the position of Justice of the Peace and Notary 
Public and that of Postmaster. During the Kebellion he was 
enrolling and drafting officer for this district. And in all these 
positions, ]niblic and private, he was esteemed for liis courtesy and 
kindness of heart. He was, in addition, one of tlie charter mem- 
bers of the lUack Hawk Lodge and Ivo^'al Arch Chapter of j\Iasons, 
and held liio-li office in each. 



mnoKY or hajicocic ojzsrr. ¥j1 

Mr. Ctubman wa* never connected with anr Choreh, V/ut wa» 
cboeen truutee of ' Church in JIaui'iIvai, y,-hl<^}i ke 

held from ita or^<i / 'iath, alwaj* uking an irjt^reit 

in it« welfare and c/>ntrir>ating liberally to it« Kupport. He nuide 
no profesaion, jet wa« a firm believer in the CLrijtian religion, 
and died trusting in the Sanor. lie died May 21, 1S79, having 
gained the esteem and afi&ction of his friends, and much lamented 
%a]I. 

C/utrle^ Dadant, a very prominent l.»ee-ealtari»t in thi« tp., 
wa« lx»m in j-'rance .May 22, 1S17; came to thi« country in 1^3 
and settled in thiis tp,, where he hais since recided, engagf:d in Uie 
keeping of Italian bees (imported >. He ha« at present 500 statuU 
of thei»e, all ralise^i from two stan^la. Bfe abo manufisictare* bees- 
wax ^refined). In the year L870 h'- ' ' 1fj.//j() lU of honey. 

Mr, O. wa« married in 1S47 to 0> on, and they hare 

had 3 children: 3Iary D., Emile 1>. and Lugene D. Hi* pott- 
office address iis Hamilton. 

Henry li. DvJdruifm was bom in K^fit^f:, N. IL, Dee. 10, 1818. 
His education wa« limited to the comrr; - •' '^ !« of the town, in 
tho*e days not remarkable for their ex-^; At the early aee 

of twelve he engarre^J as >. ; carpenters tra^, 

which he foIVjwed industr. , i Xew Hampebire, 

and then, at the aj/e of a x;ut 1?, '; t/^ Crreeoe county, IlL 

At CarrollU;!!, the V^unty seat of O. - - -^ followed Uie bofineM 
till, in lS4lc^, he removed to and eettled in Hancock. Hi« fij%t loca- 
tion here was in a cabin in the wood*, near the big spring, on tiie 
present gite of Hamilton. Tliis was two or three yeans before the 
town ' out. In 1S50, in conjunction with Bryant Bsutlett, 

his b. -law. a charter for a ferrv wa« obtained between 

Keokuk and thi» shore; and in l»52tlietownof Hajnilton was laid 
out by them and other parties, a notice of which will be found 
elsewhere. At great expense and an immense amount of labor a 
roadway was constructe^I across the bottom to the river shore, and 
landings l^ilt, much of which ha^i to be renewed every rear, till 
finally the steamer Salina was put on and the ferry folly estab- 
lished Mr, Hugh W. Sample, of Keokuk, bec/vming associated 
with them. In this enterprise Mr. D. and his co-partners arc 
thought to have expended not less tlian ^J.OOO in securing the 
ferry road and approaches, independent of all other expenses. But 
it proved a suoeess and a great puS *' '' - any years, until 

it was supCTseded by the ^«it if^ of its sueeesa 

was due to Mr. D luea^**. lie withdrew from 

the concern a nun. : was discontinued, and baa 

since employed his time ana means in carrying on two or three 
farms, and in the lumbering business in the town. 

Mr, D. is the parent of 7 children — 5 sons and 2 daughters, 
the eldest of whom, Ofecar. was one of the first men killed in the 
16tb regiment- (See page 4S7.» The others are still living. 

Mr. Dickinson has held several offices of honor and trust: that 



802 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of Major of Hamilton for two terms; Alderman for six or ei^ht 
years, and several times Assessor of Montebello township. He has 
also long been a member of the Masonic order, in which he has 
held responsible positions. 

Dr. T. J. Dodge., the renowned " magnetic healer," is a native 
of Fulton county, 111.; born Jan. 24, 1844. He is a son of Henry 
and Lorana Dodge; was principally raised in McDonough county, 
this State. He received a common district-school education. He 
engaged in general business until 1871, when he started as a Bap- 
tist evangelist; traveled for 6 successive years, and wonderful were 
the results of his preaching. Sometimes infidels would fall as if 
the shaft of death had pierced their hearts, so affecting was his 
preaching. About the year 1875 he perceived that he had the ''gift 
of healing," and frequently and instantaneously healed persons of 
various diseases while in Church. Dr. Dodge was an infidel in belief 
prior to his conversion, which occurred Feb. 5, 1860. He soon 
after felt convinced that he should preach, and immediately entered 
the ministry. In 1877 he had strong convictions to cease the work 
of an evangelist, and to devote his time principally to healing the 
afflicted. Jan. 1, 1878, Dr. Dodge entered partnership with Dr. 
Eingland in the " Riverside Institute." His treatment is followed 
by unprecedented success in the permanent healing of patients. 
His first cure wrought in the Riverside Institute was a case of 
apoplexy of several years' standing, which he cured in less than five 
minutes' time. Dr. Dodge has a wonderful magnetic power, and 
at will can make a person stand or sit unmovable as a statue. He 
frequently preaches at the Institute and in the surrounding country. 
Dr. D. was united in marriage Sept. 25, 1863, with Caroline 
Atwater, and they have 8 children — 5 sons and 3 daughters. He is 
now 36 years of age and weighs 310 pounds. 

Charles Dorman was born in Gloucester county, IST. J., Nov. 28, 
1817, and is a son of James and Amy Dorman. He served an 
apprenticeship at blacksmithing when but a boy, at Good Intent, 
a manufacturing village of his native State. His father was a 
cabinet-maker. Mr. Dorman followed blacksmithing until 1863, 
when he enlisted in the 133d 111. Vol. Inf., and served as a soldier 
in the late war. He was married in April, 1838, to Miss Anna M. 
Northrop, by whom he has had 7 children; of these, 5 are liv- 
ing; viz., Albert, James, Flattie, Amy and Anna. Mr. Dorman 
engaged in the mercantile business in 1865, in that part of Hamil- 
ton known as Oakwood, where he carries a stock of about $2,000, 
consisting of hardware, groceries and notions. His grandfather, 
Ned Parker, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father 
was an ofticer in the war of 1812. 

James B. Gilliland, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Elvaston; was born 
in New York city, and was raised there and in Philadelphia. He 
was married in New York, Oct. 27, 1836, to Miss Margaret S. 
Glenn, daughter of David Glenn. (The Glenns were early settlers 
of Philadelphia.) Eleven children were the fruit of this union, of 





Durham Tp. 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 805 

whom 5 are living; viz., Stephen R., George W., William M., 
James P. (missionary in S. America), and Sarah (a Holiness 
preacher). Mr. Gilliland and family came to Pekin. 111., in 1S54, 
and to this county in 185S. "While in Philadelphia, Mr. Gilliland 
engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods, but is now engaged 
in farming. 

Dr. W. H. Githens was born in Ohio. Dec. 11, 1826; he is a 
son of John Githens, who was a native of Xew Jersey. He was 
reared and educated in his native State. He also began the study 
of medicine there about the year 1^4:7, and in 1850 came to Keo- 
kuk, Iowa, where he finished his course of medical study, and 
graduated; in 1S52 he came to this county and began the practice 
of medicine. March 4, 1849, he was married to Sarah P, Robbins. 
To them were born 10 children; only 4 are living; viz., Louise 
I. (now Mrs. Anderson), "Wm. R., Helen M. and Mary A. 

Mr. G. was a Surgeon in the 16th 111. Yol. Inf. for a time, when 
he came to Keokuk and was in the Government service, in the 
hospital of that place, for one year, when he went back and served 
the remainder of the war, under Gen. Sherman. He partici- 
pated in the following battles; viz., Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
Yicksburg, Lookout and Kenesaw Mountains, and many others. 

Samuel Gordon, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in 
Peterboro', X. H., May 3, 1825; emigrated with his parents to 
Montebello, in Hancock county, when it contained less than 500 
inhabitants, in Oct., 1831. In the spring of 1833, he removed to 
the farm on which he now resides, twenty years before the city of 
Hamilton was laid out. He received his education from the com- 
mon schools in the neighborhood. 

Mr. Gordon has been an office holder; held the ofiice of Clerk of 
Montebello township for 14 years, between 1857 and 1874; was 20 
years a member of the Scheol Board; two years City Clerk; six years 
City Treasurer, and twice a member of the City Council of Ham- 
ilton. In Aug., 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. C, ll>th 111. 
Inf. Yol.; was on continuous duty for three years and two months, 
until Oct. 13, 1865, when his regiment was discharged. He partic- 
ipated in the following battles: Chickasavv BluiFs, near Yicksburg, 
Dec. 26 to 30, 1862; Arkansas Post, Jan. 10 and 11, 1863; Thomp- 
son's Hill, May 1, 1863; Champion Hills, May 16, 1863; Black 
river bridge. May 17, 1863; siege of Yicksburg until after the 
assault of May 23, 1863; Grand Caton bayou, Xov. 3, 1863; as- 
sault on Port Hudson, Apr. 7, 1864. 

He was married Apr. 3, 1851, to Miss Permelia Alvord, born in 
"Warren county. Pa., Aug. 3, 1832; youngest daughter of Rev. 
Samuel Alvord, of Oakwood. 

John Gordon, father of the above, was born in Peterboro', N. 
H., Dec. 10, 1790; married Elizabeth Smith, Dec. 31, 1^19; emi- 
grated to Hancock county, and settled in Montebello tp. in 1>«31. 
He died Apr. 3, 1839, aged 48. His widow died Aug. 12, 1845, 
aged 51. They had 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters ; 3 died in 



806 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

infancy. They brousjht 2 sons with them ; the eldest, Jonathan J., 
died March 2Y, 1879, a^ed 16. 

The grandfather, also, named John, was born in Ireland in 1732; 
emigrated to America prior to 1750, and settled in Massachusetts. 
Was a volunteer during the Revolution, with Washington on his 
retreat through the Jerseys. He emigrated to New Hampshire 
and settled in Peterboro' in 1780 ; died Dec. 2, IS 18, aged 86. 

Dr. H. P. Oriswold was born in Herkimer county, IST. Y., Oct. 
1, 1814. Received a common-school education, and was entered at 
16 at Fairfield Academy, and at IS entered Union College, Sche- 
nectady, taking a scientific course, which he continued for two years. 
Studied medicine with Dr. Brown, of Salisbury, Herkimer county. 
In 1837 he emigrated to Hancock county and settled at Plymouth, 
at which place he resided and continued in the practice of medi- 
cine for thirteen j^ears. In 1850 he purchased a farm in Wythe 
township, about six miles east of Warsaw, to which he removed, 

still continuing in the practice of medicine until the year 18 

he removed to Hamilton, where he still resides. 

About 1841 Dr. G. commenced the nursery business on a small 
scale at Plymouth, which he followed for five or six years. From 
his nursery most of the old orchards in St. Mary's and Round 
Prairies were supplied, and the general good character of their 
fruit attest the soundness of his judgment in the propagation of 
varieties. On his removal to Wythe township, he transplanted 
from his nursery a large orchard at his new home, which has borne 
much excellent fruit. It is now in possession of E, McCune, Esq, 

In removing to Hamilton, Dr, Gr. retired from practice, prefer- 
ring to live at his ease in the enjoyment of a moderate fortune, 
and in the cultivation of fruits and flowers and the adornment of 
his home. 

Charles Oruhh was born in Lehigh Co., Pa., Nov, 8, 1822, and is 
a son of Samuel and Catharine (Grofi") Grubb, also natives of Penn- 
sylvania, He was married in 1844 to Miss Dinah Davison, by whom 
he has had 11 children; of these, 9 are living; viz,, Wayne, Eras- 
mus, Garret, Lizzie, Ida, Kate, George, Louisa and Ellen, Mr. 
Grubb learned the blacksmith's trade when young, at which he 
worked five years. He came to this county in 1859, and purchased 
100 acres of land on sec. 35, Montebello tp,, where he still resides 
and is engaged in farming, stock raising. Himself and 5 brothers 
were in the war, and all returned without a wound. 

Ejphrairfh Grubb, deceased, brother of the preceding, was born 
in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, Februarj'' 23, 1824. He was 
reared on a farm, but at the age of 18 learned the blacksmith's 
trade, which he followed in after years. He emigrated to Adams 
county. 111,, in 1845, where he followed his trade until 1850, 
He then came to this county, settling on sec. 26, this tp., where he 
engaged in farming until his death, save the time he served in the late 
war. He, however, became disabled by sickness while in the service 
and was discharged for this reason before his time expired. He 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 807 

was married Jan. 7, 1849, to Miss Snsan Griibb, daughter of Jonas 
and Sarah Grubb (dec), who emigrated from Pennsylvania to 
Adams county, 111., in 1839. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grubb had 5 children, of whom but 2 are living; 
viz., Frances and Olive. Mr. Grubb was a worthy member of the 
Presbyterian Church and had lived a devoted Christian life since 
quite young. He filled the office of Commissioner of Highways 
several times, and was always found upon the side of temperance 
and morality. He was always ready to assist the needy and lift 
up the down-fallen; in fact, he was a public beiiefactor, for no truly 
charitable enterprise ever passed by him unnoticed or unaided. 

He died Sep. 21, 1866, loved and respected by all who knew him. 
The family lost a kind husband and father, and the community a 
valuable member of society in the death of Mr. Grubb. 

William L. Guthrie^ Assessor of Montebello tp. ; P. O., Hamil- 
ton; was born in Kentucky July 1, 1832. His parents, John P. 
and Sarah Guthrie, were both natives of Kentucky, who came to 
this State in 1839 and settled near Quincy, and in 1857 he came to 
this county. W. L. has been Deputy Sherilf 12 years. In 1857 he 
was married to Amanda Breckbill. To them were born 8 children, 
•4 now living; viz., James P., William E., Laura A. and Ida M. 

Edio. J. Hall was born June 12, 1836, in Baltimore, Md. He is 
a son of Robert G. Hall, M. D., who practiced medicine for 40 years 
in this State. He was reared and educated in Illinois. His voca- 
tion used to be druggist, in which he was engaged for about 
25 years, until 1862, when he came to Hamilton, where he still 
resides. He is at present engaged in business with Daniel F. Tie- 
man (ex-Mayor) & Co., of Kew York city. Mr. H. was joined in 
marriage to Emily R. Kerr, of Jacksonville, this State. 

B. F, Hamhletoii is a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and 
was born April 23, 1826, His parents were James and Martha 
Hambleton, natives of Eastern Pennsylvania. Tljey were members 
of the Society of Friends (or Quakers), and each lived to the age of 
81 years. James Hambleton and two of his brothers, Benjamin 
and Charles, emigrated to Ohio in 1814, and located on Little 
Beaver Creek, in Columbiana county, where they engaged in milling, 
farming and mercantile business. This was carried on in partner- 
ship until 1838, when the firm dissolved. Our subject worked in 
a woolen factory in Ohio for three years, and in 1846 he helped 
drive a flock of sheep from Ohio to Mahaska county, Iowa. He 
returned to Ohio the same fall, and in 1851 moved to Iowa to make 
his home in the AVest. In 1854 he settled in Keokuk, where he 
engaged with Connable & Smith, wholesale grocers, for about three 
months. He then was em])loyed with Moody & Thompson, whole- 
sale boot and shoe merchants. Tliis firm dissolved and he remained 
in Mr. Moody's employ in the same house until 1863, when he 
became Mr. Moody's partner. In 1864 Mr. Mood3''s health failed, 
and Mr. Hambleton formed a partnership with H. C. Iluiskamp, 
who remained in the business until 1873, when Mr. li. sold liis 



808 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

interests to Huiskamp & Brother. Mr. Hambleton, however, had 
removed across the river to Illinois in 1871. He was married in 
1853 to Miss Maria E. Thompson, daughter of Rev. Aaron F. Thomp- 
son, a Presbyterian minister, now of Winchester, 111. This union 
has been blessed with 5 children, of whom 4 are living; viz., 
Clarence, Cora, Arthur and Helen. Mr. H. now resides in a large 
stone dwelling, on a beautiful eminence overlooking the Mississippi 
river and a portion of the city of Keokuk. He owns the Imperial 
Flouring Mills, of Keokuk, and also a large interest in the whole- 
sale grocery store of Collier, Robertson & Plambleton, in Keokuk, 
besides farming and raising stock to some extent. 

Daniel Hanson was born April 23, 1832, in Pickaway county, 
Ohio. He is a son of Daniel, Sr., and Barbara Hanson, natives of 
Virginia. He was brought to this county by his parents when 
young, and here he was reared to mature years. His educational 
advantages were limited, as he received but a common-school edu- 
cation. Mr. Hanson was married April 16, 1866, to Emma Hol- 
comb, by whom he has had 4 children; viz., Grace M., Minnie, 
DeWitt Clinton and Freddie. Mr. Hanson's father was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, and his father was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary war. Mr. H. is a farmer on sec. 25; P. O., Elvaston, 111. 

David Honce was born in Monmouth county, N. J., Sept. 10, 
1822. His parents were Hendrick and Elizabeth (Rogers) Honce, 
the latter deceased. Mr. Honce was raised on a farm, and was 
engaged some j'ears in the oyster traffic, a saloon and bakery. He 
was married in New Jersey, in 1857, to Miss Rachel Williams, by 
who7n he had 7 children; of these, 5 are living: Orval, Oliver, 
Wm. H., Sarah E. and Georgia M. He came to this county in 
1861, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec. 15, 
in this tp. His son William lives in Colorado. 

William H. Honce, brother of the preceding, was born in 
Monmouth county, N. J., in July, 1820; was reared on a farm, 
educated in a common-school; was married Nov. 27, 1848, to Miss 
Sarah J. McBroom, daughter of Andrew and Jane McBroom. 
This union has been blessed with 7 children, of whom 6 are living; 
viz., Lydia J., Elizabeth, Alphia, Anna, Olive and William R. 
Mr. Honce removed to Adams county, 111., in 1851, and to this 
county in 1854. He resides on sec. 9, Montebello tp., and is en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising. 

Harlow Hosford, sec. 10; P. O., Hamilton; was born in Brook- 
field, Ohio, March 26, 1824, and is a son of Truman and Elizabeth 
Hosford. He was reared on a farm, and received a common-school 
education. He came to this county in 1835. He was married in 
1850, to Miss Mary Wright, by whom he has 6 children; viz., 
Harris T., Anna E., Isaac N., Edwin W., Harriet O. and Mary J. 
Mr. Hosford was a soldier in the Mormon war, as were also his 
father and brother, participating in the battle at Nauvoo. Mr. 
Hosford is engaged in farming and stock-raising, on sec. 10, and 
owns 475 acres of valuable land. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 809 

Henry Ikerd, deceased, was born in Lawrence count)', Indiana, 
Jan. 19, 1S06. lie was a son of John and Margaret Ikerd; was 
married Feb. 2, 1823, to Nancy Fish, by whom he has had 10 
children; viz., David J., Sarah A., William V., ]\Ialinda C. (now 
Mrs. Head), Mary J. (now Mrs. Douglas), ]\[argaret E. (now Mrs. 
Ilorton), Henry L., Logan II., Mary L. (now Mrs. Stum])p). Mr. 
and Mrs. Ikerd came to this county in 1855, where they settled 
and resided until the union was broken by his death, Oct. 5, 1866. 
His wife is 3'Qt^ving, at the advanced age of 70. 

Aaron S.^^^Kingslcy^ deceased, was born April 21, 1807, in 
Genesee county, N. Y., and was a son of Solomon Kingsley (dec), 
of New York. " 

Solomon Kingsley was a farmer and a tanner, at both of which 
businesses our subject worked in early life. He received a com- 
mon-school education in New York. He went to Canada in 1834, 
where he became acquainted with Miss Cynthia M. Piggott, whom 
he married Dec. 24, 1838. She is a daughter of James Piggott, 
who removed from St. Louis, Mo., to Canada prior to the war of 
1812. Mrs. Kingsley's grandfather, Captain James Piggott, of 
Revolutionary fame, was an early settler of St. Louis. He estab- 
lished a fort not far from the bluff in the American bottom, west 
of the present town of Columbia, in Monroe countj-^, 111., which 
was the largest fortification erected by the Americans in Illinois 
at that day; Captain Piggott was a native of Connecticut. His 
service in the Revolution w^as princi])ally under Generals Wash- 
ington and St. Clair. He died in 1799. Mr. and ALrs. Kingsley 
had 8 children, of whom 5 are living; viz., Virgil, Jennie (now 
Mrs. Augustus Bakeman), Anna (now Mrs. Geo. W. Richardson), 
Nellie (now Mrs. Geo. II. Edmundson) and Clara. 

The Kingsley family removed to this county in 1846. Mr. 
Kingsley taught school for two years after arriving here, and then 
was in the mercantile business for the period of two years. He 
then engaged in farming until his death, which occurred Feb. 4, 
1878. He was a consistent Christian and worthy member of the 
M. E. Church for about 45 years, but was not connected with it at 
all times. 

Sarah D. Lawton^ eldest daughter of Rev. John Lawton, was 
one of the first sciiool ma'ms in the county. She came West with 
her father in 1834, and taught that year in Quincy; at Warsaw, 
1835; at Montebello, 1835-'6; at Carthage, 1836, at Warsaw again, 
1840-'l-'2, and at intervals thereafter, and at Hamilton, i860. She 
was married to Mr. Gregg of the Carthageiiian newspaper Nov. 
10, 1836. 

Her father was a native of Massachusetts, and was a graduate of 
Middlebury College, Vt. He studied for the ministry while prin- 
cipal of an academy at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was afterward 
settled for ten years as Pastor of a Congregational Church at Wind- 
ham, Yt., and subsequently at Hillsboro' Center, N. H. 

In 1834 Mr. L. was sent to supply destitute places in the West 



810 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

bj the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Located at Carthage, 
he for a number of years preached in tliat coraninnitv and other 
sections of the coiintv, and assisted in organizing several Churches. 
While here he was mainly instrumental in procuring the charter 
for the Carthage Female Seminary (see page 435), and was 
appointed by the trustees to procure aid for it in the East. Going 
East, he soon afterward died there in April, 1S42, aged 62. 

His other children are: Joanna C. (now Mrs. Ebenzer Rand) 
who preceded her father "West, and taught school in Payson and at 
Yenus in 1S33; Abigail N. (the deceased wife of the late Frederic 
W. Symonds of Carthage), Jacob (now of Kansas), Harriet X. 
(Mrs. Lucius Parker, formerly of Carthage, now of Keokuk Junc- 
tion), John H. (of Plymouth), and Anne E. (wife of the murdered 
Lieut. F. E. Worrell, and widow of the late Dr. Hewitt, of Hanni- 
bal). 

Joh/ri A. Leas, foreman of the freight department of the T., P. & 
W. and W., St. L. & P. railroad, office at Keokuk. P. O., Hamilton, 
111., was born June 22, ISoT, in Pennsylvania, a son of Francis and 
Sarah Leas. At 13 years of age he went out on the great theater 
of life to act for himself. .He spent most of his early manhood 
with a corps of civil engineers, assisting in the location of several 
railroads in Pennsylvania. In 1856 he came to Keokuk, and was 
for a while one of the city engineer corps, and afterward engaged 
in hotel business, in which he continued until 1S66, when he came 
to Hamilton and re-engaged in engineering. Aug. 85, 185S, he 
married Lydia A. Tully, and they have had one child, Charles H. 
In 1876 Mr. Leas went to his native home in Pennsylvania, and 
also spent some time at the "world-renowned" Exposition {i.e., 
Centennial). He has one brother (Thomas H.\ who is Quarter- 
master-General at West Point. His ancestors were long-lived 
people. His mother died in 1877, at 86, and his father some years 
ago, aged 62. 

John Jlatice, farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Hamilton; is a son of Peter 
and Sarah Matice, and was born Jan. 1, 1834; was brought to this 
country by his parents in 1813. In 1859 he married Adelaide 
Allen. In Feb., 1865, he enlisted in the military service in Co. I, 
166th Reg. Ill, Inf , and was discharged at the close of the war, 
having served eight months. He then returned home and resumed 
his former occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Matice were born 6 chil- 
dren, 3 sons and 3 daughters. His father-in-law. Dr. A. Allen, 
was an early pioneer of this county and built the first mill in the 
county at the mouth of Allen's or Golden's creek, and ground the 
first corn that was ground in the county. His father was a soldier, 
both in the Revolutionary war and war of 1812. 

Wm. T. JIcLeUan was born April 16, 1835, in the town of 
Thomaston, Maine, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy McLellan, 
who brought their family to this count}- about 30 years ago. He 
was married Oct. 15, 1868, to Miss Mary R. Debitt, daughter of 
Wm. and Rosetta Debitt. Of their 4 children 3 are living; viz., 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Sll 

Arthur H., Edward E. and Willie D. Mr. McLellan is conductor 
on the "Wabash Railroad. 

Dr. D. C. Miller was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., inside of 
the entrenchments of the battle-ground of Bemis Heights, Sept. 
26,1820. His parents were Newell and Matilda (Carter) Miller. 
He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and 
Troy Academy, at Troy, N. Y. At the age of 23 years he studied 
medicine, but feeling it his duty to engage in the ministry he went 
to Wisconsin in 1S4G, where he labored as a missionary in the em- 
ploy of the Free-Will Baptist Home Mission Society several years. 
He then labored for some time without any aid. from the mission- 
ary society. His labors while there were very great. He has ridden 
50 miles and preached three sermons all in one day. He drove his 
team 5,582 miles in one year, besides traveling to some extent on 
cars and steamboat. He was married, June 17, 1847, to Miss Eliza 
Babcock, by whom he has had 9 children ; of these 5 are living; viz., 
Eugene A., Alvin A., D. Gay, Etfa and Harry T. Alvin and 
Eugene are married. Mr. Miller met with a severe accident in 
1869, in this wise: While the train he was on was standing at a 
station about eight miles west of Madison,Wis., an extra (or ''wild") 
train came up behind and ran into this one, causing a fearful wreck. 
The Doctor practiced medicine some prior to leaving the ministry, 
but as his disability rendered him unable to preach, he has since 
devoted his entire attention to the practice of medicine, and has 
attained a good patronage. 

J*\ J. Potts, a native of New York, was born Aug. 23, 1816. 
When 16 years of age he entered the machine shops and spent five 
years in learning that trade. He came to this county in 1845, where 
he followed the same business. Mr. Potts was first married Feb. 
15, 1840, to Mary J. Bredett, who died in 1843; he was again mar- 
ried in 1848 to Emily Bredett. She died in 1875. Mr. P. was 
married the third time Dec. 5, 1878, to Mary H. Smith. 

Sarmiel F. Pray., farmer and stock-dealer; P. O., Hamilton; was 
born in New Hampshire; was principally reared in Massachusetts. 
He spent two years of his early manhood in clerking in a dry-goods 
store; in 1842 came to this county and settled near Carthage. There 
he lived until 1858. Three years of this time was spent as diver in 
the Mississippi river seeking for wrecked boats. In 1850 he went 
to California, and returned in 1851. He has resided near Hamilton 
since 1858. Mr. Pray has been a stock-dealer and shipper for 
about 23 years. He owns a farm of 800 acres and a fine residence. 
He took an active part against the Mormons, was appointed com- 
mander of the '' Carthage Riflemen," and was at their head in the 
skirmish at Nauvoo, which lasted 2J hours: 14 of his men were 
wounded; but one proved fatal. Mr. Pray was married Nov. 26, 
1849, to Frances J. Haggard. He is of English ancestry. His 
father had two brothers that fought in the Revolutionary war His 
progenitors were among the early settlers of America. 



812 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

A. Ptmtenny is a native of Adams count}', O., where he was 
born Feb. 10, 1834:; is a son of John and Araminta Funtenny, 
both natives of Ohio. He came to Keokuk, la., with his grand- 
father in 1846, and lived with him till he was of age. In Febru- 
ary, 1865, he enlisted in the army, Co. K, 156th Regiment, 111. 
Inft., under Colonel A. F. Smith; was mustered 'out Sept. 15, 
1865, and the 28th of the same month he was discharged and 
returned home. He was married Feb. 16, 1861, to Isabella Kerr. 
They have had 5 children, 4 are living — 3 sons and 1 daughter- 
His occupation is farming; P. O., Elvaston. 

Malachi Richardson was born in Bucks county, Pa., Jan. 28, 
1802, and is a son of Clement and Catharine (Baker) Richardson 
(dec). He was raised on a farm until 16 years old. 

He engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in the town of 
Butler. JPa., for lifteen years; removed to Cincinnati, O., in 1839, 
where he engaged in silver-plating with a brother-in-law for about 
ten years. He then removed to Hamilton, O., and again engaged 
in the woolen business, which he carried on for about eight or 
nine years. He came to Keokuk, la., about the year 1855, and to 
this county in 1857. 

While in Keokuk, he owned a farm near that place. He has 
been married three times, and is the father of 11 children. He 
was married to his first wife, Miss Sarah Patterson, x\pr. 1, 1823, 
in Butler, Pa.; to his second wife. Miss Margaret Finney, Sept. 
30, 1852; and to his present wife, Mary A. Campbell, Dec. 27, 
1864. His children are, Elizabeth A., Catharine J., Sarah F., 
Mary A.. Susan P., James C, Selina E., John N. (dec), Wm. B., 
Malachi H. and Loyal C. The last named died while in the service 
during the late war. 

James C. is President of the Halderman Paper Mills, of Cincin- 
nati, O.; Malachi is a member of the firm of Stephens & Co., gro- 
cers, on Fourth street, Cincinnati, O.; Wm. B. is Government 
Ganger of Liquors at Cincinnati, O.; Elizabeth is now Mrs. Rev. 
Henry Allen, of Jersey City, N. J.; Catharine is Mrs. David 
Combs, of Indiana; Sarah is Mrs. Robert French, of St. Louis, 
Mo.; Mary is Mrs. R. B. French, of Cincinnati, O.; Susan, widow 
Combs, of Clinton county, Ind.; Selina, Mrs. John Monroe, of 
Chicago, 111. Our subject resides in section 24, Montebello. 

Dr. E. B. Ringland was born in Washington county, Pa., Jan. 
4, 1845. and is a son of Newton and Jane Ringland, also natives of 
Pennsylvania. He is a grandson of Colonel Thomas Ringland, 
who was Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature two terms. 

Our subject received a common-school education in his native 
county, and received a medical education in Dr. Trail's Hygeio- 
Theraputic College, near Philadelphia, Pa. He is also a graduate 
of the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. 

He married Miss Sallie E. Weir, in May, 1869, and opened the 
Riverside Health Institution in 1871; since that time he spent 




^^;m 




DURHAM , TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 815 

two years with Dr. Paul Caster, of Ottiiinwa, la., using bis cele- 
brated Swedish movements in Caster's establishment. He 
reopened the Riverside Institute in 1878, and has secured the ser- 
vices of Dr. Dodge, the noted magnetic pln^sician. Hundreds of 
cases of paralysis, rheumatism, deformities, epilepsy, etc., have 
been speedily cured at Riverside by the combined influences of 
his magnetic power, Dr. Ringland's Swedish movements, and the 
water cure. Dr. Ringland was two years and a lialf in the late 
war. He enlisted in the medical department, and was promoted 
to Second Lieutenant. 

Thomas Buggies was born December 13, 1825, in Davis county, 
Indiana, and is a son of Jacob and Henrietta (McDonald) Ruggles, 
natives of Kentucky. He was reared on a farm and received a 
limited education in an old log school-house in his native State. He 
has since that time educated himself by his own exertions, and 
afterward became an attorney at law. He obtained law books of 
his uncle, David McDonald, who was afterward appointed LI. S. 
District Judge by Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Ruggles came to this 
county in 1848, where he engaged in farming a few years ; and 
then engaged in the mercantile business for several years, with a 
Mr. Allen. He has served as Justice of the Peace for 12 years, and 
was Supervisor several terms, and was one of the first Trustees of 
the town of Hamilton. He was married in 1849, to Miss Elizabeth 
Waller, by whom he had 4 children ; only one is living; viz., Kate. 
Mrs. Ruggles died in 1857, and Mr. R. again married, in 1858, this 
time to Miss Hannah Q. Choate, by whom he had 6 children ; 4 
of these are living; viz., Thomas G., Clara, Edmond and Leon. 
Mrs. R. died in 1872, and Mr. R. married his third wife in 1874, 
Mrs. Anna B. Mason. Mr. Ruggles came to Illinois alone and on 
horseback, being attracted here by the reports of Mormon troubles. 
He is now an attorney at law. 

Stephen F. Safford and Louisa Hunt, the former born at New 
Ipswich, Mass., July 7, 1809, the latter at Peterborough, N.H., Oct. 
11, 1812, were married May 17, 1836, settling in Quincy, 111., where 
Mr. Safford had located when he emigrated to the West, in 1832. 
They resided in this county until the fall of 1856, when they re- 
moved to Hamilton, Hancock county, 111. The first few years of 
their Western life were devoted to teaching school, after which 
they became the owners of a small farm, and from this beginning, 
by prudence, industry and perseverance, grew to become the owners 
of a comfortable estate free from an}' dishonorable stain. Always 
active in religious, philanthropic and educational work, they did 
much for the best interests of Hamilton, and the death of Mr. 
Safford, Jan. 7, 1860, deprived the community of an earnest 
worker and public-spirited citizen. The writer of his obituary says : 
" He was universally esteemed for his rectitude and strict integrity 
in his dealings and intercourse with his fellow-men. He had a 
deep and abiding reverence for the practical excellencies of the 
Christian religion, and ever seemed prompt to evince it by his ready 

47 



816 HISTORY OF HA2fC0CK COU>TT. 

snccor of the needy and distressed, and kind and obliging conduct 
to all. Xaturally of reflective mood and with a large share of practical 
sense, he attached more importance to the substance of things 
than the form, which made him, though not an ultraist in opinion, 
more than commonly liberal and tolerant. Though not obtrusive 
of his views, he was an independent thinker and spoke his convic- 
tions with freedom and decision." 

He was early interested in the cause of the colored race, and 
more than once imperiled his life by his protection of fugitive 
slaves. Atter his death Mrs. Safl:brd remained on the home farm, 
devoting herself to the care of their children and the management 
of the estate, until the spring of 1574. when she moved into a 
pleasant home in the village of Oakwood. where she now resides. 
Of 7 children 5 are now living, 3 sons and '2 daughters. 

.S. J^. Simpson is a native of Cayuga county, Ohio, and was 
born Jan. 5, 1S23. His parents were Sylvanus L. and Susannah 
(Harrington* Simpson. He was reared on a farm, and educated in 
a common school. In ISoO he married Miss Sarah X. Eeed. by 
whom he has 3 children : viz., S. Ensign, Cassius A. and Empire 
L. He came to this coimty in the autumn of 1S61, and settled on 
sec. S. Montebello tp., where he still resides, and is engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. His grandfather, Alexander Simpson, 
was a soldier in the Revolution, and his father served in the war of 
1S12. Mr. Simpson went overland to California in 1S53 : from 
there to Mexico, and returned by ship in 1S57. While in Mexico 
he was taken prisoner by the Mexicans, but they were compelled to 
release hira. 

Gen. Bohert J'\ Smith. — This gentleman was born in Phila- 
delphia, Pa., Augpst '2. 1S06, and is a son of John and Mary (Pay- 
mond) Smith, natives of London. Eng. : was reared and educated in 
his native city, where he learned the harness and saddlery trade; he 
came to this county in the spring of 1S33, but returned the follow- 
ing autumn; June 19. 1S34. he married Miss Amanda Benton, and 
came back to this county. Their 14: children are all living; namely. 
Emma. Louisa. John. George. Pobert, Henry. Mary H.. Clara D.. 
Franklin W., Annette, Edward H., Alexander S., Eleanor S. and 
Cora. Mr. Smith was an oflicer in the Mormon war, and was 
wounded in the neck at the battle of Xauvoo; he also served with 
distinction in the late war. enlisting in Co. G, 16th 111. Vol. Inf., in 
1S61, of which Co. he was made Captain; he was soon al'terward 
commissioned Colonel; he took part in the battles of 2s ew Madrid, 
Island Xo. 10. Tiptonville, Corinth, the bombardment of Fort 
Pillow and others, and was in reserve at Stone River. His regiment 
was ordered to Northwestern Missouri to protect the transportation 
line, where it remained during lS61-'2. The Colonel became 
disabled by the bursting of a torpedo, and lett the command when 
at Atlanta. Ga., but joined it again in about three months and 
remained in the service until the close of the war. He was bre- 
veted Brigadier General. He is now farming and raising stock, 
residing on sec. 27, this tp. P. O.. Hamilton. 



HISTORY OF BULXCOOK COUXTT. S17 

Samuel Staeie (deceased^. one of the pioneers of this county, wa* 
a native of Hillsborough county. X. H.. born Sept. 1. 1796. He 
was reared in his native State, educated in a Xew Hampshire 
academy, and in alter years followed school-teaching to a consider- 
able extent. He came to this county in 1S30. when but few settle- 
ments were made; he was a soldier of the band of "rangers" 
during the Black Hawk war. 

He was quite active in the expulsion of the Mormons, main- 
tained the right of executive power, and aided in carrying it out 
against those unchristianized, troublesome people. He was Justice 
of the Peace for 2S years, and also Assessor for sereral terms. Dec. 
25. 1S32, he married Jane Cochran. He was a farmer and lived 
in peace with all his neiorhbors. He died Xov. 30. 1S61: his wife 
is vet living, at a very avlvanced age. 

George Torher was born in Germany. May 16. 1S22. and is a son 
of John and Sophia Torber. He was educated in the high school at 
Farchin. Mechlen burgh, Germany; came to Xew Tork in 1S47, 
where he engaged in the manufacture of pianos for four years; then 
went to Louisville. Ky., where he remained until 1S56. when he 
removed to Tennessee. In 1560 he emigrated to Ohio, locating in 
Toledo in 1561. He came to this county in 1S7S. and engaged in the 
I'urnirure and undertaker's business in Hamilton, in company with 
Chas. Dregeer. They also deal in the Palace organ, which is a 
"^-ery fine instrument, both in finish and in quality of tone. 

Mr. Torber was married, in 1S52. to Miss Margaret Kachelman, 
y whom he has had 9 children : of these, i are living, \\z., Augusta, 
Emma. George and Edward. 

Albert Urtoiu son of Burr and Mary Urton. of Prairie tp.. was 
born Sept. 12, 1S56, in Ohio. His parents brought him to Peoria 
count}-. 111., in 1S56 or 1S57. where they remained until 1566. then 
removed to this county. Our subject was married, Jan. 7, ISSO, 
to Miss Emma J. Benson, daughter of Wm. Benson, of Mendon, 
Adams county. 111. Mr. Urton is a farmer and resides on section 
35, Montebello tp., on a very beautiful and fertile tract of land. 
His future prospects are bright, for his energy and diligence will 
crown him with success. 

A. Vjnaen7ian, farmer, etc^ sec. 22; P.O.. Hamilton. 111.; was 
K^rn in Xew Tork, March 24. 1523; is a son of Abram and 
Christina Vanaerman. He received but an ordinary education; 
came to this county in the fall of 1554. and has since resided within 
its limits. In 1561 he enlisted as a soldier in Co. A, 1st Reg. Iowa 
Cavsdry (an independent resiment"); participated in the following 
skirmishes: Prairie Grove, Boonville, and Bice Mertra; at the last 
named place he was shot through the wrist, which disabled him, 
and he returned home, Aug. 6, 1564, having served three years. 
He was married. May 2. 1546. to Susan "Ward well, by whom he has 
had 4 children: viz., Geo. M., Chas. IL.Wm. B. and Ranson D. 

li. M. Wilson, farmer, sec. 9: P.O., Hamilton : is a native of Ohio, 
and was born April 16, 1S41. His parents, Robert and Mary Wilson, 



818 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



were natives of Penn. He was reared in his native State and 
received but a common-school education. 

He came to this county in 1S71 and has since resided here. He 
was married, Dec. 1. 1870, to Marv A. Buchanan, and their 2 
children are Mary E. and Flora B. 

Mr. W. owns a farm of 160 acres in sees. 4 and 9. 

OFFICIALS. 

The following is a list of the Supervisors. Clerks, Assessors and 
Collectors that have served in this township since its organization, 
with the years in which their respective terms began. 



?UPEEVIS0RS. 



Robert F. Smith 1S50 

Samuel Steele l8o-2 

Robt. F. Smith 1853 

Thomas Ru^des 1858 

Thos. McLelfan 1859 

Ephraim Gnibb 1861 

Thos. McLellao 1862 

Wm. O. Stmford 1863 

Thomas Ruggles 1865 

William Stewart 1866 



Thomas Rueeles 1867 

Jonathan MTBerrv 1868 

James Reynolds ISTO 

Jonathan M. Berry 1871 

Thomas Ruggles. .' 1872 

David Hanson 1874 

Ebenezer D. Crouch 1875 

Sylvester L. Comer 1876 

flenrv C. Hanson 1877 



CLERKS. 



Gideon Alkire 18-55 

Samuel Gordon 1858 

D. W. C. Harris 1863 

Francis J. Russell 1865 

Samuel Gordon 1866 

TVm. O. Sanford 1874 



Georse D. Savller 1875 

S. P. Hubbard 1876 

George D. Savller 1877 

Frank C Crane 1878 

Marshall B. Lane 1S80 



ASSESSORS. 



Enoch D. Brown 1858 

A. L.Miller 1859 

Benj amin J. "Welch 1860 

Thomas Gre 2:2 1861 

E. C. A. Cushman 1862 

Edward Law 1863 

Edward F. Humphrey 1864 

Henry R. Dickinson.'. 1866 



J. C. Paxton 1867 

Cyrus H. Wright 1870 

Henrv R. Dickinson 1871 

J. R.'MarshaU 1872 

O. J. Lormg 1874 

James Burchard 1875 

Henrv R. Dickinson 1876 

W. L" Guthrie 1879-18S0 



COLLECTORS. 



Samuel Grordon 1855 

William H. Githens 1858 

Thomas Reid 1>^59 

Enoch D. Brown 1860 

E. C. A. Cushman 1861 

Thomas Reid 1862 

Horace J. Mack 1863 

Thomas J. Potts 1865 

P. K. Tuttle 1866 

7ahn R. Marshall 186S 



John McClauchry 1870 

John R. Marshall 1871 

James E. Morrison 1872 

William C. Peake 1874 

Edgar Stewart 1875 

David ^uter 1876 

Ezra H. Stuart 1877 

David Suter 1878 

Albert E. Connable 1879 

Edward Grubb 1880 



FOrSTATN' GREEN' TOWNSHIP. 

The beautiful Tillage with fanciftil name gave title to to\raship 
6 n, 5 w. It is agreeably diversified with woodland and prairie, 
and about evenly divided. Its timbered and broken lands lie along 
the several branches of Crooked creek. 

The village of Fountain Green was laid out in 1S35. by Jabez A. 
Beebe and Stephen G. Ferris, two of its early and enterprising 
settlers. The township also contains the town of Webster. This 
was originally a Mormon town, laid out in 1510 by "Wm. "Wight- 
man, and called Eamus, or Macedonia. Al'ter they left, its name 
was changed to Webster. Its p<:»pulation in 1^4:5 had reached ab.:»ut 
000, mostly Mormons. The villages are only about a mile apart; 
the first is much better built than the latter, and seems to be in a 
more fiourishing condition. 

This township now contains a large number of excellent and 
well-improved farms and substantial farmers, many of them 
descendants of early settlers who have passed away. A few of 
them are yet remaining, their heads whitened by the frosts of 
many winters. 

The earliest settler in the township is supposed to have been 
Ute Perkins, who came in 1S26. The next was John Brewer, in 
1"?27: followed by Abram. James and Mordecai Lincoln. Benjamin 
Mudd. John Day, Andrew and Pittillo Perkins and Wm. Saylors, 
all in or about 1530. Then Wm. Dufi'. Jabez Ll. Beebe and Jona- 
than Prior, 1531: Stephen G. Ferris. 1532: Amos Hobart, 1533; 
Wm. Allton, 1534: Jarv White, 1^35: Martin Hopkins, 1S36; Col. 
Thomas Geides, 1536: David Allton, 1536. 

James Lincoln was the first Justice of the Peace in the town- 
ship, from 1532 to 1536. From his docket, still extant, in the 
hands of L. Vandvne, Esq.. of Webster, we obtain the following 
additional names, either as parties in cases or jurymen: William 
Pobertson, Eben Wiggins. James Gray, Edward Farley, William 
Shipley, G^c»rge W. Howard, John Secrist, John Massingall, Nich- 
olas Jarvis. Leney Bloyd. Edward Shipley. Ira Gridley. Samuel 
Prentice, Evan Martin, John Shelton. Jacob Cofiman, Jacob Clark, 
Thomas Whitaker, Samuel Brown. Daniel Prentis and Anson 
Hobart, Charles Hungate succeeded to the dtx-ket in 1536. 

On the tombstones in the Fountam Green cemetery we find the 
following: 

(819) 



S20 HISTOET OF HA^'COCE. COr^fTT. 

Died. Affed. Died. Aeed. 

Stephen P. Freeman 1S60 "70 Stephen H.'Tvler. Jr iSoo "-43 

Wm. Bullock 1S72 t>5 Hannah Tyler 1ST4 84 

James Westfall ISoS 50 Eunice Ferris 1S60 72 

Jar.- White 1S44 57 Thomas Callihan 1S63 S3 

Lucena White 1S64 74 Marearet Callihan 1S69 SO 

Basil Wriirht lS6o 56 Jared Prentis 1S57 53 

Matt, furrv 1S64 46 John Campbell iSoS 54 

3Iatt. Currv 1S70 SS James Campbell 1S77 71 

Matt. Currv 1S76 73 Jabez A. Beebe 1S71 83 

Stephen H." Tyler. Sr 1S71 85 

Some of the foregoing were very probably residents of other 
townships, and some may not have been among the pioneers. 

The first child born in the township is said to have been Thomas 
J. Brewer, son of John Brewer, in 1S29: the second, James Day, 
son of John Day. August. 1S31; and third (perhaps second, date 
not obtained ». Alexander Saviors, also in 1S31, son of "William 
Saylors. 

The first death was that of Pittillo Perkins. Sept. 15, 1S34. who 
died from the efiects of poisonous herbs taken for the ague. "Wm. 
Dufl' died 1S3T, killed by a limb falling on him from a tree. 

The Perkinses joined the Mormons at Pamus, and went with them 
to Salt Lake. Andrew Perkins was a County Commissioner at the 
time, and left his seat vacant. 

The Lincoln brothers were from Kentucky, and were cousins to 
President Lincoln. They were connected by marriage with Day 
and Mudd. The latter left years ago for Missouri. All three are 
deceased years ago; Mordecai.the latest, in 1S66. He had lived a 
Bachelor. 

David Alton was born in Connecticut about the year 17S6, and 
was married to Lucy Farwell. a native of Vermont. Mr. A. died 
at Fountain Green about 1S50. aged 64 years. Mrs. Alton survived 
him till the month of May. ISSO. when she passed away, at the ad- 
vanced age of 9-'. 

A postoffice was established two years before the town was laid 
out, in 1S33. and Jabez A. Beebe appointed Postmaster. The first 
regular school-teacher is supposed to have been Judge John M. 
Ferris, son of S. G. Ferris, and now of Carthage. The first school 
house was erected about lS3t3. 

Mr. Beebe was a Xew Yorker, born July 1, 17S9; came to Fort 
Edwards previous to deep snow, and wintered on the Aldrich 
place in the vicinity; in the spring settled in Fountain Green, where 
he died July 2, 1S71, aged S2. 

Who was first to open store in the village we are not advised; 
but Martin Hopkins t^at present living there). Mathew McClaughry 
and Stephen H. Tyler, junior, carried on general merchandising busi- 
ness there as a firm for many years. They were all prominent and 
much respected men in the counnunity. 

Wm. Saylors was l>orn in Tennessee about 1S02. came to Foun- 
tain Green with the Perkinses in 1S30; died in 1S50. agei.i 4S. 

John Brewer was a Kentuckian. died about 1S52: was out in a 
campaign in the Black Hawk war. 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 821 

Hickerson "Wright, born in Virginia, 1791; came to the county 
in 1S33; died, January, 1S77. 

Jary White, Sr., was born in "Wales about 1790; came to America 
in ISll, and settled in Fountain Green in 1S35; his death occurred 
September S, 1S41:; aged 57. 

John Day, born in Kentucky, 1796; came to Hancock in 1830; 
date of his death not given; Mrs. D. still living at an advanced age. 

Daniel Prentis, still living in the village, was a native of Vermont, 
son of a Revolutionary soldier, and was born in 1799; came to 
Fountain Green and settled in 1S33; was engaged in merchandis- 
ing in Carthage about 1835, and under the wild scheme of internal 
improvements had a contract with the State for grading a portion 
of the Warsaw cS: Peoria Railroad, in 1838-'9. "Prentis' Shanty," 
on the line of said road, M'as for years a well-known landmark. 

KELTGIOUS PROGRESS. 

Revs. Abell, Logan and Lawton are remembered as among the 
earliest gospel ministers in Fountain Green. There were a num- 
ber of Catholic families in the neighborhood, and a Catholic So- 
ciety was organized at an early day, and a house of worship erected 
about the year 1838. The organization was kept up but for a few 
years, when the edilice was sold. This organization was etfected 
through the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. St. Cyr. 

Of the several Churches in Fountain Green we have only been 
able to procure the history of the Presbyterian, for which we are 
indebted to Rev. Thomas M. Walker, its Pastor. 

The Presb3'terian Church of Fountain Green was organized Nov. 
27, 1840. by a committee of the Presbytery of Schuyler (O. S.), 
consisting of Revs. Wm. Stewart and James M. Chase, of Macomb, 
in the district school-house in the village. Members enrolled: 
Thomas Geddes, Susan Geddes, James McConnell, Margaret 
McConnell, Martha McConnell, Samuel Glass, Rachel Glass. Jane 
Seal, Wm. Foy, Ruth Foy, Irene Foy, and Mary McClaughry; 
Thomas Geddes and James McConnell, Elders. 

The congregation was supplied by the before-named ministers 
till the summer of 1849; then for nearly two years by Rev. Ralph 
Harris, residing in Carthage; afterward by Rev. Joseph Worrell, 
of Chili. In June, 1^52, an invitation was extended to Rev. 
Thomas M. Walker to become the stated supply, and in 1853 he 
was regularly installed Pastor of the Church, and from that time to 
the present (1880), he has, almost without interruption, ministered 
to this congregation. Other Elders: Aug., 1852, James Blair, John 
M. Walker and James Miller; March, 1855, James Campbell and 
John McClaughry; Oct., 1874, Solomon Kions, Joseph Spangler 
and Cyrus M. Geddes. The present session consists of Thomas 
Geddes, John M. '\Valker, Joseph Spangler and Cyrus Geddes. 

A neat and commodious house of worship was erected in 1851, 
costing about $1,000. In 1872 this property was disposed of to 



822 HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

the M. E. Church, and the new one now occupied, erected at a cost 
of about $6,000. This is a neat and handsome church, 34 by 62 
feet, with a full-size basement, all suitably furnished. 

This Church has enjoyed at least an ordinary degree of prosperity. 
In the winter of 1873 an extensive revival of religion added about 
forty to the number of its membership; and again, in 1875, seven- 
teen more were added by profession of faith. But while there 
have been additions, there have also been losses by almost contin- 
ual emigration to the West, so that this Church has stood in the 
relation of a feeder to many newer congregations in the localities 
beyond the Mississippi, and to some nearer home. There were 
115 reported as members in the spring of 1879. 

BIOGEAPHIES. 

As personal sketches are the most interesting and important 
part of the history of a community, we give a number of them 
here: 

William Allton was born in Lewis county, N. Y., in 1811. 
He is of a family of 11 children, 7 of whom are living. The 
father, David Allton, was of English descent; was a farmer by 
occupation; emigrated to Western N. Y. in 1820, and in 1836, 
to this State, settling in Fountain Green tp. He died in 1848, 65 
years of age. The mother, who died recently, at the advanced age 
of 91, was also of English descent and a native of the same State. 
The oldest daughter, Salona, the wife of Conrad Cratzenburg, died 
in this county in 1854. David F., the elder brother, was married 
in New York; emigrated to this State in 1834, and died in 1871, 
leaving a widow and 8 children. Lucy, the oldest sister, is the 
wife of Cyrus Kyes, of New York. Betsey, wife of Henry E. Vro- 
man, emigrated to this State in 1834; her husband dying, she 
married Clement Logston, of Macomb, who died in ] 866. W. S., 
N. A., Elliott and Miles, are farmers of this county. Miles died a 
soldier before Yicksbnrg, in 1865. 

William, the subject of this sketch, the third in age, in early 
life a farmer, emigrated to Rushro in 1833; was educated in the 
common schools. He was married in 1840, to Mary A. Gibson, 
who, with one child, died in 1843. He then came West to Indiana, 
where he was engaged for a time in merchandising at Crown Point. 
Here he remained eleven years, returning in 1854 to New York, 
and settled as a farmer. In 1860 he came to Knox county, near 
Galesburg, where he engaged in farming. He was married 
again, to Sarah Meredith, who became the mother of one child, Wm. 
B., who died with his mother in 1866. He was married again in 
1874, to Miss Maggie Fitch, of New York, with whom, and their 
sweet little girl Lillie, he is now enjoying the greatest blessings of 
a domestic lite. Mr. A. resides within a quarter of a mile of the . 
village of Fountain Green, where he settled on a farm of 80 acres, 
in section 33, also 40 of timber. His neat and commodious 




/70^l-L->^' 



iifc- 



SON RA TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 825 

residence stands upon a rise of ground so as to give him a view of 
the surrounding country to be seen in no other part of the tp. 
Mr. A. has never been before the people as a candidate for office, 
but from his extensive library, and his genial, social qualities, he 
would not be an unfit servant for any position in which his friends 
might place him. 

Richard Bmnden was born in Adams county. Pa., in 1S09, and 
died at the age of 4.5, near Iowa City. He was an early settler of 
this tp., and the father of a family of 11 children, 6 of whom are 
living. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary M. Favorite, 
of the same nativity, and of French-German descent, is living, at 
this writing, in good health, and enjoying a happy life at the old 
homestead. The family came from Ohio to McDonough county in 
1839, and in '46 to the farm now occupied by Mrs. B., on sec. 15, 
consisting of 160 acres. The oldest daughter, Teresene, is the 
widow of Daniel Kimport, of Pa. She now resides in Macomb. 
James F., now a widower, is salesman for the McCormick Reaper 
Company. He has 3 little children — Ernest, Richard B. and Myrt 
Mabel. Lizzie, the third in the family, is the wife of Robert 
Geddes, a farmer of this township. Richard B. died in the late 
war. Edward E. died in infancy. Mary A. died near the date of 
the father's death, at the age of seven. Elias M. (wife, Susan Hay) 
has one child, Bessie. Julia F. is the wife of John Miller. Edward 
B. is now carrj'ing on the farm with his mother. George was born 
in McDonough county in 1842. His early experience was on the 
farm and in the common schools. He was married in 1871 to Miss 
Laura Geddes, daughter of Col. Geddes, a lady devoted not only to 
her husband and children, but to her Christian work. Mr. B. has 
a family of 2 sons and one daughter — Maud, Royle and Robert G. 
The Branden family are Presbyterian in religious faith and Repub- 
lican in political principles. George was with the memorable 118th 
under Col. Fonda; was gone three years, and was discharged when 
the war -was over. He moved to his farm in 1871, and in 1876 
built the neat residence which may be seen three-fourths of a mile 
south of Fountain Green. George is a wide-awake citizen, and 
from his movements does not intend to rest complacently and see 
the world drive unless he is one of the drivers. 

John Bullock was born in Western Canada in 1819, his father 
emigrating from Scotland a short time before. Mr. B. is of a family 
of 8 sons and 4 daughters. Five of the sons came to this county. 
John came in 1853, ten years after his brother William, who is 
reckoned among the early and most progressive settlers. His father 
and mother died at an advanced age, at their old home in Canada. 
John stayed with his father until he was 26 years of age, when ho 
began farming on his own hook. He was married in 1834, to Miss 
Jennet Anderson, a Scotch lady of refined taste and manners. She 
is now the mother of 8 living children — Margaret, the wife of A. 
M. Cratzenburg; Tiiomas, Gilbert, John, Jennet, William and Mary 
(twins) and Gracie, the youngest. 



826 mSTOKT OF HAXCOCK COrXTT, 

Mr. B., learning of the agricultural features of this country, and 
being a farmer, came here for the purpose of staying. He makes 
wheat'^raising a specialty, and considers it as sure as any other crop. 
He owns :^60 acres of good land on sec. 16, all in cultivation or 
pasture. Himself and lady have been members of the Christian 
Church for 16 years. Mr. B. is not a Radical in politics, and the 
treatment a stranger receives at the hands of the family is indica- 
tive of their generous Scotch hospitality. 

WiUiajn BulIocl\t'AtheT of John H.. was born in Glasgow. Scot- 
land, in ISOT; came to Canada in ISIS with his parents, settling at 
Lanark, in Lanark county. He was married about 1S30, to Miss 
Christina McDougal. a Highland Scotch lady. His children were 
all born in Canada, namely. Catharine. Thomas A., John H.. An- 
drew E. and James S. Mr. B. came to Hancock county in 184:2, 
and resided in Fountain Green tp. until his death, June 23, IS 72. 
His wife died May 24, 1845. Two of Mr. B."s sons were in our 
last war. Thomas A., a member of Co. A, llSth 111. Vol. Inf., and 
John H. in Co. G. 2d 111. Cav. The company was raised by Col. 
B. F. Marsh, as good a commander as ever drew a saber. 

Thomas CamphtJl was born in Franklin county. Fa., in 1805. 
His father, of the same name and nativity, died at his old home at 
the age of &^. Mr. C. was of a family of 2 sisters and 8 brothers. 
His mother, whose maiden name was Isabel Elder, was buried be- 
side his father in 1S16. He began to learn the hatter's trade, after- 
ward taking an interest in the business, and carried on the factory 
for 39 years. He was married at the age of 22 to Margaret Camp- 
bell, of the same county and State, daughter of John Campbell. 
Mr. C. and lady have raised a family of 9 children. 2 sons and 
T daughters, who are scattered from Eastern Pennsylvania to West- 
ern Kansas. Henrietta is with her pai-ents. 

Mr. Campbell emigrated to this State in 1S53. settling in this tp. 
directly south of the village of Fountain Green, where he purchased a 
farm of SO acres; built a commodious residence, and after occupy- 
ing it for nearly 20 years, he engaged for a short time in mer- 
chandising. He is now living a retired life in the attractive little 
\illage of " The Green." 

Mr. C . was a Whig before the war and has been a Eepublican 
since. He sacrificed one son. John "W., in the memorable trials 
before Yicksburg ou Black river. Mr. C. and family are con- 
nected with the Presbyterian Church, and are among the faithful 
ones who have preserved the fair name of their little village from 
being tarnished by intemperance. 

John 2f. J. Cox\^A& born in Breckenridge county. Ky.. in 1S20. 
He was the 3d in a family of 6 children: Benjamin and Elizabeth, 
the father and mother. The lather was born in Westminster 
county. Pa., in 1774. The mother, whose maiden name was Mid- 
cap, was a Virginian by birth. Mr. Cox was a farmer in early 
life, receiving the merest benefits of the subscription schools, 
traveling four miles to procure what he did. He has one sister in 



HISTORY OF HA2fC0CK COrXTT. S27 

this tp., the wife of George McElvain. After spending a few 
years on the farm with his father, he began teaching, and followed 
that business during the winter terms for eight or ten years. He 
was married to !Miss Elizabeth E. "Welch, the daughter of James 
Welch, an earlv settler of this county. Tliey have no children. In 
1S72 Mr. Cox purchased an interest in the store run by Riley cfe 
Wright in IS 73. but sold out to Smith »\: Booze. In the spring of 
1S76 he engaged in business with John B. "Welch, who went "West 
in 1S7S. fie then moved the goods to where he now holds forth in 
the village of "Webster, doing a general merchandising business. 
He was appointed Postmaster in 1S76. which position he now holds. 
Mr. C. has held the office of Justice o^ the Peace 20 years. He is a 
sound Republican and a genial friend; this, with the pleasant 
address of his lady (which is a characteristic of the "Welch tamily\ 
cause all to feel comfortable in their presence. 

Br/ijamin Crabill was born in Shenandoah county. "Va..in 1S15. 
His father, John C, of German descent, died at the advanced age 
of 91. His mother died in Ohio, nearly 70 years of age. where the 
family had emigrated a few years before. Mr. C.'s school days 
were like the Irishman's potatoes, few and far between. He was 
married in Ohio in 1S36. to Angeliue Steinburger, whose parents 
were natives of Virginia. She was a member of the Baptist 
Church, and died Jan. 1, ISSO. Had raised a family of 7 children. 
as follows: John H., Olander, "William. Joseph R., Lizzie. Louis 
and Lucinda. Lizzie died at the age of 33. Mr. C. came to this 
county in 1S49. and settled on sec. 5. where he now has 2S0 acres 
of land well improved, on which he built a large and commodious 
brick building in 1S5S. John H.. the eldest of the family, remained 
with his father in early life, and was married in 1S61 to Miss Pru- 
dence Typton, daughter of John Typtou. of Macomb, formerly from 
Ohio. After wandering for a few years in Iowa and elsewhere he 
finally took charge of the old homestead, where he has since 
resided. The father, now being relieved of the cares of the fai-m, 
enjoys his declining days with a happy group of grandchildren, 
S in number: Ida "\V.,Ella A.. Benjamin, Emma L., John F.. Mary 
E., Jane A. and Freddie W. The family, one and all, know how 
to dispense kindness and hospitality, making the Crabill residence 
assume the character of the stranger's home. 

JTorns Crumj), M.D... is the *on of Wm. Crump, a native of Chel- 
ton. Eng.,aud formerly editor and proprietor of the Chelton Jlorning 
Chronicle; emigrating to Philadelphia in 1S36, he became editor- 
in-chief of the Penn-yyJvania £n</uirer. Died about 1560, aged 
66. Morris is the 5th of a family of 7 sons and 3 daughters. His 
brother George is now acting as British "\'ice-Consul. John is the 
proprietor of the noted Colonnade Hotel at Philadelphia. 

Morris spent his early life with his father in the Quaker city, 
attending the public schools. He entered Philadelphia College ot 
Medicine, graduating in 1S"54:, locating the first year as resident 
physician of the Philadelphia Clinical Infirmary. He came to this 



828 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

county in 1855, settled in the village of Fountain Green, where he 
has since had a reasonable practice. Mr. C. was married in 1860 to 
Miss Rachel White, daughter of Major White, of McDonough 
county, who died in 1866. She is the mother of 4 children, 2 girls 
and 2 boys. Mary, the eldest daughter, is now taking a course of 
study at St. Mary's College, Nauvoo; Janie, aged about nine; 
Wm. H. and George, the 2 boys at home. Mr. Crump has begun 
a residence, which, when finished, will be a model of taste and com- 
fort. Though somewhat eccentric in manners, he does not allow 
any one who calls to escape his genial hospitality. 

Solomon Dill was born in Jackson county, Tenn., in 1822; his 
father, Stephen Dill, was of Scotch descent, and a native of Penn- 
sylvania; fought under Gen. Jackson in the war of 1812. His 
grandfather also fought the British under Gen. Washington, in 1776. 
The father emigrated to this State with his family in 1832, and 
died at an advanced age about 1858. His mother, whose maiden 
name was Catharine Harris, and who was a native of North Caro- 
lina, died in 1870. Solomon, the fifth in a family of 7 children, is 
now 58 years of age, has had general success in life and good health. 
He has one sister living now in Iowa, and a brother in Kansas. 
Mr. D. was deprived of the advantages of an education when a boy, 
and is showing his appreciation of the loss by giving his children 
all the advantages accessible. He was married in McDonough 
county in 1842 to Leanna Harris. She is the mother of 7 chil- 
dren living, 4 sons and 3 daughters, whose names are Mary, Elijah, 
Anna, Ada, Reuben, Ethelbert and Charley. Anna is the wife of 
Samuel Brown, and Ada of a Mr. Dorothy, both farmers of this tp. 
Mr. D. owns near 470 acres of land, 160 acres in his home farm in a 
fine state of cultivation. His residence and barn are plain but 
neat, and are surrounded by tasteful clusters of trees, some of 
which are of more than a century's growth. 

Dr. Leonard T. Ferris was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 
1817. He is the son of Stephen G., whose biography is given on 
page 707. He was a native of Dutchess county, where the fam- 
ily had settled at an early day; emigrated to this county in Dec, 
1832, and was one of the founders of the village of Fountain Green. 
He improved a farm near this place and raised a family of 3 sons, 
J. M., H. G. and the Doctor, all well known in this county. He 
removed to Carthage, and after remaining 12 years, died 
at the residence of his son in Fountain Green, in November, 
1877. The mother, who was a sister of Jacob Beebe, who 
was the chief founder of the village spoken of, died in 1857, 
and is buried beside her husband in the beautiful cemetery of 
Fountain Green. Dr. L. T. Ferris was employed in early life on 
the farm with his father; after receiving his first education in the 
common schools he graduated in the study of medicine at the medi- 
cal department in the St. Louis University, in the spring of 1848, 
and began practicing soon after. Mr. Ferris was married in 
McDonough county in May, 1859, to Helen M. Gilchrist, sister of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 829 

Gen. Gilchrist, civil engineer. They have a family of 7 children 
living, 4 sons and three daughters: Charles L., Lelia, Alice L., 
Ulysses S., Ralph A¥., Helen, a little girl of 10, and Hiram G., a 
boy of 8. Charles S., the oldest son, after graduating at Carthage 
College in the class of '76, attended Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago, and also graduated there in 1878, since which time he has 
had an encouraging practice with his father. He was married in 
1878 to Miss Ella Connor, of Warsaw, III, Mr. F. was attending 
school during the Mormon difficulties in 1845-''16, and therefore 
took little part with his fellow citizens in that noted affair, although 
he was a Whig and an Anti-Mormon. He owns a farm of 80 acres 
besides his town residence and a few other lots. He is one of the 
quiet and unassuming business men of his tp. 

John G. Fonda was born on the Mohawk river, in Mont- 
gomery county, JVew York, March 8, 1822. His parents were Giles 
Fonda and Maria, nee Dockstader. The Fonda famil}'^ are of Low 
Dutch descent and the Dockstader, of German. The subject of this 
sketch came to Hancock county wath his parents in 1835, and has 
regarded this as his home most of the time since. In 1840 he com- 
menced the practice of surveying with J. Wilson Williams, and 
the greater portion of his life has been spent as a surveyor and 
civil engineer, in which profession he is engaged at the present 
time. From 1841 to 1843 he acted as Deputy County Surveyor 
under J. Wilson Williams. In 1844, in company with Alanson 
Lyon, he visited the island of Cuba. In 1847 he enlisted as a 
private in Capt. Stapp's company of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, 
and went to Mexico; did service between Vera Cruz and the city 
of Mexico. At the close of the war, the following year, he was 
discharged as a Lieutenant. In 1849 he was married to Mary 
McConnell, and the same year was elected County Surveyor, and 
settled in Carthage; lived there until 1854, when he moved to War- 
saw and was appointed an assistant engineer on the Warsaw & 
Rockford Railroad. 

In 1860 he spent the summer in Colorado and New Mexico. In 
July, 1861, he entered the United States Volunteer Service as a 
Lieutenant in Capt. B. F. Marsh's Company of 2d Illinois Cavalry. 
In January, 1862, he was appointed Major of the 12th Illinois 
Cavalry, and soon after placed in command of Camp Butler, near 
Springfield. In October he was made Colonel of the 118tli Vol. 
Inf., and in December went with his regiment to Louisiana, where 
he served most of the time in command of a brigade until the close 
of the war. With his regiment he participated in all the battles 
about Vicksbnrg. After the fall of Vicksburg he had command 
of a cavalry brigade, and was breveted Brigadier-General. After 
the close of the war, in 1866, he settled on a farm near Fountain 
Green, and lives there yet. In July, 1877, he was appointed a 
Commissioner of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary, and still holds 
the position. In September, 1879, he was appointed Chief Engi- 



830 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

iieer to construct levees between "Warsaw and Quincj. to protect 
the low lands from overflow. This work is still in procuress. 

William M. Hardey was born in CJnion county Ky., in 1831, 
and is the son of John Hardey, of English descent, and a native of 
Maryland, who emigrated to this county in 1835 and settled on sec. 
36 of this tp., where he died at the old homestead, aged 79. 

The mother, whose maiden name was Mary A. Riley, a native of 
Kentucky, is still living (1880), aged 74. William has had the 
whole experience of a farmer's life, and being satisfied, will be 
likely to continue that branch of industry. He attended the com- 
mon echool? of this county, which were not the best, 40 years ago. 
He was married in 1869 to Maria Tallis, daughter of Wm. Tallis, 
a native of Ireland, now in McDonough county. They have had 
4 children : William H., Eva, Kittle and Blanche. Mr. H. has the 
care of his father's farm, now belonging to the Hardey heirs: it 
consists of 320 acres. 

There are 3 brothers and 5 sisters of the family, none of whom 
reside in this tp. except William. Mr. Hardey and lady have been 
life-long members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Hardey is liberal 
in his views, charitable in action, and has the faculty of making one 
feel at home in his company. 

Byers Hensly is the eldest son of Nathan Hensly, who was a 
native of Kentucky, and who died at the age of 65, in Hopkins, 
Mo. The father was of English descent; emigrated from Kentucky 
to Indiana. After remaining there for some time he sold his 
farm, moved to Texas and began dealing in money and stocks. He 
resided for a time in Washington city, then went to Hopkins, Mo., 
where the mother still resides, aged 65. The mother, whose maiden 
name was Mary Mosier, was a native of Middle Tennessee, and of 
German descent. 

Byers and Henry, a j^ounger brother, are among the thriving 
farmers of this tp., and take deep interest in educational and 
religious interests. 

Byers came from Texas in 1856, and in 1858 was married to 
Martha Anderson. In 1868 he came to this county, settling finally 
on sec. 14, where he has a farm of 80 acres. Having a very strong 
taste for mechanism he early began work at the carpenter's bench, 
in the end proving himself to be quite a success, and winding up 
his career in that branch by constructing a very neat and substan- 
tial residence, in 1876, upon his own farm. 

Mr. H. has a family of 2 daughters, Mary and Lizzie. Sparing 
no pains to show his appreciation of the value of an education, he 
gave them all the advantages at his command. They are both suc- 
cessful teachers, at this writing, and are teaching in districts near 
their home. 

Alfred R. Hotchkiss was born in New Haven county, Connecti- 
cut, in 1820; he is the son of Alfred Hotchkiss, of French descent, 
a shoemaker by trade and in later life a farmer. He died at eighty- 
six years of age in Cayuga county, N. Y. His mother, whose 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 831 

maiden name was Lana Rosa, of Scotch-German blood, died in 
Cortland county, N. Y., J839. Mr. H. has but two brothers living, 
Andrew A., a farmer in Michigan, and Samuel L., a hotel-keeper in 
Chenango county, !N. Y. When but a small boy Mr. H. was left 
alone, and like many of the homeless yet ambitious orphan boys of 
New York, sought employment as a " tow boy " on the Erie Canal. 
After four years' drive in this capacity he was promoted to the 
position of pilot, afterward Captain, on J. H. Hooker's line. He 
next went to London, Canada, where he drove stage for some time, 
and followed the same business at Detroit, Kalamazoo, Chicago, 
Burlington, Barnesville, Virginia, etc. April 18, 1849, he was 
married at Montrose, Iowa, to Miss Sarah P. Campbell, a lady from 
Burlington, Iowa; she is of Scotch-Irish blood and the mother of 
2 children, living; Roseltha, the wife of Wm. Mull, of Joliet, 111., 
and Carrie B., an accomplished young lady at home. Mr. H. had 
a scant advantage of the subscription schools of New York in 1830; 
he took an interest in a livery stable at Keokuk, began running 
transportation wagons in that city, and with Wm. Graham owned 
and ran a stage line between Keokuk and Augusta; he afterward 
purchased a livery in Plymouth and remained there two years, 
when he went back to Keokuk in 1860; he enlisted in Co. C, of 
the 3d Iowa Cavalry, was promoted Veterinary Surgeon for the 
company, afterward for the regiment; so remained until discharged 
at the close of the war. He was engaged for a time as contractor 
on the D. M. R. R. ; came to Hamilton, where he remained until 
he began a general merchandising business in Fountain Green in 
1877. Mr. H. is one who believes in an active life, and is one also 
who enjoys his home, family and friends in the highest degree. 

Joel Howd was born in Oneida county, N. Y., 1821, the second 
son of Isaac and Anna (Johnson) Howd, both of Connecticut. The 
mother died in Oneida county, N. Y., in February, 1833, 34 j^ears 
of age. The father came to this State and died at Pontoosuc, this 
county, March, 1856, 56 3^ears of age. Joel in early life attended 
the farm with his father, during which time a white swelling caused 
one of his lower limbs to become shorter than the other. The 
family emigrated to Pilot Grove tp., and were the first to turn the 
sod on sec. 16. The sad misfortune which befel Joel caused him 
to look for an occupation better suited to his physical condition; 
he therefore went to Warsaw in 1841 and remained three years, 
learning the tailor's trade. He began business in that line at Web- 
ster, about the time the Mormons made their exit, 1846, which he 
continued till 1855; he then began a general merchandising busi- 
ness in the same place which he has since continued, and is now 
doing a successful business. Mr. H. during this time held the post- 
office twenty-four years, resigning in 1875; was also J. P. for a 
number of years. March 26, 1849, he was married to Hester Mc- 
Elvain, whose parents had eniigrated^froni Ohio; have 4 children 
living; Inez, the wife of George Evans, a merchant of Burnside; 
Sarah J. wife of B. Wright, of Fountain Green; Hattie E. and Nellie 



832 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

B., at home. Mr. Howd during his past life has not merely en- 
couraged the moral elevation of liis community by words and walk, 
but has actually sacrificed time and money. His neighbors testify 
to his life-long struggle against the monster evil, intemperance, in 
which his toils have not been in vain ; for one knowing what the 
village of Webster was ten years ago he could hardly suppose it 
would now be without a licensed saloon. To know that he has 
prospered socially and financially one needs only to go and visit his 
business establishment and see his residence and family, where, 
in their music and merriment, he in his decline of life is spending 
his happiest days. His portrait appears on the opposite page. 

The first of this family we can learn by name is Samuel flowd, a 
native of Connecticut, a farmer, who moved to Oneida county, N. 
Y., where he died about 82 3'ears of age. His son, Isaac C, was 
born in Connecticut, and from the age of ten years was brought up 
in Oneida county, N. Y., where he was married in 1818. His wife 
died in 1833, leaving a family of 8 children: Edmund, Joel, Betsey, 
Otis, Smith, Julius and Julia (twins), and Eveline. The second 
time Mr. Isaac C. Howd married Mary Roe, and moved to Crawford 
county, Pennsylvania, with his family in 1835, where he remained 
until 1837, when he, with his wife and 5 children, removed to this 
county, settling in Carthage. He bought a farm in Pilot Grove, 
tp., where he lived many years, and afterward moved to Pontoosuc, 
where he built the Franklin House, which he kept as a hotel nearly 
■until his death. Mr. H. was Justice of the Peace for many years 
in this county, and was a man highly esteemed by the community 
for his many sterling qualities. 

David Leach was born in Litchfield county, N. Y., in 1816; he 
emigrated to this State finally in 1852, settling on the northwest 
of sec. 31, this tp. Being of an ingenious mind, he turned his 
attention early in life to mechanical exercise, serving for a time as 
a carpenter upon vessels at sea. Later he has attended strictly to 
the duties of farm life, paying some attention to bees and horti- 
culture. Mr. Leach was married Feb. 26, 1838, to Eliza Sherwood, 
nativity same as himself. She died Feb. 28, 1878. 

Mr. Leach has had 8 children, 4 now living: Jesse, Sarah, Ken- 
drick, Barak, Henry, George, Hettie and Chitty are their names 
in order of their ages. The 4 younger boys are not living. Ken- 
drick was with Sherman in the 2d Iowa, was left sick at Lovejoy 
Station, where it is supposed he died in 1864. Barak was in Co. 
A, 7th Mo. Cav., under Capt. Brawner; he died at Sedalia, Mo., 
Oct. 6, 1852. Mr. Leach being on the decline of life, has given 
the management of his farm into the hands of Jesse, who is now 
running it. Jesse, like his father, uses every spare moment in 
perusing substantial works on science and art. 

K. J\. Zeach, brother of the preceding, was born in the State of 
^ew York in 1818. He emigrated to this State in 1852, purchased 
a farm owned by Jabez Beebe, directly north of the village of 
Fountain Green, which he still owns. His father, Jesse Leach, 



\ 








/' 



V 



U FOUN 




(^^ 



^^ 



Fountain Green Tp, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 835 

was a native of Litchfield county, Conn., and of English blood. 
He died in 1S31, aged 53 years. His mother, nee Zarnah Loomis, 
was of the same county and State as his father. She was also 
of English descent and a relative not far distant from Prof. Loomis, 
of Yale College, who has published a genealogy of the family. 
She was born May 16, 1791. She died in Kew" York, nearly 80 
years of age. Mr. Leach was employed in early life on tlie farm, 
and at the age of 18, engaged as a tow boy on the Erie canal. "Was 
with Col. Stephenson on his expedition around the Cape to Cali- 
fornia, during the Mexican war. Mr. L. was married in Xew York 
in 1851, to Mary J. Read, whose parents were from Mass. She is 
the mother of 3 children living; 2 sons and one daughter. Benja- 
min F., is a drover in Kansas; Silas, a farmer at home, and Celia, 
a miss of 10, also at home. Mr. Leach has had reasonable success 
in life, though but little encouragement to start from. He has 
been Justice of the Peace longer than any one now living in the 
count}', 28 years. His chances for education when young were 
poor, but he has gained a practical knowledge of things as he has 
advanced through life, and seems to be at home with scientific 
subjects. He owns the most costly and beautiful residence in the 
tp., which was built in 1862-'3, situated on the south end of his 
farm of 185 acres, adjoining Fountain Green. Mr. Leach is a 
Republican, and is not ashamed of his faith. 

James McConnell emigrated to this county in 1838, and pur- 
chased an improved farm on sec. 29. He was born in Franklin 
county' Pa., and is of Scotch descent. The family consisted of 6 
children, 4 of whom are still living. The mother, who is of the 
same nativity, has died. Martha, the eldest sister, is the wife of 
the late Alex. AValker, of this tp. Samuel went to Colorado during 
the gold excitement of 1850, and has since died, leaving one son. 
Mary is the wife of Gen. John G. Fonda, now of Quincy, 111. 
Alexander, the elder of the two brothers, now residing in this tp., 
spent his early life on the farm, and is still making agriculture his 
chief vocation. He was married in 1851, to ]\[iss Mary E. Walker, 
daughter of John ]\[. Walker, of this tp. A family of 5 children 
have blessed their domestic ties, two of whom are married. Fannie, 
the second in age, is the wife of Frank Fortney; and Anna is the 
wife of Price Lathro, both farmers by occupation. Linda, Charley 
and Johnny are at home. Mr. ^[cConnell has 300 acres of land, 
principally on sec. 29, to which place he moved in 1866. James, 
the younger of the two mentioned, is now keeping hotel in the 
village of Fountain Green. He was born in Franklin county, Pa., 
in 1827, and emigrated to this county with his father; was married 
during middle life, in 1868, to Mrs, E. L. Conner, of Pennsylvania. 
She is the mother of one child, Ralph, a boy now 10 years of age. 
Mr. M. began the business in which he is now engaged in 1869, 
during which time he has held the postoffice. He was Sergeant 
three years with Co. G, 12th 111. Cav. ; was on the Stoneman raid 
to Richmond, at Antietam, Gettysburg, etc. 

48 



836 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Robert McConnell was born in Franklin county, Pa., and emi- 
grated to this county in 1845. His father, Francis McConnell, was 
of English-Irish descent, who also emigrated to this county and 
died soon after, at the age of 83. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Hannah Campbell, died at the age of T2 in this tp. Robert, 
now TO years of age, is of a family of 11 children. He has been 
engaged in farming during his entire life, and now owns a farm of 
160 acres on sec. 29, this tp., where his father and mother are 
buried. He was married in 1849, to Miss Joanna Brewer, daughter 
of John Brewer, an early settler of this county. She is the mother 
of 3 children, living; viz., Morris C, Mary P. and Walter L.; all 
at home. Mr. M. was here in time to take part in the Mormon 
troubles. He was detailed to transport supplies to the brave (?) 
defenders of our liberties, near Nauvoo, and was present when the 
last remnant were placed on the opposite shore of the great river. 
"Uncle Bobby" has been several times Supervisor of his tp., and 
is still held among his people as a kind and generous citizen. 

Thomas Miller, deceased, emigrated to this county in May, 1836; 
was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1795. He opened up a 
farm on sec. 21, where he raised a family of 8 children: 4 sons and 
4 daughters. Mrs. Miller, whose maiden name was Margaret 
Meredith, was born in 1817; is of Irish-German descent, and a 
native of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1878, being 83 years 
of age. The mother is still living, and in good health at this 
writing. Kebecca died at the age of 7. The sons are all farmers 
of this tp. William is on a farm of 160 acres, in sec. 15, where he 
has resided since March, 1868. William was married in 1868 to 
Mij^ Christina Sibert, who is the mother of a happy little group 
of 3 children — James C, George W. and Josephine E., the last a 
little girl of 7 years. Mary is the wife of Wm. McCullough; Kate, 
unmarried, is a milliner at Fountain Green. Sarah E. is the wife 
of John Sibert. Robert, the second son, was born in 1842. At the 
age of 20 he enlisted in the war, under Col. Marsh, and was with 
that regiment for over two years; was at the engagements of siege 
of Yicksburg, Jackson's Mills, Holly Springs, etc. ; was wounded 
at the latter place, but was not discharged until after that mem- 
orable 4th of July, 1863, when V^icksburg yielded to the great 
General. James, born Sept. 4, 1846, also enlisted in the late war, 
but in the 12th 111. Cav., Co. G. He was only 17 years old at the 
time, and therefore had to take a turn holding horses; was with the 
regiment on the Red river expedition, and was discharged at the 
close of the war. He was married Sept. 19, 1875, to AnnaKelley, 
whose father, James Kelley, was a native of Kentucky. The little 
girl, Maggie, a loving little child, died June 13, 1880. James 
resides on sec. 15, where he owns 80 acres of good prairie land. 
John Miller, the youngest of the family, who now resides on the 
old homestead, was married in 1877, to Julia Brandon. They have 
but one child, a little girl of one year. The Miller family were 
among the oldest settlers here, and have all settled in life in the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 837 

immediate neighborhood where they were brought up. The father 
was active during the Mormon difficulties, and was a live Repub- 
lican during the late war. The Presbyterian Church record con- 
tains several of the family as members. 

L. J. Rhea is a native of this county, and was born in 1834, of 
Scotch descent, and is a son of Lewis Rhea, of Tennessee. Mr. R. 
received his early education in the common schools of this 
county, afterward graduating in the Keokuk Medical College 
in 1856. After traveling for some time in the West, he enlisted 
early in 1861, in Co. B, 2d Inf., under Gen. Lyon, He was 
among the troops ordered to Fort Scott to settle the Jayhawkers, 
thence to St. Louis; afterward he was at the 2d Bull Run. 
Among other engagements was " the seven-days fight," Gettys- 
burg, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. He was discharged at 
the close of the war at Washington city, 1865. His father and 
mother died at the ages of 64 and 58, and lie buried in Hancock 
tp., this county. Mr. K., at an advanced age in life, was married 
in 1876, to Mrs. White, widow of Jno. W. \Yhite, deceased. 

Mrs. Rhea is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Conn, of 
Hancock tp., formerly from ISTew York, who are still living, aged 
74 and 72 respectively. Ermina was born in Cattaraugus county, 
N. Y., in 1821. She was married to Mr. White in March, 1865; 
by him she has 2 children, J, Willard and John Prosper. Also 
has under her care Lewis Leslie Rhea and little Ralph Parsons, a 
grandchild. Mrs. R. has 2 sisters, Caroline Bullock and Lucy 
Rhea. Marlow M. and Lorenzo T. are two brothers, in Hancock 
tp. 

Charles C. Tyler, though young in looks and action, is among 
the oldest settlers in the village of Fountain Green. He is the son of 
Alvin Tyler, and the nephew of Stephen Tyler, so well known in 
the northeastern part of the county. The family is of English 
ancestry, and emigrated at an early day to Connecticut. Alvin 
was born in Harwinton, of that State, in 1809; emigrated to Mari- 
etta, O., where he settled and began practicing medicine. He 
raised his familj^ here and was very successful in his business. He 
visited his relatives in this county in 1846, and on his return he 
sickened and died at Gilead, 111., aged 47. The mother, whose 
maiden name was Adaline E. Church, was of same descent and 
nativity, and came West in 1854, residing with Chas. C. until her 
death, at the a^e of 46. C. C. was born Dec. 22, 1837; has one 
brother living, John H, an engineer of this county. He received 
his education principally at Macomb College, after which he was 
salesman for a time for Begby &; Payton, a dry-goods firm in 
LaHarpe; was in Northern Illinois from 1858 to 1860, at the end 
of which time he purchased an interest in a general merchandising 
store with Mathew McClaughry, father of Warden McClaughry, 
of Joliet. He purchased his partner's interest in 1864, since 
which time he has been in business alone in the building popularly 
known as tlie "Arcade," erected in 1864. Mr. Tyler was appointed 



\ 



838 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Postmaster in 1875, and from the hosts of friends who daily com- 
pliment his management of the office, one wonld judge that no 
presidential change would be apt to aiFect his position. C. C. was 
married in June, 1860, to Johan "Webster, daughter of Chauncy 
Webster, of Harwinton, Conn. She is the mother of 8 children, 
5 of whom are living, — 4 sons and one daughter: Charles L., 
George C, Albert S., Clark L. and Mary F. 

Mr. Tyler and family are members of no denomination, but they 
make the Churches feel their friendship. His residence, the old 
homestead, is both neat and tastefully arranged. He also has a 
farm of 90 acres one mile north of tlie village. Mr. T. is a man 
who enjoys the blessings of home comforts, and does much to 
make others do likewise. 

Rev. Thomas M. Walker is the son of Alexander Walker; nativ- 
ity, Rockbridge county, Va. ; he is also a half brother of the late 
Cyrus Walker, so well remembered as the recipient of Mormon 
treachery. Mr. W. was born in Adair county. Ivy., Feb. 26, 1819. 
His grandfather is of Scotch-Irish birth, and came to the United 
States in 1736; stopped in Chester county, Pa., afterward in Rock- 
bridge county, Va. His father, a farmer by occupation, emigrated 
to Adair county, Ky., in early times, where he remained until he 
died, at the age of 62. His mother, nee Margaret Frost, afterward the 
widow of H. L. Combs, and the mother of one child, Jesse Combs, 
was a pious Christian lady, and after several years' residence, died 
in McDonough county, and is buried in Hickorj'' Grove cemetery. 
Mr. W. remained with his father on the farm and attended the 
common-schools until 20 years old, when he entered the Macomb 
College. He received private instruction under the Rev. Chase, of 
Macomb, after which he graduated at the Theological Seminary at 
New Albany, completing his course in 1815 ; was ordained the next 
year a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and located at Willow 
Creek, 111. His wife, nee Mary Montgomery, is the daughter of 
Wm. Montgomery, an Indian missionary, residing in Arkansas. 
She is the mother of 5 sons and one daughter: William, Alexander, 
James, Thomas, Charles and Margaret. Mr, Walker came to this 
county in June, 1852, locating as Pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church of the village named. 

Jary White was born in Mt. Holly, Yt., in 1809. His father, 

Jary W., was a native of Wales; he emigrated from Vermont to 

. New York, in 1812, and remained until 1835, when he came to this 

(j^ county, arriving June 17 of that year. He, with 2 brothers, took 

^ an active part in the Mormon war. 

His mother, nee Lucina Lawrence, was a native of Connecticut. 
Both his parents lie buried in the Fountain Green cemeter3^ Mr. W. 
is one of the pioneers of this county; he came when there was no 
mill nearer than Rushville, 35 miles distant. He knows how to 
make a "lizzard" (a kind of sled made from the fork of a tree, 
much nsed by the frontiersmen), and has yet in his possession one 
of the old-time corn-meal sfraters. He was married in 1833, to Miss 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 839 

Laura Eaton, daughter of Frazier Eaton, of Allegany county, N. 
y. Mrs. W. was the mother of 8 children, 4 of whom are still 
living: George, Charles, Laura and Augustus. She died May 21, 
1860. Mr. "W". was married a second time, July 11, 1861, to Mrs. 
Elizabeth James, daughter of John Williams, a veteran soldier of 
1812. 

Mrs. White has 5 children: Henrietta, James, Noble S., Clara E., 
Louis L., now dead, Laura E. and Frances E. 

Mr. W. located on a piece of Congress land, on sec. 23, 80 acres, 
where he still resides. Mr. W. had two sons, Daniel and George, 
in the late war. Daniel entered the 3-4tli 111. Inf., under Capt. 
Parrot, Sept., 1861, enlisting for three years, during which time he 
was taken prisoner, took the small-pox, and he was taken to a pest- 
house in Maryland and died. George entered the 84:th 111. Inf. in 
1862, was wounded at Stone river in 1863, was in the hospital 9 
months, re-entered his regiment, and was discharged June 9, 1865, 
having received two wounds, one in the thigh and one in the head, 
the latter injuring him for life. 

Hickersoii W7nght, now deceased, was born in Yirginia and 
raised in Kentucky. His grandfather came from Scotland prior to 
the Revolution. His father died when he, Ilickerson, was a small 
boy; not having the advantages of school, he did not even learn to 
distinguish the denominations of paper money; nevertheless, after 
coming to this county with his brother Basil in 1833, he accumu- 
lated considerable real property and proved to be a good financier. 
Wilson and Hubbard, two younger brothers, came soon after. Mr. 
Wright was the father of 11 children; viz., Sebean, Seneca, Pattrice 
W., Thomas G., Charles G., Henry D., now in California, Arzilla 
Ward, Martha Yetter, Cynthia, Willey, and James B., who died at 
the old homestead in 1851. Seneca, the oldest in this tp., remained 
at home until 22 years of age, when he was married in 1849 to 
Miss Eliza A. Burnham, M'ho died in Dec, 1866, leaving 2 children, 
Douglas and Seneca L. Between the years 1850 and 1855 he 
made three trips across the Kocky Mountains, coming back by 
way of Nicaragua and New York. Growing somewhat tired of the 
traveler's life, he built a residence in 1860 on sec. 32, where he now 
owns 130 acres of tillable land, besides 40 acres of timber. In 1868 
he was married a second time to Miss Damietta Kose, whose parent- 
age was of New York; the mother now resides in Carthage, the 
wife of Garland Beneathy. 

By his last wife he has 3 children: Cora D., Ella A. and Robert 
Bruce, a little boy of seven summers. Mr. W. grew like a sun- 
flower and is considerably above the average in statue, now weighing 
over 200 lbs. The family generally hold to no sectarian faith, and 
are liberal in sentiment both in politics and religion. To realize 
their liberality, socially, one needs only to call at their homes, 
where he will share whatever may be reasonably bestowed by the 
family. 



840 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 



Below is a list of the Town Officers, past and present, who 
have served in this township : 



SUPEEVISORS. 



Stephen H. Tyler 1850 

James M. Renshaw 1853 

Martin Hopkins 1856 

James Campbell 1859 

Daniel Prentis 1861 

Robert McCounell 1863 

Thomas Gecldes 1864 

T. McGinley Campbell 1866 

Daniel Prentis 1867 



Thomas Geddes 1868 

JohnG. Fonda 1870 

A. W. McConnell 1871 

John H.Bullock 1873 

Samuel Walker 1875 

John H. Bullock 1876 

And. R. Simmons 1878 

A. W. McConnell 1880 



CLERKS. 



John F. Mooney 1856 

James E. McConnell 1858 

J. H. Emrick 1859 

John G. Schenck 1860 

J. H. Emrick 1861 

L. T.Ferris 1862 

Morris Crump 1863 



John A. Messie 1864 

D. C. Simons 1866 

Wm. T. Campbell 1867 

James E. McConnell 1870 

James F. Brandon 1873 

James E. McConnell 1874-1880 



ASSESSORS. 



James E. Roberts 1856 

Daniel Prentis 1858 

Thomas J. Campbell 1861 

J. H. Emrick 1863 

John B. Yager 1863 

A. J. Bainter 1864 

James E. McConnell 1866 

William Miller 1867 

William C. Walker 1868 



Jas. C. Brakens 1870 

JohnM. Cox 1871 

A. R. Bullock 1872 

James E. McConnell 1873 

O. F. Berry 1874 

Robert P. Geddes 1876 

W. ^Y. McCullough 1877 

And. R. Bullock 1878 

John M. Bainter 1879-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Henry Alton 1856 

John F. Mooney 1858 

Thomas J. Campbell 1859 

Daniel Kimport 1860 

William Callihan . . 1861 

A. W. McConnell 1862 

Miles Alton.; 1863 

James Midcap 1864 

C. C. Robbins 1866 

A. D. Williams 1867 

Robert N. Withrow 1868 



John H. Bullock 1870 

Don. C. Salisbury 1871 

J. P. Brandon 1872 

Jas. Miller 1873 

J.S.Bullock 1874 

W. W. Glass 1875 

Wm. Callihan 1876 

A. W. McConnell 1877 

George Latherow 1878 

Jesse W. Taylor 1879-1880 



PILOT GROVE TOWNSHIP 

Numbered 6-6, was named for a grove of timber, which stood alone 
in the prairie, in the early days, near the old Indian Trail, or what 
we in Hancock county termed the " Rock Island Trail." This 
trail ran from point to point on the prairie, following the general 
course of the Mississippi, avoiding thus its many tortuous wind- 
ings. In Hancock county it ran from Green Plains to Golden's 
Point, thence past this grove and through Durham, to some point 
in Henderson county, and so on to Rock Island. It had apparently 
been long traveled, and when the white settlements began, it 
became a much-used local road. 

This township was settled mainly by people from Virginia, Ohio, 
Kentucky, and New York. They are mostly a thrifty and hospi- 
table class of immigrants, and have come generally to stay, as may 
be judged by the appearance of their farms and residences. They 
have a cemetery, but claim that it is seldom used, except for the 
interment of those who die of old age, or who come in from other 
parts of the county. What was a wide expanse of prairie, covered 
with ducks and deer and waving grass and wild flowers forty years 
ago, is now as one beautiful checkered farm, with not a single open 
quarter section. Grain and stock are the chief products, Peoria 
furnishing the principal market for both. Politically, this town- 
ship has usually given from 20 to 40 Democratic majorities. 

The first postofiice was called Pilot Grove, and was kept by 
Nelson Andrews; afterward removed to the village of Burnside. 
The first J. P.'s were Isaac C. Howd, Nathan Mason and John 
Huckins. William Glaze is the oldest man in the township at 
this time, aged 86; and Mrs. Perkins is the oldest woman, aged 
85. She says she came there early enough to have Indians about 
her door, and to have to hide her meat from the wolves. 

Probably the first settler in the township was one Franklin, a 
few miles northeast of Carthage. This was about 1830. This claim 
was bought by Ephraim Perkins, in 1835, a son of Ute Perkins, 
who was about the first settler in Fountain Green. Among other 
early settlers in the township, we have the names of Neill ^IcKay, 
Joseph Lionberger, Thomas Perkins, Elting Thompson, Wm. J3. 
Wilson, Wilson Wright, John Hamrick, Ralph Gorrell, James 
Goldsburg, Mr. DeHart, Dr. Cheney, and Nelson Andrews — all 
now deceased. Among those living are, Merrill Andrews, Nathan 
S. Cheney, Isaac Cooper, John Bailey, Solomon Elifritz, Harry 
Earles, James Gibson, Wm. Gorrell, Isaac C. Ilowd, Mr. Hath- 
away, John Huckins, John Manering, Nathan Mason, Samuel F. 
Pray (now of Montebello), Neil Rice, John Roth, Joseph Thomp- 

(841) 



842 HISTORY OF HAXCOCK COU^'TT. 

son, Geo. C. "Wagoner, "Wm. and L. Y. Aleshire, Smith Howd, 
Benjamin and J. W. Lionberger, J, B. McMillan, Wm. G. Mc- 
Cubbin, William Tjner, Miles B. Mann, I. K. Jacobs, J. Hem- 
ming way. 

Pilot Grove stands well in the line of common schools. Her 
people are fuilj np to the standard in that resjDCCt. She now counts 
nine school houses used exclusively for that purpose. Beginning 
in the northeast, they are named — The Bock, Pilot Grove, Madi- 
son, Liberty, Burnside, Oak Grove, Cottage, Jubilee, and Grant. 
The Burnside school building has two departments, and is well 
suited to the wants of the people. This and the Cottage are men- 
tioned as creditable to the community. 

In Mormon times John Huckins formed a company of Anti- 
Mormon warriors, which were called the " Brick-Batters." 

Pilot Grove sports one very pleasant little village on the line of 
the T., P. & W. Railway, Burnside. It was laid out by J. B. Mc- 
Millan in 186S. It now contains near 30.0 inhabitants. There are 
10 business houses and one mill doing a good business. And far 
from the least item to its credit, it has no saloon, and few who 
would patronize one. 

Another, La Crosse, also on the line of the railway, is on the 
extreme eastern edge of the township, on land owned by John W. 
Lionberger, who was its first P. M. It has but two or three busi- 
ness houses and thirty or forty inhabitants. Both La Crosse and 
Burnside are surrounded by fine farms and thriving and enter- 
prising farmers. 

RELIGIOUS PKOGKESS. 

Concerning early religious work in this township we have little 
data. The village of Burnside contains two churches. The Christian 
church was built in 1S73, at a cost of about $4,000. The Metho- 
dist Episcopal church was built the next year, costing about the 
same amount. 

The Jubilee school-house, in the southwestern portion of the 
township, Was formerly also used for church purposes, and very 
likely others also. 

BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Following are sketches of many of the pioneers and eminent 
citizens of Pilot Grove township: 

William Aleshire was born in Meigs county. Ohio, in 1814; 
emigrated to this State. Fulton county. 111., in 1842, and to this 
county in 1848, where he has since resided. He received no other 
education than such as the common schools of his day afl:brded 
him, but has been generally successful in life, and has raised a con- 
siderable family. His father, Ephraim Aleshire, was a native of 
Ohio, and after moving to this county, died in 1864. His mother 








PI LOT GROVE TP 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 845 

whose maiden name was Elizabeth Williams, and who was a native 
of the same State, is still living and in good health; she is now S3 
years of age. Mr. Aleshire was married in 1S37 to Sarah Ewing; 
she is a native of Ohio, and of Scotch Irish descent; she is the 
mother of 10 children, S of whom are still living, 2 girls and 6 
boys; the oldest, Sanford, is a merchant of Coburg, Iowa; Levi is 
a farmer in this township; William is a teacher, and is now travel- 
ing in Southern Illinois; Edward is in Stanbury, Mo,, an attorney at 
law; Albert is still with the family at home; Oscar E., who is a youth 
of 18, is attending school at Carthage College, in the third year 
of his course. The girls, Angeline and Margaret, are married, and 
are the wives of two industrious citizens of this tp. Mr. Aleshire 
has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer, but is now running 
a hotel in the village of Burnside. this tp., where he has been en- 
gaged for six years past. He has passed through several linancial 
discouragements, but has accumulated a reasonable amount of real 
and personal property. Besides his hotel he owns a small farm in 
this vicinity and some personal property. 

John A. Barr is of light complexion, medium stature, weighs 
160 pounds, and wears a genial smile upon his countenance, indica- 
tive of his natural good humor. He was born in Breckenridge 
county, Ky., in 1851, and emigrated with his parents to this county 
in the spring of 1859, settling in Rock Creek tp. His father, 
Charles IBarr, is of German descent, and a native of Kentucky; a 
farmer by occupation, and a member of the Methodist Church. 
His mother, whose maiden name was Sallie Beaucham, is of 
French descent, and a native of Kentucky. She is a zealous mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church, and the mother of 11 children, all living, 
5 boys and G girls. The Doctor received his literary education at 
the LaHarpe Seminary of this county, and after graduating at the 
Keokuk Medical College he received a diploma from the faculty of 
the J efterson Medical College, Indiana. He is now a practicing 
physician, having good practice at Burnside, this tp., where he has 
been located for four years. He is a member of the Hancock 
County Medical Society; also belongs to the Christian Church of 
his village. The Doctor is a young man for one of his experience, 
unmarried, and owns a beautiful and comfortable residence, besides 
a liberal share of personal property. He visited Philadelphia and 
the New England States during the Centennial of 1876; has been 
very successful in the business operations of life. He now holds 
80 acres of well-improved land in Rock Creek tp., besides an undi- 
vided interest in the home farm of 160 acres. 

TTiY^iVzm ^r«y was born in Somerset, Kj'., Jan. 7, 1826; his 
father, Nathan Bray, is of English descent and a native of North 
Carolina; he is a hatter by trade, in later life becoming a farmer, 
and is now 81 years of age. William's mother, nee Catharine 
Ranard, was of Welsh descent and a native of Kentucky; of her 
children, 2 daughters and 4 sons, William is the only one in this 



S46 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

county. Mr. B. received his education in the Indiana State Uni- 
versity, and was enga^jed for a time as teacher in Mississippi. He 
was married in Indiana to Martha A. Foster of Monroe county, of 
that State; she has raised a family of 9 children, 5 sons and 4: 
daughters. Mr. Bray, a farmer by occupation, moved to this 
county and settled on sec. 20 of Pilot Grove tp., where he now has 
300 acres of land and a plain and unassuming but commodious resi- 
dence; does not court public note nor political favor, yet he is 
awake to the necessity of moral and political elevation of our nation. 
Mr. B. and lady have been for thirty-five years connected with the 
Church known as the Disciples Church, with which he has labored 
as Elder for several years. He is politically a Republican but not 
a radical; has represented his township as Supervisor several terms, 
and is now enjoying the highest blessing shared in this life, i. e., 
a quiet country home with a kind wife and a happy group of 
children. 

WilUayn i?. Burhridoe is small in stature, quick in movement 
and wears an expression indicative of his knowledge, sagacity and 
determination. He was born in Paris, Bourbon county. Ky., in 
1S46. His father, Robert Burbridge, was a native of Kentucky, 
and of French-German descent. He was a Baptist minister by 
faith and profession, and died at the age of 61. at Paris. The 
grandfather, with 6 brothers, were a part of the crew with LaFay- 
ette, in IT 77. Mr. B.'s mother, whose maiden name was Mary 
Rader, was a native of Xashville, Tenn., and of Anglo-Prussian 
blood. She died at the age of o^, in Tazewell countv, of this 
State. 

Mr. Burbridge began as an apprentice to learn the blacksmith 
trade in 1S62. After engaging in steady business in a plow factory, 
he was married in 1S6S to Josephine Blizzard, of Mason county, 
111. She was the mother of one child, now a bright little girl of 
10 years, and died when Annie was seven, leaving her and her 
father, the only members of the household. She was buried in the 
McKay cemetery, in the vicinity of Burnside. She was a member 
of the Christian Church, and of the Eastern Star order. Mr. Bur- 
bridge was married the second time. May 9, ISSO, to Miss Annie 
Stelfey. of Basco, 111., a worthy 'and accomplished young lady. She 
is the daughter of a highly educated widow lady of Eastern birth, 
and an early member of the M. E. Church. 

Mr. B. has been generally successful in his business, having 
traveled as salesman for J. H. Power <fe Co., Cincinnati. He has 
gained by this means a thorough knowledge of men and things, and 
has a very neat little residence, a shop, and other town property. 
He is doing a fair business and enjoys life in an equally high degree. 

Charles B. Coleinan was born at Zanesville, O., in 1S2S. His 
father, John C. Coleman, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of 
Scotch descent; emigrated to this State, settling in Fountain Green 
tp., in 1S42, where, after spending a few years with his children, 
he died, at the age of S2. His mother, whose maiden name was 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 847 

Lutitia Erwin, of Scotch descent, died in May, 1855. Mr. Cole- 
man had the poorest advantages of the common-schools for an 
education, but is practical in business and has spared no pains in 

fiving his family all the benefits his circumstances would permit. 
[e was married to Nancy M. Huckins, daughter of John Huckins, 
who is one of the early settlers of this county, and has been iden- 
tified with the history of Pilot Grove tp. for more than 30 years. 
He has had 6 children, 5 of whom are still living. The 3 younger 
are Mattie E., Edwin G. and Lula M. The 3 older, Charles O., 
Anna A. and Addie, began a general merchandising business in 
LaCrosse, in 1878, but in a short time a sad misfortune left the 
young firm with but two members. Addie, a kind and loving 
sister, was burned to death by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. 
Charles and Anna still remain, having the postoftice added. They 
are not only esteemed in business circles, but socially their genial 
hospitality makes them many friends. 

Zalus Davis, medium-sized, man weighing 140 lbs., was born in 
Preston county, "W. Va., in 1824. At the age of 18, he enlisted 
as an engineer upon the packet Irene, running from Cincinnati to 
Parkersburg, W. Ya. He followed the Ohio as an engineer for 14 
years, and during the war had charge of the Tigris, the headquar- 
ter vessel of Gen. Grant and Com. Graham during their river 
engagements up the Tennessee and Cumberland. He was present 
at the noted battles of Pittsburg Landing, Ft. Andrews and Ft. 
Henry. His father, James Davis, a Virginian by birth, was an 
early pioneer of the West. His mother's maiden name was Mar- 
garet Hughes; she was also a native of Virginia. Mr. Davis was 
married in Racine, O., in 1850, to Margaret Bailey, a native of 
that State. Mr. Davis emigrated to Richland county. 111., where he 
remained but a short time, when he removed to this county and 
settled in Dallas City. He remained here six years and moved to 
Clinton, Iowa, and after six years stay at this place, he came to 
Burnside, this tp., where be purchased a grist-mill and is now 
doing a good business in this line. Mr. Davis has 7 children liv- 
ing, 4 boys and 3 girls. He traveled westward during the year 
1872, exploring the Indian Territory and New Mexico. He has 
struck a bonanza in the business in which he is now engaged, 
and is enjoying the comforts of a pleasant life with his happy 
family. 

Crortnoell Gibson is the son of James Gibson, one among the 
oldest settlers of this county, and a native of the Emerald Isle. 
He was born in 1813, and emigrated with his father to New York, 
when very young. His father, Robert Gibson, removed to this 
State in 1837; he died and is buried on Green river in Bureau 
county. The mother of James, whose maiden was name Jane Black, 
was a native of the same country, and died in New York, aged 33. 
James was married in New York, to Angeline Bennet, and their 
children are 3 girls and one boy. She died in 1860, and is buried 
in the McKay cemetery. He next married Mrs. Hannah Dutfield, 



84:8 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

whose maiden name was Ilalbertson. She was of German descent, 
born in Pennsylvania, and came to this State with her former hus- 
band. 

Mr, G. received little of the advantages of the common 
schools of his day; has been remarkably successful in his business 
transactions, being a man who has never shrunk from the hardest 
manual labor. He has the hard-earned results, consisting of two 
farms in thistp., comprising 156 and 230 acres respectively, eich 
well improved and upon each a residence, both extensive and beau- 
tiful. His two eldest daughters, Achsah and Mary, are residing 
with their husbands in this county. 

His son, Robert Cromwell, was married in 1S73 to Hattie Lowry' 
of Schuyler county, this State. She is the mother of 3 boys, Ehner, 
Charles and James F. He and his accomplished lady are enjoying 
all the blessings of a domestic life together, residing 2^ miles 
southeast of JBurnside. Cromwell is a farmer by occupation, 
and is a joll}'' one, for he does not allow the '' blues " to settle over 
himself nor any one with whom he associates. 

John L. Goldsherry is the son of James Goldsberry, who was 
born in Hampshire county, Ya. ; emigrated to Illinois in 1839; 
went back to Virginia, married, and came a second time, in 1843; 
removed to Kansas in 1856, and died near fifty years of age. The 
mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Gibony, was a native of 
Worefield, Va., is buried in the McKay cemetery, this tp. Mr. G. 
has one brother, George H., who is a farmer residing in this 
county, Carthage tp. John was born herein 1844; has served the 
faithful life of a farmer, and now resides on his 90-acre farm, on 
sec. 34. He spent his years from 11 to 16 in Kansas, and in 1875 
took a trip to California; was married in 1870 to Elizabeth Knowles, 
daughter of Captain Knowles, of a merchant vessel at Baltimore, 
the same Captain Knowles who saved a crew at Jersey Island, for 
which the Government presented him a fine telescope. She was 
born in Baltimore, Md., is of English descent, and the mother of 
one son and 3 daughters: Charley C, Annie M., Edith A. and 
Sarah E. Mr. G.'s grandfather was one of the few who survived 
the expedition with Lewis and Clark in the West. 

Dr. John S. Gordon was born in Greene county, Penn.,in 1825. 
His father, Bazel Gordon, was a native of ~Ne\v Jersey, and of 
Scotch descent. He was killed in his 28th year, by accident, at a 
house-raising. His mother, Sarah nee Shriver, was of German de- 
scent, and a native of Virginia; she died in Pennsylvania, 46 years 
of age. The Doctor, after his parents died, made his home with 
his uncle for a time; received a limited education in the common 
schools; afterward attended Green Academy, teaching through the 
winter and attending the Academy through the summer. He be- 
gan studying medicine under Dr. Alexander Shaw, now of Des 
Moines, Iowa. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College, and 
began the practice of medicine in Pilot Grove tp. in 1860, where 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 849 

he has since been located. Dr. Gordon has been a remarkably suc- 
cessful physician, and has become the owner of considerable real 
estate. He occupies a choice residence in tlie north part of Burn- 
side, where he shares the comfort of his own home with his many 
friends. He owns 295 acres of land in this county. The Doctor 
was married in 1850 to Lucinda Whitlatch, a native also of Penn- 
sylvania, and of English descent. She is the mother of 4 boys, 3 
of whom are living: Sylvanus H., Thomas J. (who died at 22), Albert 
M., now a dentist in Keokuk, and William M., a youth of 15, at 
home . 

Mrs. E. A. Hamrick was born in Muskingum county, O. Her 
father, Henry Baty, was a native of Virginia, and died in Ohio at 
the age of 55. Her mother, whose maiden name was Mary A. 
Watts, was a native of Rolt, Md., and emigrated to Ohio with her 
parents when only three years old. She is living at this writing, at 
the age of 78. Wm. M. Hamrick was a native of Clarksburg Va., 
and was married in 1852; emigrated to this tp., and settled, in 1853. 
Mr. Hamrick was a farmer by occupation, and after a successful 
career as such, he died in May, 18Y3. He left a comfortable resi- 
dence and a good farm of 310 acres to his wife and heirs. Mrs. II. 
has 6 children living, 3 girls and 3 boys — Alice, Delia, Frank, 
Willie, Alva and Effie. Alice, the oldest, is attending school at 
Carthage College, and paying some attention to music. She is 
active, energetic, and seems to be the chief operator of the Ham- 
rick farm. Her mother is a ladj' much respected in her community, 
and has a business tact seldom equaled by her sex. 

Smith Hoiod was born in Camden, IS". Y., in 1827. His father, 
Isaac Howd, a native of New York, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 
1832, thence to Illinois, where he settled in Carthage in 1836, and 
where he remained five years, after which he settled in this tp., the 
first time on sec. 16. He died at Pontoosucin 1856. His mother, 
whose maiden name was Annie Johnson, died when he was but four 
years old. Mr. Howd was in this county too early to have the ben- 
efits of a common-school education. He went West in 1854 and 
traveled in Nevada and California, remaining ten years. He was a 
miner, and one of the successful ones. He understands the meaning 
and use of "sluice," "box," "rocker," "flume," etc. When he 
came back to Hancock he purchased land, and in 1864 was married 
to Catharine Yetter, of this county, who is now the mother of 6 
children, 5 of whom are living — Emma, Curtis, Flora, Joel and 
Barr. Mr. Howd has been equally successful as a farmer and stock- 
raiser, and now owns an extensive farm, fertile and well improved, 
consisting of four 80's, besides several timber lots, — 43i3 acres 
in all. Mr. Howd has met with few financial discouragements 
through life, and has had general good health, attending strictly to 
his farm duties. 

Stephen Jacobs aged 69, was born in Kensselaer county, N. Y., 
and emigrated to this county in 1837. His father, Udney IT., was 
a native of Massachusetts^ and of German descent. After remaining- 



c;50 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

here for several years he went to Utah (soon after the Mormons • 
were driven from this county\ where he died, nearly TS years of age. I 
His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Hubbard, the mother of > 
T children, all of whom lived to be men and women. The elder i 
son, ^STorton, built the tirst mill in this county, run by Wilcox *fe } 
Co., at AVarsaw, in 1S34. Mr. Jacob has been a farmer during his ! 
past life, and was married in New York, to Minerva Ostrander, of i 
Saratoga county. She is of German descent, and the mother of 5 | 
sons a^id 4 daughters — Margaret A., a milliner, of La Harpe; i 
Abraham, Mary,^^rarvin, Emma, Elisha P., Eliza J., Prosper H. i 
and Stephen. Two of the above are at home; two are dead.* Eliza, j 
after teachincj four years, died a few months since with consump- 
tion, contracted by exposure. Mr. Jacob is one of the old pioneers I 
of this county, but took no part in the Mormon war. | 

Wellington Jenney was born in "Wheeling, AV. Ya., May li, j 
1S20. He is of large stature, weighs 240 lbs., and bears a dignified 
yet unassuming appearance. He emigrated to this county. Bur- 
ham tp.. in ISGO; after remaining 6 years he removed to where he | 
now resides in this tp.. on sec. 7. His father, Andrew Jenney, I 
was a native of Massachusetts, of English descent, and was in early I 
life a farmer, later a sailor and river captain, running the first \ 
steamboat that was ever run up the AYibash river. He died in j 
West Yiro-inia. after a few years of retired life, at the age of 02. Mr. 
Jennev's mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Oopeland, was 
a native of Massachusetts, and of English-German descent. She 
died in Marshall county, Ya. 

AYellington, her only son, was married to Sai-ah Wayt, and 
by her has 7 children living, — Annie, Eliza, Charles, a teacher by 
profession. Ella AY., William. Laura and Perry L., a youth at home. 
Mr. Jenney, when a boy of 19, began life at his own risk as a 
teacher, and afterward became a farmer. He represented his dis- 
trict in Virginia, in 1 849-' 50, as a member of the General Assem- 
blv; was sent from this county to Illinois Legislature in 1876. 
He also served as Supervisor from this and Durham tps., for six 
vears. He is now living with his second wife, a kind and loving 
mother and a worthy member of the M. E. Church. 

After passing through the financial disaster of four years ago, 
which shook the faith of so many farmers of this community, he 
is now adoat with the following real estate: 80 acres in Kock Creek 
tp., well improved, and a home farm of 80 acres, where he novv 
resides. 

Mr. Jennev deals no longer in the uncertainty of politics, but is 
contented with the domestic endearments of a home life. 

John W. Lionlerger was born in Page county, Yirginia. and 
emicrrated with his father to this county in 1S35, finally settling^ 
on s'ec. 12 of Pilot Grove tp.; his father. Joseph Lionberger, was of 
German descent, also a native of Yirginia; he was a farmer by oc- 
cupation, but built the first saw and grist mill in the township, on 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 851 

Crooked creek, in 1838. He made this the chief care of his busi- 
ness life, but was also engaged in merchandising with a man bv the 
name of Grove, in LaHarpe. After raising a large family, died at 
74 years of age, and was buried in the Andrews Cemetery, January 
15 1868. His mother's maiden name was Esther Burner, and she 
was of German-English descent, a Calvinistic Baptist by faith, and a 
native of Virginia; she died nearly 72 years of age, and is buried be- 
side her husband. She was the mother of 7 children, 4 sons and 3 
daughters. J. W. is the youngest living son, and resides now on 
the old home farm ; though quite young at the time he took an 
active part in the Mormon difficulty, being one of the Artillery 
Corps of gun number two; he was among those who bid the un- 
fortunate Brighamites a last farewell at Nauvoo, as they took their 
departure for Zion. Mr. L. was the recipient of instruction such 
as the common schools of 1844 afforded, but he did not stop w^ith 
this; by faithful practice he gained a fair business education. He 
was married in 1850 to Philena Roberts, a native of New York, and 
of Scotch-English blood; she is the mother of 5 children, 3 sons and 
2 daughters. The eldest, Mary, is the wife of W. A. Pickernell, a 
farmer of this tp.; Edward, Clara, Robert and John are still under 
the parental roof. Mr. L. has been tortured with the official honors 
of his tp., all the way from Supervisor up to School Director, and 
is still suffering a like oppression. He was the founder of the little 
village of LaCrosse, and was tlie first Postmaster, in 1868; he has 
been actively engaged as a grain and stock shipper for several years 
past, and makes it still his chief care. He has been remarkably 
successful in his business operations, as a census of his estate will 
show. Home farm, 200 acres; timber, 180. and SO acres on sec. 10. 
Mr. L. is a hard worker and takes special care that none with whom 
he comes in contact escape his genial hospitality. 

'Miles B. Mann was born in Buffalo, X. Y., in 1813; his father, 
Nathan Mann, a native of Massachusetts and a mechanic by occu- 
pation, died soon after settling in New York. His mother, whose 
maiden name was Cynthia Blakely, was of English descent, a 
Methodist by faith, and died in Wisconsin in 1872, at 81 years of 
age. Mr. M., now 67 years of age, has two brothers and two sisters 
living, at last accounts. He emigrated to this county in 1839, and 
was employed for a time with Streets d: Bro., then doing an exten- 
sive merchandising business in Carthage; during the time he was 
married (1842) to Amanda Hamilton, who was born in Ohio, and 
of German origin; she is the mother of 9 children, only 3 of whom 
are now living: Delia M. is the wife of Charles Hy^lop, a merchant 
in Missouri; Celestia M., who was one of the successful lady-teach- 
ers of this county in lS73-'5, is now the wife of R, S. Woodruff, of 
Iowa; Mary E., a girl at home. Mr. M. has had his full share of 
misfortunes to bear, yet he has maintained a high repute as a citi- 
zen, and has accumulated a reasonable share of I'eal estate, chattels, 
etc. His farm of 240 acres lies on either side of the Dallas and 
Carthage road, and is under high cultivation and improvement. 



852 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Mr. M. has acted as Justice of Peace eight years, and has assessed 
his township seven times; he was among those of his time who 
worked for his board and paid his own tuition while attending 
school, a rare circumstance now, but common then. 

Sidney C. Memienhall is the son of Nathan Mendenhall, who has 
been so long identified with the history of Durham tp. The father is 
a native of "Madison county, Ind., but his forefathers, formerly from 
England, settled in North Carolina. He emigrated to Sangamon 
county, 111., in 1S35, thence to Henderson, and to Hancock in 
1837, settling in Durham tp. He is now engaged in farming, near 
Appleton City, Mo., St. Clair county. His mother, whose maiden 
name was Lucy "W. Lincoln, was born in New York and is still liv- 
ing, 55 years of age. She with her husband have been identified 
with the Christian Church 29 years. She is the mother of 4 sons 
and 5 daughters. Milo, a boy of five, died in St. Clair county, 
Mo.; Nathaniel died in this county, at the age of three years; 
Eliza died in 1856, an infant of one year, as also did Lucy J.; 
Paris J. is now a young man of 20. with his father; Lucetta is the 
wife of Wm. IL Hutchison, a farmer of Bates connty. Mo.; 
Mary Etta is the wife of John D. Smith; Sidney C, the subject 
of this sketch, was born in Durham tp., in 1853. is of medium 
stature and weight, dark hair and eyes, wears a piercing yet sin- 
gularly pleasant expression upon his countenance. He left the 
farm at 18, after sharing the benefits of the common schools of 
this county, and the graded schools of Appleton, Mo., and engaged 
as an artist in the last named place. He went from this place to 
Girard, Kansas, thence to Oswego, of the same State, where he 
was married Dec. 3, 18T5, to Alice Y. Kinnear, formerly from 
Indiana. Her father, John L. Kinnear, emigrated to Missouri in 
1S66 and to Kansas in 1873. He was a mechanic by occupation, 
and of Irish descent. Mrs. Mendenhall is the mother of one child, 
a little girl, one and a half years old; belongs to the Christian order. 
Mr. M. is identified at present with Ross & Springer, as salesman. 
He owns a neat little residence in the little village of La Crosse, 
where he and his young wife share all the joys of a wedded life. 

John D. Miller, now permanently located on sec. 2 of this tp., 
was born in Scott county, 111., and is a son of Wm. Miller, a native 
of Eastern Tenn. Mr. Miller's father was a farmer by occupation, 
and died when his son was but four years of age, after he had emi- 
grated to this county in 1837. 

William's mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Dixon, 
was of Irish descent and also a native of Tennessee. She died in 
Durham tp., at the age of 50, in 1866. Mr. Miller was married 
first in this county, in Dec, 1857, to Mary E. Riggins, who died 
Feb. 18, 1879, leaving 7 children, one girl and 6 boys, whose ages 
range from four to 20. He was married a second time, to Yictoria 
Sayr, of this county, with whom he now enjoys the comforts of 
home and family. "Mr. M. began life with no resources other than 
his good will and muscle/and by this means has succeeded in gain- 





€^ S)^^^-rr^^£^ 



ROCK CREEK TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 855 

ing a well- improved farm of 120 acres, a neat and comfortable res- 
idence, besides his personal propert}'. He had the advantages of 
instruction snch as the common schools alforded, and has a special 
delight for works of art and history. 

Thom/is Nicholson^ a native of Carlisle, England, was born in 
1850. He emigrated to Boston, Mass., in 1832, where iie and his 
father were employed in the cotton factories. He was the son of 
George Nicholson, a flax-dresser by occupation, who died soon after 
settling in this tp., in 1837. His mother died in AVinsington, 
Mass., in 1834. Mr. N., who has never bowed before the hymeneal 
altar, or assumed the cares and responsibilities of a wedded life, is 
enjoying his happy old days of seventy-five years, the principal 
light, life, and substance, of the little village of LaCrosse. Mr. N. 
has two living sisters and one brother: Wallace, Elizabeth and 
Mary. Elizabeth is the wife of Calvin Westfall, a farmer of this 
tp. Mary McCollock, a widowed lady who cares for the domestic 
interests of Mr. N., is the younger sister, and the mother of 2 chil- 
dren. "Uncle Tommy" is of a genial turn of mind, always in a 
good humor, and with his appearance, the "blues" and all 
despondent feelings must vanish. During his better days he took 
a tour to California, Central America, and New York; was one of 
the boj'S who gave the Mormons their special invitation to cross the 
Mississippi. He resides on his farm near LaCrosse, where he owns 
several business houses and lots. 

Henry Pennock is the son of Sylvester Pennock, who was a 
native of New York, and came to this county in 1840. After staying 
one year in Fountain Green, he settled on sec. 22 of this tp., M^here 
the old residence still stands. He died in 1862, and his remains 
are interred on the old home farm, where he raised a large family. 
His mother, also a native of New York, died in Jan., 1880, and lies 
buried beside his father. She was a Methodist by faith and the 
mother of 5 sons and 5 daughters. Henry, the oldest son, is of 
medium stature, weighs 145 lbs., and was born in N. Y. in 1834. 
He is a farmer and stock-raiser, and resides on sec. 22, where he 
owns 345 acres of land. He also owns 80 acres in sec. 3. He was 
married in 1859 to Margaret Tyner, a daughter of Squire Tyner, 
of Burnside. She is the mother of 5 girls and 2 boys: George, 
Virginia, Lucy, Murry, Florence, Ethel andLula; and are all at 
this time, on the home farm. Mr. P. shared with many others 
the financial disaster of 1876, but otherwise has been a successful 
manager. He has one of the best farms in the county, and a very 
neat residence in which, with his happy family, he spends his 
leisure hours. 

Alexander PhilUppi is a farmer by occupation. He was born 
in "Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His father, George 
Phillippi, was a native of Penn., and of German ancestry. He is 
a member of the Church of United Brethren. He is living, at 
this writing, aged 78 years. 

His mother, who died (1837) when Alexander was quite young, 

49 



856 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

was of Irish descent, and a member of the United Brethren Church. 
Her maiden name was Marj McClellan. 

His step-mother, Catharine Knomire, was of German descent 
and a nati\T3 of Penn. She is still living, and is but seven days his 
father's junior. 

Mr. riiillippi emigrated to Fulton county, HI., in 1862. He 
was married in that county in 1856 to Martha Burnett, a native of 
the same county. She died July 6, 1865. Her only child, George, 
is now a boy of 17. Mr. Phillippi was married the second time to 
Mrs. Mary Frye, of Fulton county, in 1868. She at that time was 
the mother of two girls. Alma and Emma. Alma is now a teacher. 
Ella and Frank, aged respectively twelve and seven, are of the last 
union. Mr. Phillippi received an education such as the common 
schools of his day afibrded. He has been successful as a farmer, 
and now owns 28 acres of well-improved prairie land, on which he 
has recently constructed a comfortable residence and barn costing 
nearly $3,000. 

' Joseph F. Place was born near "Winchester, Frederick county, 
Va., Feb. 13, 1816; parents' names, Abraham and Sarah (Kin- 
drick) Place, both natives of Va. Abraham Place was of English 
descent, hid father having come from " Merry England." 

When the subject of this sketch was six years of age, his parents 
moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, taking him with them. One 
year afterward his father died in that county. His mother then 
moved to Pickawav county, Ohio, near Circleville. About one 
month after her arrival in that county, she also died, leaving a 
family of 8 children, 6 at home, our subject, Joseph F. Place, 
being next to the youngest. Thus, at the tender age of seven years, 
he was thrown upon the world. His mother's brother, Thornton 
Kindrick, took him home, where he lived some six- years. During 
his uncle's absence he returned to Muskingum county, O., and 
lived with a brother-in-law, George Gayer, six years. Then being 
about nineteen years of age, he commenced working on his own 
hook, at seven dollars per month, on a farm. Daring the following 
two years he attended the district school, two months each winter, 
in all four months. This, with intervals of a few days at diifer- 
ent times, was all the opportunities for education that Mr. Place 
ever had. He estimates that ten months would include all his time 
spent in school. Mr. P. worked in this way up to the fall of 1839, 
when he sowed a crop of thirty acres of wheat on shares. Before 
this was harvested he entered 120 acres of land in Putnam county, 
Ohio. This cost him $150 in money that he had saved while work- 
ing by the month. He then " cropped" with Samuel Baxter for 
the next two years, at which they were successful. In 18-12 he 
was married to Eliza Garsuch, who died in February, 181:5. He 
followed farming and cropping on his and other lands until 18-16, 
when he engaged in trading and dealing in sheep, driving them 
to market across the Alleghany mountains into Virginia and 
Marvland, sellinof to farmers, etc. In 1848 he was married to his 



HISTORY OF IIAXCOCK COUNTY. 857 

present wife, whose name was Eleanor Baxter, daughter of Samuel 
Baxter, a native of Virginia. About this time Mr. P. turned his 
attention to farming and stock-raising on a larger scale tlian he had 
previously, renting large farms of 300 acres, and givinglialf of what 
was raised — the same as $2,000 per year. He followed farming in 
this way until the war broke out. He then bought twenty-three 
acres of land on credit of four years. Before this time expired, he 
bought fifty acres more adjoining, at $50 per acre. In 1864 he 
sold this seventy-three acres for $5,500, and came to Illinois, locat- 
ing on section 15, Pilot Grove tp., June 5, 1S65. The homestead 
now consists of 140 acres of good farm lands and 36 acres of timber. 
Mr. Place has a family of 3 children — Rilla F., Charles B., who 
married Mary James, and now lives in Disco (they have one child), 
and John B., who lives at liome with his parents. 

Mr. Place is a Bepublican, and while in Ohio served as Super- 
visor, School Trustee, and County Clerk. He has the repu- 
tation of being a thoroughly honest and conscientious man in all 
dealings with others, and generous and hospitable in an eminent 
degree. "When quite a young man he was often selected by neigh- 
bors to arbitrate and settle differences where they existed, they 
having the utmost confidence in his good judgment and impar- 
tiality in deciding any case presented to him. As an acquaintance 
who has known him for years says, he is '" honest" for the pure love 
of lionesty. A higher compliment could scarcely be paid to 
any one. 

"We give Mr. Place's portrait in this volume, on page 848. 

Joseph TJtompsoii was born in Wayne county, O., in 1S23. His 
father, Archibald Thompson, was a native of Yirginia, of Scotch 
origin, and a mechanic by trade. He died at the age of 74, and 
is buried in Wayne county, O. His mother's maiden name was 
Martha Fitzsimmons. She was of Irish descent, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and she died a Presbyterian by faith, at the age of nearly 
74, in Ohio. Mr. Thompson is a farmer, and has had good health 
during his entire life. He was married in Crawford county, O. 
in 1847, to Sarah E. Harper, of Pennsylvania. She is the mother 
of 4 daughters and one son: Jennie, Mattie, Alice, Walter and 
Hettie. Alice is a teacher of acknowledged ability and seven 
years' experience. Walter, a young man of 20, has taught one 
term, and is now attending Carthage College. 

Mr. Thompson shared but few of the benefits of the schools of 
his day, and is wisely profiting by his own loss, in giving his chil- 
dren due encouragement. He has weathered through all financial 
disasters. Has a comfortable home of 174 acres, on sections 9 
and 17 of this tp., where he settled in September, 1854. 

William Tyner is one of the oldest settlers in this tp. ; is 64 
years of age, weighs 180 pounds, and has enjoyed good health dur- 
ing his entire life. He was born in Franklin county, Ky., in 1814 
and emigrated to this county in 1846. He has been a resident of 
this tp. 34 years. His father. Solomon Tyner, was a native of South 



858 HISTORY or haxcock cocxtt. 

Carolina, and of Scocth descent. He was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and a Calvinistic Baptist bv faith. His mother, whose 
maiden name was Jemima Henderson, was also of Scotch descent 
a member of the same Church as his father, and a native of South 
Carolina. His parents in early life emigrated to Franklin countj, 
Ind., thence to Hancock county of the same State, where they 
remained until death. Mr. Tyuer was married in 1S32, to Susan 
Egan, of Franklin county, Ind. She is a worthy member of the 
Christian Church, and the mother of 9 children, 8 of whom are 
now living — 3 boys and 5 girls. Mr. Tyner received his education 
at the Greenfield (Ind.) Seminary, and was sent to the Legislature 
from Hancock county, in 1S56; has acted as Township Treasurer of 
school funds 28 years, and Justice of Peace 2-i years. He has been 
very successful in his business, which has been chiefly farming. 
He is now making loans and dealing in notes, bonds, etc. He has 
a large and beautiful residence in Burnside, where he makes the 
eomfort and happiness of his family the chief object of his life. 

George Waggener is the son of James Waggener, an early 
settler of Kentucky, formerly from Virginia. George was the 
only son in a family of 3 children. He was born in Jefterson 
county, Ky., afterward removing to Todd county, where, after his 
father died, he was the overseer of a large farm. His mother was 
also a native of Virginia, and died in Todd county, Ky. After 
his mother died, George emigrated to this State, and settled on 
sec. 31, of this tp., in 1837. He had such advantages for educa- 
tion as the subscription schools of that day alforded, which were 
very meager. He was married before he emigrated, in 1835, to 
Mary F. Anderson; nativity, Kentucky; parents, from Virginia. 
She is the mother of 3 sons and 2 daughters, all living; James N., 
William J., Jasper B., Sarah E, and Mary O.. all residing in this 
vicinity, except William, who is farming iu Jasper county. Iowa. 
Mr. W. by occupation is a farmer and stock-raiser; also has a small 
farm or two and a handsome income, which amply provides for his 
declining years. Although a man of 60, he has the business snap 
of most men of 30. He was an active operator in the Mormon 
difliculties, not one of those who did the shooting, but the man 
who hauled the amunition for those who did. He was first into 
the jail when the Smiths were killed, and picking up the revolver 
which Smith had emptied, presented it to the authorities when 
called on the Coroner's jury. Uncle George is loyal from the 
ground up. He had 2 sons, "William and Jasper, in the 2d 111. 
Cav., under Col. Marsh; were in several battles, among which were 
Holly Springs, Vicksburg. etc.; were taken prisoners at Organza. 
Uncle George and lady belong to the Missionary Baptist society. 
He and Stephen Jacobs are the only pioneers of 1S37 remaining 
in Pilot Grove tp. 

Henry C. Yetter is a man of medium height and weight, quick 
movement and the appearance of a shrewd, sagacious business man. 
He was born in Dayton. 0., in 1S43; came to this countv in 1853, and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 859 

settled in this tp. His father, Louis Yetter, was a native of Pennsyl ' 
vania, andafarmerby occupation. His mother's maiden name was 
Elizabeth Bear. She was a native of the same State; her chief 
characteristic was the interest she took in the moral advancement 
of her community, and an honored member of the Christian 
Church. She lies buried in the Fountain Green cemetery, beside 
her husband. 

Mr. Yetter was married Sept. 2, 1877, to Miss Ida McGee, of 
Zauesville, O. Her parents removed to this county, and now re- 
side in Kock Creek tp. This marriage has been blessed with 2 
children, one boy and one girl. Mr. Yetter has suffered no mate- 
rial financial losses in his time, and is now engaged in the drug 
business. He is in easy circumstances, living a happy life with 
his little family, at this place. He is, politically, a Republican in 
every sense of the word. He belongs to no particular religious 
denomination, yet is a hearty supporter of temperance, and the 
highest moral standard of his community. He has had charge of 
the Burnside postoliice 10 years ; served a term of three years in 
the late civil war. He was in several very warm engagements, 
among which were the battles of Champion Hills, Fort Gibson, 
Black river bridge, siege of Yicksburg, besides several minor 
skirmishes. He received an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge , 
and arrived safe in Hancock county, without the slightest scratch. 

TOWNSHIPJ OFFICIALS. 

Following is a catalogue of the officers, with the years in which 
they were elected, that have served this township since its organ- 
ization : 

SUPEKYISORS. 

Samuel K. Richey 1850 John W. Lionberffer 1870 

William Tvner 1851 Wellington Janney 1871 

William Bray 1858 William Pettit 1872 

Thomas Jones 1863 C. H. Phelps 1873 

Thomas Nichelson 1863 Wellington Janney 1874 

William Tyner 1865 William Black 1875 

John W. Lionberger 1866 Wellington Janney 1877 

William Tyner 1868 William Bray 1879 

Wellington Janney 1869 Alexander Phillippi 1880 

CLERKS. 

James W. Roath 1855 M. E. Jacobs 1871 

Merrill Andrews 1856 Neil O. McKay 1872 

J. K. Duffield 1858 Ed. E. Aleshire 1877 

W. W. Simms 1861 Jas. McCormicli 1878 

Neil O. McKay 1863 Jas. H. Jackson 1879 

J. P. Lair 1868 D. C Tyner 1880 

Wm. H. Doss 1870 



860 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



ASSES:0R3 . 



James Westfall 1855 

James Waggoner 1858 

M. B. Mann 1861 

Alfred Pettit 1862 

Peter Cheney 1863 

Iroby S. Perkins 1865 

Thomas McGhan 1866 

Isaac Cooper 1867 



Alfred M. Glaze 1868 

William Pettit 1870 

Alfred M. Glaze 1872 

James E. Decker 1873 

John W. Lionberger 1874 

Ed. E. Aleshire 1878 

Hiram Sears 1879 

Slater Shriver 1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Merrill Andrews 1855 

Clinton Cutler 1856 

Merrill Andrews. . 1858 

J.S.Perkins 1861 

Wm. W. Simms 1862 

John W. Lionberger 1863 

William Pettit 1865 

John M. Springer 1867 

Neil O. McKay 1868 



Wm. H. Grove 1869 

Wm. H. Doss 1870 

M. E. Jacobs 1871 

Solomon Saulsbury 1872 

Thomas McGhan 1874 

Jas. McCormick 1875 

Josiah Hemingway 1876 

M. V. Riley 1879 

John W. Lionberger 1880 




ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

This township, 6-7, as elsewhere stated, is all prairie land. 
Larry's creek, emptying into the Mississippi, and Eock creek and 
Pilot Grove creek emptying into Crooked creek, all head within its 
limits, and yet none of them have any timber. It contains about 
three miles of the T., P. & W. across its southeast corner, and six 
miles of the C, B. & Q., on a due north line. The villages of 
Ferris and Adrian are two pleasant little places within its limits. 
The first laid out, June, 1869, by Charles G. Gilchrist and Hiram 
G. Ferris, is at the crossing of the T., P. & W. and C, B. & Q. 
roads. 

Adrian, on the latter, was laid out by Warren Yaple and G. W. 
Jacks, September, 1873, and named from Adrian, Mich., by Arthur 
Rice, son of Orrin Rice, then running as postal clerk on the C, B. 
& Q. Railroad. Orrin Rice was born in New York, came from 
Cincinnati, O., about 1857, to Oakwood, and settled in this town- 
ship in 1866. 

Among the first settlers in Rock Creek township may be named 
the Ellisons, Lamberts, Saulsburys, Yaples, McCalls, Baileys, 
Abbotts, Alstons, Terrys, Thornbers, etc. Isaac Roseberry, George 
Singleton, Isaac Bellew, Jedediah Bellew, John Bellew, are old 
settlers in the neighborhood. 

For the following statement concerning the first school taught in 
the township, we are indebted to Mr. M. Alston, a present citizen 
there. The first meeting held for the election of school officers, was 
at the residence of Mr. John Alston, a log cabin 15 feet square, 
located on the southwest quarter of sec. 9, now no more, having 
gone into stove-wood. [We have before us a sketch of this cabin 
for insertion, but must omit it, as we could print little else if we 
undertook to insert all the log cabins of lSlr7.] The meeting was 
held Oct. 16, 1847, nine voters present, electing Henry Thornber, 
Timothy Terry and Matthew Ellison, Sr., for Trustees, and John 
Alston, Treasurer. 

After the election of officers, the next thing must be a school. 
But there was no school-house, and no funds to build one. So it 
was decided to employ Mrs. Ann Alston, wife of John Alston, 
school to be taught at their residence. A bargain was made for her 
to teach ten weeks for $20.00. School began in January and ended 
in March, 1848. The following are the names of the pupils, ten in 
number: Thomas Ellison, Margaret Ellison, Mary H. Ellison, 
Ralph Ellison, John Terry, Sarah Terry, George Terry, Ellen E. 
Terry, Matthew Alston, Ellen Jane Alston. The old original 
schedule of said school is still in possession of John Alston. 

(861) 



862 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Our correspondent refers to this as a school of the " pioneer 
times," and it is for that prairie township; but he will find men- 
tion herein of schools taught fifteen years earlier in the county. 

There are a number of neat school buildings in this township at 
present, indicating that educational matters have progressed at 
even pace with other improvements from that first small beginning. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

Our information of Church matters in this township is very 
limited. There is a Methodist church edifice and society at 
Adrian, number of members not stated ; and one, if not more 
churches and societies, at Ferris, of which we have no account. 

There is a congregation of the Reorganized Church of Latter- 
Day Saints (commonly known as the Josephite Mormons) located 
near the west line of the township. It was organized in 1S63, by 
Elder James Burgess, with about 20 members. It was composed 
principally of persons wlio. having belonged to the old organization, 
rejected the polygamy doctrines and other teachings and practices 
of the Brighamites, and chose to remain behind, rather than follow 
a false prophet into the wilderness. This branch continued steadily 
to increase, and now (1S79) numbers 40 or 50 members, Elder 
Lambert being its Pastor. The snug little building for worship 
erected for this branch is situated near Mr. Lambert's residence, 
and was put up several years ago. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Charles Ahhott, being an earlier settler of the West, deserves 
more than a passing notice in a work like this. He was born in 
Lorain county, Ohio, Dec. S, 1S33, and is a son of Orlan and 
Lucinda Abbott; he came with his parents to Schuyler county. 111., 
in 1S40. and to this county in 1844; at that time wild animals 
were numerous ; he saw at one time sixty deer in a single drove. 
Mr. Abbott was reared on a farm and educated in a subscription 
school. "When they first located in Illinois there were no schools 
of any character within his reach; he attended the academy at 
Carthage about eight months, but in the main he is a self-made 
man. He has taught school for eighteen winters, farming in the 
summer. He was married in 1850 to Miss ISTancy J. Jones, a native 
of Tennessee; they have had 11 children, of whom 6 boys and 3 
girls are living. Mr. Abbott also owns an agricultural store in 
Ferris, in which he keeps all kinds of agricultural implements, and 
is doing a good business. His brother George was a soldier in the 
late war; his father resides in Jefterson county, Kansas, at the age 
of 75 years. 

Dai'id Akin was born in Columbiana county. Ohio. October 12, 
1809, and is a son of John and Jane i^Weatherspoon) Akin; the 
former was a blacksmith, and our subject early learned to sling 
the hammer and make the anvil rins^. He worked at this trade the 





,"3/^v^^.?>t^^<^2^ 



ROCK CREEK TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. S65 

greater part of his life, and also added wagon work to it, which 
gave liim a great deal of work both in iron and wood. He was 
married in 1831 to Miss Hannah Cooper, by whom he has had 4 
children; of these, 3 are living; viz., James F., John W. (a 
Doctor in Tennessee, Illinois) and liachel Jane. Mr. Akin came to 
Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1859, and to this county in 1868; in 
ISTS he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in the town 
of Adrian; in this he has been very successful; he also sells a great 
number of wagons; he resides on sec. 9, Rock Creek tp. 

TF. 0. AlpMn. — This enterprising young business man was born 
in Schuyler county, Illinois, February 26, 1850, and is a son of 
Henry and Hannah Alphin ; the former laid out the original first 
part of the town of Adrian, in 1871. W. O. was reared on a 
farm and educated in common schools and Hedding College at 
Abingdon, Illinois; he was married in 1874 to Miss Mary Leonard, 
by whom he has had 3 children, 2 of whom are still living; viz., 
Llewella and Adda. Mr. Alphin came to this county in 1874, and 
engaged in farming for three years; he commenced the drug busi- 
ness in Adrian in 1877, and now carries a full line of drugs, notions, 
groceries, cutlery, etc., and is doing a good business. One very 
remarkable feature in his business is, he is strictly a temperance 
man, and neither keeps nor sells spirituous liquors. 

Matthew Alston is a native of Hancock county. 111., and was 
born December 11, 1842. His parents, John and Ann Alston, 
removed to Chicago when Matthew was but two years old, where 
they remained three years. His mother taught the first school in 
Rock Creek tp. Mr. Alston was reared on a farm and educated ir 
the common schools. He served three years in the late war, in Co. 
F, 50th Regt. I.Y. I., and participated in the battles of Fort Henry, 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca and others. He was mar- 
ried October 14, 1867, to Miss Tabitha A. McConkey, by whom 
he has 2 children; viz., Robert II. and David J. Mr. Alston owns 
106 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock- 
raising, on sec. 4. 

J. R. Atkins was born in Wake county, N. C, March 26, 1826. 
His parents were Wm. L. and Frances Atkins. Mr. J. R. Atkins 
was reared on a farm and educated in a subscription school. He 
was married in 1848 to Miss Roxana Hargraves, by whom he had 
12 children; of these, 7 are living; viz., Robert, Alexander, Benja- 
min, William, Charles, Eva and Nettie. Mr. Atkins removed to 
this county in 1850, where he still resides and is engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising. Mr. A. began life with nothing, and now 
he owns 200 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Atkins died Jan. 16, 
1876. 

Wtnght B. Bailey was born in Harrison county, Ya., Oct. 7, 
1810, and is a son of Samuel and Agnes (Hudson) Bailey (dec. 
The latter was a descendant of the noted Henry Hudson, who first 
discovered and sailed up the Hudson river. Mr. Bailey was 
reared on a farm and received a very limited education in a sub- 



866 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

scription school. His text-books consisted of a Testament, a 
speller, and an arithmetic. So anxious was he to learn to write, that 
he procured a piece of soapstone from the creek and dressed its 
side smooth, and when a neighbor would happen in. he would have 
him make the letters of the alphabet at the top of this rude slate, 
and Mr. B. would sit for hours imitatinij the copy. He never 
heard a grammar lesson recited in school. He was married in 1S34, 
to Miss Melinda Bailey, by whom he has had 9 children: of these, 
7 are living; viz., Maro^aret, Sallie, Colbert, George, Maria, Vic- 
toria and James C. I'hey removed to this county in 1S50. Mr. 
Bailey is a farmer and stock-raiser, on sec. 4. 

Alfred E. Barnard was born in Canada July 14. 1841. His 
parents were John and Freelove Barnard ^^dec.V Mr. Barnard was 
reared on a farm near Rockville, Canada, on the St. Lawrence river. 
He was educated in a common school taught in a log house. He 
went to Bulfalo, ]S^ew-York. in 1859, where he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade. He came to this county in 1S66, and pursued his 
trade for 2 years. He was married May 18, 1807, to Miss Mary 
Alston, and they have had 4 children, of whom two are living, 
Anna G. and Frances T. Mr. B. erected a store-house in 1874, in 
Adrian, and engaged in the drug business for two years there, when 
he sold out and commenced tarming. He has been Justice of the 
Peace for Eock Creek tp. for 3 years, and is the present incum- 
bent. 

Dr. li. W. Barr was born in Wood county, Ohio, April 7, 1847. 
He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. 
He served 2 years in the late war, being a member of Co. A., 14th 
O. Y. I. He first went into the war merely as company for some 
of his friends, as he was at that time but 14 years old. But he 
soon afterward enlisted, and carried a gun, too. He was taken 
prisoner at Shenandoah Yalley, and held for one year. He was 
kept three months in the noted Libby prison, and his brother John 
was also kept 40 days in the same place. Dr. Barr participated 
also in the battles of "Wildcat, Cumberland Gap. Mill S^^ings, 
Pittsburg Landing, "Wilmington and others. He was present and 
saw Gen. Frye shoot and kill Gen. ZoUicofier at Mill Springs. The 
Doctor was married in 1873, to Miss Genevra E. Lynd, by whom 
he has had 2 children: viz., William H. i^dec.) and Frederick. 

Dr. Barr is a graduate of the Keokuk College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, and began the practice oi medicine in Ferris, this 
county, in 1872, and by close attention to business and the consci- 
entious discharge of every known duty, has won the confidence of 
the people, and has thus built up a large practice, which is steadily 
increasing. 

James H. Camphell was born in McDonough county, Illinois, 
May 1, 1836, and is a son oi Nicholas and Mary (^McGee) Camp- 
bell, pioneers of ]\[cDonough county. Mr. C. was reared on a farm 
and received a common- school education. He came to this county 
with his parents in 1851; was married x\ug. 9, 1856, to Miss 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUKTr. 867 

America Frakes, b}' whom he has 2 children; viz., Francis M. 
and Ida A. Francis M. is a leader of the Ferris Cornet Band, 
which was organized in 1S77. Mr. Campbell took a Western tour 
in 1804, through Montana, Idaho, Utah, and other "Western coun- 
tries, visiting Salt Lake City and other noted cities in the West. 
He resides on sec. 33, engaged in farming. 

Samuel Coleman, deceased, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, March 
16, 1850, and was a son of John and Letitia Coleman (dec); was 
reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He 
was married in March, 1842, to Miss Jane Bennett, daughter of 
Silas and Lucinda Bennett (dec). They have had 9 children, of 
whom 7 are living: Letitia, John W. , Lucinda M., Rosaltha, 
Charles, Martin L. and Harry I. A son, Clifton T., died in 
Colorado, Jan. 11, 1S79. 

Mr. Coleman and fsimily came to Greene county. 111., in 1843, 
and to this county in 1844. He was a farmer by occupation. He 
died May 9, 1874. 

Christian Crarnberg was born in Prussia, July 2, 1835, and is 
a son of John V. and Martha E. Cramberg: he was reared and 
educated in the town of Niederdorla, Prussia. He came to this 
country in 1851, by w^ay of New Orleans and St. Louis, stop- 
ping in Adams county, 111. While at New Orleans he came near 
losing his life when bathing in the gulf. He there labored on a 
farm. He was married in 1857 to Mary Weisenborn, by whom he 
had 8 children; viz., Emily, George, Sophia, Ida, Johnnie, Tillie, 
Anna and Oscar. He came to this county in 1872. He owns 160 
acres of valuable land on sec 3, and is engaged in farming. 

Benjamin Franklin Duvall was born in Todd county, Ky., 
May 24, 1835; his parents names were Moses and Martha (Butler) 
DuVall, the former of Virginia, and of French ancestry, and the lat- 
ter of Kentucky and of Irish descent; they both died in Todd 
county, Ky. He was a farmer and stone-cutter. Benj. F. lived 
in Todd county until nearly 21 years of age, when, in November, 
1855, he came to Harmony tp., this county; attended school the 
first winter here; in the spring commenced working as a hired 
hand on a farm, at $16 or $17 a month; taught school the following 
two winters. September 2, 1858, he married Sarah J. Burnett, who 
died Feb. 22, 1863, leaving 3 children, Martha E., William II. and 
Joseph J., who are still living. Mr. D. lived in Macoupin county, 
111., from the time of his marriage until his w^ife's death. In the 
fall of 1863 he returned to this county and bought 50 acres on 
sec. 15, Harmony tp.; sold it the next year and purchased the N.W. 
J of sec. 23. Rock Creek tp., a piece of raw prairie land. He 
immediately built a small house, 16 by 24, and also put up barns, 
fences, orchard, etc. January 1, 1867, he married Miss Mary F. Mil- 
ler, a native of Kentucky and a resident of Macoupin county at the 
time of marriage. Their children are: Charles E., George F., Fred- 
erick A., Albert G. and Clara A. In the spring of 1872 Mr. D. 
exchanged the last-mentioned farm for his present one, which is the 



868 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

N. W. J of sec. 15, this tp. He carried on the grain and commis- 
sion business at Ferris for several years, but at present his chief 
occupation is that of agriculture, the raising of live stock, etc.; 
pays considerable attention also to the buying and shipping of 
stock. 

Being left a half-orphan at the age of 14, his father having died, 
he was early thrown upon his own resources, and he was the eldest 
of 8 children. They were obliged to rent land, and young 
Benjamin was virtually the head of the family until he left home. 
Through his exertions all the children received some education. 
At tlie age of 20 he was given time by his mother, and he imme- 
diately came to Illinois. 

In politics, Mr. Duvall is a Democrat, and is now serving his 
eighth year as Supervisor; has also been Justice of the Peace four 
years. 

Mr, Duvall's portrait is given in this book, on p. 853. 

GiXbert Earl was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., Jan. 3, 
1823, and is a son of John E. and Hannah Earl, also natives of 
New York. They were the parents of 7 boys and 3 girls, of whom 
5 boys and one girl are living. Gilbert was reared on a farm, 
and received a common-school education. In 1844 John E. Earl 
and family (except his eldest son, Stephen D.) came to this county 
by the following circuitous route: By boat on the Erie canal to 
Buffalo; thence on Lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio; thence by the 
Ohio canal to Portsmouth, Ohio.; thence down the Ohio river to 
Cairo, and from there on the Mississippi river to Warsaw. They 
were three weeks and three days in accomplishing the journey. 
The Earl famil}^ are considerably scattered. Three are in this State, 
two in Minnesota, and the sister in Kansas. Mr. Earl was 
married in September, 1853, to Miss Arsula Thompson, by whom 
he had 7 children; of these but 2 are living — John and Frances. 
Mrs. Earl died April 10, 1863. Mr. Earl was again married April 
22, 1865; this time to Miss Minerva A. Jackson, by whom he has 
had 4 children; of these, 3 are living — Elizabeth, Charles G. and 
Jane. Mr. Earl was a soldier in the Mormon war, and stood guard 
over some fire-arms while the Mormons were crossing the river in 
their flight from Xauvoo, to prevent their being stolen by the 
Mormons. He took an active part in the battle of Nauvoo, and 
has corrected the statement that seven of the citizens were killed 
in this contest. He states that 13 men were wounded, and one 
mortally wounded; but not a man was killed outright. Mr. Earl is 
a farmer by occupation, but now has his farm rented, and resides 
in Ferris, where he owns four houses and as many town lots. His 
elder brother, Stephen D., who came from New York in the fall of 
1879, now resides with him in Ferris. It would be proper here to 
remark that when the Earl family arrived in Warsaw in 1844, the 
father had but $2.50 in money, and but very little if anything with 
which to begin keeping house. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 869 

Thomus Ellison^ farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Adrian; w^s born in 
Yorkshire, Enorjand, Nov. IS, 1830, and is a son of Matthew and 
Jane Ellison (deceased), who emigrated to this county in 1843, set- 
tling in Rock Creek tp., and was among the first who made im- 
provements in the tp. When the Ellison family arrived here there 
were four men in Rock Creek tp. ; viz., Timothy T. Terry, Abraham 
Shaw, Richard Lambert and a Mr. Spencer. Mr. Ellison was reared 
on a farm, and received a common-school education. He was married 
Nov. 12, 1874, to Miss Eleanor, daughter of John Davison, of this 
tp. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have one child, Ida. Mr. E. is engaged 
in farming and stock-raising, owning 620 acres of valuable land. 

John Spicer Ewell. — Mr. Ewell, whose portrait is given on 
page 863, was born in Greene county. Pa., April 4, 1835. His 
parents' names were Thos. H. and Abigail (Phillips) Ewell, the 
former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Plesy 
Ewell was the father of Thos. H., and lived in Virginia. John S. 
Ewell's advantages in an educational way were limited; his father 
being a farmer, his time in the summer was employed on the farm, 
and he attended school only in the winter and very little at that. 

In May, 1857, Mr. Ewell was married to Miss Nancy Schriver, a 
daughter of Abraham Schriver, of Monongahela county, Virginia. 
Mr. Ewell afterward took up his residence in that county and com- 
menced farming. On the breaking out of the war of the great 
Rebellion he, being an ardent Union man, felt it to be his duty to 
enlist as a soldier for the defense of the nation's life. With this 
purpose in view, he left his family to the care of his friends and 
enlisted in the 14tli West Virginia Volunteer Infantry in 1862; 
with this regiment he served three years, being one j'car a prisoner 
of war. He was with his regiment at the battles of Martinsburg, 
Va., Williamsport, Md., and Little Petersburg, Va., and partici- 
pated in the battle of " Floj'd's Mountain," Va. ; in this engage- 
ment he was shot three times: first, on the upper lip; second, on the 
left shoulder; and third, under the right arm. Each was made by 
a musket ball. None of these wounds was of a very serious nature 
and did not discommode him. He with 35 men belonging to his 
company were detailed to take care of the wounded on the battle- 
field, and while doing so were captured by Rebel cavalry under 
command of John Morgan. The battle occurred on May 9, 1864; 
and toward the last of May he and his comrades, 36 in all, found 
themselves inmatesof Andersonvilleprison, Georgia. At this "prison 
pen " he with the others sufiered untold misery from hunger, 
thirst, filth and disease; and saw prisoners subjected to all manner 
of cruelty and abuse, even in some cases shooting them in their 
sleep. Mr. Ewell had dwindled nearly to a skeleton, when the 
news of Gen. Sherman's famous march alarmed the prison authori- 
ties and they ordered the ])risoners removed to other quarters 
for safer keejjing. After leaving Andersonville the prisoners were 
" corraled " in camp at a place called ''Black Shear." Mr. Ewell 
and a comrade succeeded in making their escape in this wise: 



870 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

There were guards or sentries stationed all around the camp. Mr. 
E. And comrade approached one of the guards and requested to be 
allowed to step out a few feet to gather some pine knots to build a 
fire, as it had been raining; and the guard, being a good-natured 
fellow, granted the request. Not over 50 feet from the camp was a 
dense swamp. They commenced (as the guard doubtless thought) 
picking up pine knots, but in reality getting nearer the edge of 
the swamp; and while the guard's back was turned, on a signal 
from Mr. E., both jumped into the edge of the swamp, as it was down 
a bank and in dense bushes. They of course were out of sight, 
though they expected to be fired upon by the guard instantly, but 
were happily disappointed, and never could account for this fact, 
except that the guard was afraid to attract attention to the escape, 
as his part in allowing them to pass might be discovered. They 
struggled through the swamp, and that night at great risk 
approached a house which they found occupied by a gay party of 
dancers, Rebel officers; in a cellar near this house they dug out 
some sweet potatoes, even while people were passing in a path 15 
feet away, but were not discovered. They immediately retired to 
the timber, built a fire and ate roasted sweet potatoes until morning. 
The next day or so they were given food by a negro, who also pi- 
loted them on their way toward the Union lines. Einalljone 
morning they were discovered by some citizens, when they took 
refuge in a swamp, which was iramediatel}' surrounded by a picket 
guard; but that night they crept through the guard, and when 
only 12 miles from the Union lines they were captured again by 
the Rebels. Thus it had been nearly six days since their escape; 
had lived on sweet potatoes all the time, and had traveled over 250 
miles. After an absence of 12 days they were sent back to *' Black 
Shear "camp, and some time afterward returned to Andersonville. 
April 28, 1865, Mr. Ewell was released from Andersonville, he 
and two others being all that were left alive of the 36 that were 
taken prisoners at the same time. 

As the war was about ended, the regiment was some time after- 
ward ordered to Columbus, Ohio, to be mustered out. Mr. E. had 
not heard a word from his family for over a year. Before going to 
Columbus, he went home. In passing up a path, approaching his 
farm, he met a woman, who proved to be his wife; and after the 
first words of greeting and surprise had passed, told him that her- 
self and all his friends had heard that he was dead. It was a glad 
surprise to all. On his return Mr. Ewell again went to work on 
his farm, but believing that Illinois oflered^ a better field for his 
energies, in 1867 he moved to the State, locating^in Rock Creek 
tp., on northwest J of sec. 11, buying 80 acres, when Mr. Ewell 
first came to this tp., there was not a house where Adrian now 
stands. In the fall of 1871, Mr. Ewell entered the mercantile 
business, opening a store for that purpose at Adrian, and in which 
he has been engaged up to the present time. He keeps a general 
stock of goods, and his sales amount on an average from 825,000 to 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 871 

$30,000 per year. He also deals largely in buying and shipping 
stock and grain of all kinds; has two warehouses which have a 
capacity for 10.000 bushels of grain. He ships, on an average, 
from 250 to 300 cars of grain per \'ear, and 75 cars of stock. Mr. 
Ewell also owns the southeast ^ of sec. 14, in this tp. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ewell reside at Adrian, and are surrounded by a family of 5 
children, whose names are Marion D., Marvin Ellsworth, Wateman 
T. Willie, Daisey and an infant. Mr. Ewell is a Republican in 
politics, and has been Postmaster at Adrian since 1871. 

William R. Frakes. Being a native of this county, Mr. Frakes 
is identified with its history, and therefore is entitled to more than 
a passing notice in a work like this. He was born, June 15, 1S35, 
and is a son of Thompson and Elizabeth Frakes (dec), early 
pioneers of this county. He has followed the pursuits of farming 
and plastering. His education was received, for the most part, in a 
subscription school. He was married in August, 1871. to Mrs. 
Am}' (Camp) Fisher, b}- whom he has had one child, William R. 
Mrs. Frakes has one child by her former husband, Katie Fisher. 
Mr. Frakes is engaged in farming and resides on sec. 33. His two 
brothei's, Daniel and Joel, were soldiers for Uncle Sam in the late 
war. 

Benton Heath is a native of Crawford county. 111., and was 
born Jan. 28, 1834. His parents were Renick and Malinda 
Heath, early settlers of that county. Mr. Heath was reared on a 
farm and educated in a common school. He was united in mar- 
riage in the j-ear 1860, with Lydia A. Stiles, by whom he has had 
7 children; of these, 4 are living;'viz., Malinda, Eleanor, Silas and 
Lester. Mr. Heath came to this tp. in 1857, where he now re- 
sides, on sec. 2, engaged in farming. His father was a soldier in 
the Black Hawk war. 

Elijah B. Hughes was born in Butler county, O., Nov. 10, 1845, 
and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Hughes. He came with his 
parents to Adams county, 111., in 1855. He was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common school. He was married in 1867, to 
Miss Laura Powell, by whom he has had 8 children; of these, 6 are 
living — Emma E., Mary L., Annie E., Ella R., Elijah B. and an 
infant girl. Mr. Hughes came to this county in 1879, and resides 
on sec. 22, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. 

Richard Lambert was born Kov. 17, 1822, in Yorkshire, Eng., 
where he was reared and educated. His parents were Richard and 
Patience Lambert. He emigrated to Xauvoo in 1840. In 1841 he 
went to Carthage, where he engaged with Marvin & Charles Street, 
as clerk and overseer of the warehouse, for the period of 15 months. 
He then, in 1842, located in this tp. He was married in 1843, to 
Miss Jane Thornber, by wliom he has had 15 children; of these, 12 
are living, 6 boys and girls. Mr. Lambert owns 240 acres of 
valuable land, and r sides on sec. 7, this tp., where he is engaged 
in farming and stock-raising. He is a very prominent worker and 
Elder in the re-organized church of the Latter Dav Saints. 



872 HISTORY OF HAXCOCK COrXTT. 

John TT. Lowrey was born in Schuyler county. 111.. Aug. 23, 
1845. and is a son of Edward and Harriet Lowrey, now residing in 
Cartliaire tp. He was raised a farmer's boy, and received a common- 
school education. He was married Dec. 22. 1S70. to Miss Anna 
A. Boice, by whom he has had 4 children; <di these, 3 are living; 
namely., "William E., Clara M. and Lina Ireua. Mr. Lowrey is en- 
gatred in farming on sec. 26; postoffice address, Ferris. 

Bohert F. JLcCall was born in East Tennessee, Jan. 10, 1S4T, 
and is a son of Wm. X. and Sarah S. (Lyon) McCall, who removed 
to Adams county. 111., in 1S52, where Mr. McCall taught school 
one winter. They removed to this county in 1S53. Our subject's 
grandtather, Asher Lyon, was a soldier in the war of 1S12. He 
died during the late war. Mr. McCall was reared on a tarni. He 
attended the academy at Fort Madison, Iowa, for two years, when 
it was conducted by Prof. Knight, and afterward taught one mouth. 
He was married March IS. IS 73. to Miss Catherine Stewart, by 
whom he has 2 children — William TT. and Bertha E. Mr. McCall 
is engaged in farmins: and stock-raising, on sec. 36. 

WiUiam G. JfcCuhbin was born in Green county, Ky., Xov. 2S, 
1S20, and is a sou oi Joseph and Eleanor McCubbin. He came with 
his parents to Hancock tp., this county, in the year 1S34. He was 
raised on a farm and educated in a subscription school, as there 
were no free schools here in the days of his boyhood. He was 
married May -4. 1S54, to Miss Zilpha E., daughter of Ephraim and 
Eda Perkins, who were very early settlers in this county. Mrs. 
Perkins was the first white woman to reside in McDonough county, 
111. She lived there two years, when she came to this county. She 
learned to speak the Pottawatomie language, and can still speak 
the language, though rather broken. She resides at Pilot Grove, 
in this county, and is in her S4th year. Our subject's father 
resides in Hancock tp., at the age of S4 years. Mr. McCubbin 
taught school in his younger days, but has been a farmer for the 
most part through life. He owns 260 acres of land, besides a nice 
residence and other property in the town of Ferris, this tp. 
He is also a local agent for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. 
He is a member of the Christian Church at Ferris, of which he is 
Elder. He is ever an uncompromising temperance worker. He 
belongs to no political party, and in no Ci^se will vote for an 
intemperate man for any oliice whatever. He has always managed, 
by the aid of a few other temperance workers, to keep all saloons 
out of the town or village in which, or near which, he resided. 
Several times have the bad folks tried to establish a saloon in Ferris, 
but Mr. McCubbin is always at his post to tight against the 
monster, and has thus far been victorious in every battle. 

George JrcJli'tlh'j^s was born in Erie county, N. Y.. near the city 
of Butfalo, Dec. 29, 1S37, and is a son of Dennis and Elizabeth 
McKellips, who brought their family to Adams county. 111., in 1S40. 
Dennis McKellips was a contractor on railroads and other public 
works, a^id died in 1S63. The McKellips family removed to this 






SONORA Tp. 




HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 875 

county in 1851, when this township (Rock Creek) was then a wild 
prairie. Tlie wolves and deer were very numerons. The wolves 
would catch the chickens in the yard, and Mr. McK. has shot deer 
in the corn-field. He was married in May, ISGI, to Miss Ellen 
A. Gill, of English ancestors. They have had 8 children, of whom 
6 are liviiiir; viz., Cecilia, Emma, Frank, Dora, Geori^ia and Mary. 
Mr. McKellips was laboring- in the South at the time the war broke 
out, and in 1861 or '62, when he returned, he was arrested, no one 
knew for what. He was held a prisoner for some time, and then 
released. lie has spent several ^'inters in Mississippi. He now 
resides on sec. 20, eni>;aged in farmini^ ajid stock-i'aisin<^. 

WelGh Newman was Ijorn near Louisville, Ky., Feb. 2, 1832, 
and is a son of John and Charity Newman. His parents removed 
with their family to Pontoosuc, this county, in 1836. This was in 
a very early da}', and Mr. Newman was early inured to pioneer 
life. He saw the Indians at dift'erent times. He was reared on a 
farm, except four years he worked in a wool and carding mill near 
Payson, 111. His early educational advantages were very limited, 
he having attended school but 12 months. Mr. Newman spent 
six years of his Western life in Adams county. III. He was mar- 
ried in 1S57 to Miss Juliett Duff, by whom he had 5 children; 
viz., William W., Mary E., Thomas W., John A, and Bertha A. 
Mrs. Nesvman died Dec. 1, 1876. She was a loving wife and a de- 
voted mother. Mr. N. resides on sec. 16, engaged in farming. 

George Si»gleton was born in Ireland, Aug. 15, 1819, and is a 
son of Thomas and Ann (Mitchell) Singleton. He was reared and 
educated in Ireland and came to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1845, where 
he engaged for a time as a coach-driver. He then engaged in 
farming until 1854, when he came to this county. Mr. Singleton 
is a farmer on sec. 2, raising and feeding stock. He has been emi- 
nently successful, and has done a "great deal toward improvino- 
and making this township. He owns 5S0 acres of valuable land, 
20 of which is timber. He was married in Philadelphia in 1851, 
to Miss Ilebecca Wilson, by whom he has 1 children; viz., Anna, 
Margaret, Rebecca, Thomas, Almira, George and AVilliam. ]\Ir. 
and Mrs. Singleton are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

H. M. Sleater was born in Bath, England, Dec. 30, 1S38, and is 
a son of Robert and Mary Sleater, the former a native of Ireland, 
and the latter of England. He was reared and educated in Enr"-- 
land, and came to Atnerica with his ])arents in 1852. The first 
work he did was to assist the Circuit Clerk in his duties at Car- 
thage. In 1854 he engaged as a clerk in a dry -goods store in. Car- 
thage, where he remained until 1862. He then enlisted as a 
private in Co. B, llStli 111. Vol. Inf., in the late war. He was 
soon promoted Sergeant Major, afterward 2d Lieutenant. Durino- 
the time he was Lieutenant, he was acting Adjutant of the regi- 
ment. He particijiated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluffs, siege 
of Vicksburg, Black river bridge, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills, 
Thompson Hill, and others. He then was transferred to the De- 

50 



876 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

partment of the Gulf, with mounted infantrj. He was married in 
1862, to Miss Emmaretta Mack, by whom he has 5 children: 
Robert. William, Louisa, ]S"ella and Helena. He was Deputy 
County Treasurer for this county two years. He was clerk, pay- 
master, etc., for Major McClaughry at his stone quarries for two 
years. He removed to his farm in Rock Creek tp., on sec. 16, in 
1869. He began business in Adrian, in 1873. He carries a large 
stock of dry-goods, groceries, hardware, cjueen's-ware, etc., and 
does a large business. He also buys and ships grain. He was en- 
gaged in the grain business here, alone, for five years. 

John Stevenson, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 8, was born in 
Leicestershire, Eng., Oct. 31, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and 
Ann Stevenson, of this tp., also natives of England . They came 
to Nauvoo in the winter of 1846-' 7, and remained a short time, 
when they removed, in the year 1847, to Clarke county, Mo. In 
1848 the family came to this (Rock Creek) township. Mr. S. 
was married, September 13, 1855, to Miss Mary Ellison, by whom 
he has had 9 children. Of these, 7 are living; namely, Mary A., Thos. 
M., Ralph W., Emma L., Susannah E., Jolin F. and Alice J. Mr. 
Stevenson is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns 234 
acres of valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are members of 
the Latter Day Saints' Church, more commonly known as 
Mormons. 

Wm. Stevenson, a prominent farmer on sec. 8, is a native of 
Nottinghamshire, Eng., and was born July 23, 1831. His par- 
ents, Thomas and Ann Stevenson, are also natives of England, and 
emigrated to America with their family in 1846, arriving at iS^au- 
voo in the winter. Earlj- in 1847 they settled in Clarke count v. 
Mo., remained there only until in 1848, when they located in this 
tp. Mr. S. was married in 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Pilking- 
ton, by whom he has 8 children; viz.. Magnolia, Alice J., John, 
Adam, William, Ira M.. Marlow and Ida. 

Mr. Stevenson is a prominent member of the Church of the Lat- 
ter Day Saints, which order has a thriving organization and a com- 
modious church edifice in this tp. He gives us the following 
information concerning Joseph Smith, the original leader of the 
true Mormon Church. Mr. Smith was opposed to polygamy in 
any form whatever, and never taught spiritual-wifery as was 
charged upon him. He had but one wife himself, and never would 
permit the nefarious practice of polygamy among his people. 

Mr. Stevenson also states that the true Mormons think Smith's 
death was indirectly caused by the polygamists. He further states 
that the great crime of stealing, which the Mormons were charged 
with, was largely committed by prejudiced Gentiles, who would 
take the stolen property and place it in the fields and lots of Mor- 
mons at Nauvoo, and then return and tell the owners of the miss- 
ing property, that they had seen their property at a certain place; 
and the owners would go and find it as the persons had informed 
them they would. And further, the polygamists would steal the 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 877 

property of the noii-polygamists, placing it in the temple lot at 
Nauvoo; and when the owners attempted to take their own prop- 
erty, "they were shot down like dogs." These statements just 
related were submitted to several leading men of Rock Creek tp., 
and were all corroborated, especially that one concerning the 
stealing of property by the prejudiced Gentiles; for after the con- 
flict was over, the Grentiles acknowledged and boasted of it. 

Henry Thornher is a native of the county of Lancaster, Eng- 
land, and was born Jan. 10, 1810. His parents were Richard and 
Anna Thornber, also natives of England. Our subject was reared 
and educated in his native country. lie then learned the trade of 
wooden-shoemaker. He set sailJan. 12, 1842, and arrived at New 
Orleans March 9 of the same year. He then came up the Missis- 
sippi river to Nauvoo, where he remained four years. He then, in 
1846, removed to this tp,, where he still resides and is engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. He was married July 11, 1845, to Miss 
Lucy Ellison, by whom he has had 8 children ; of these, are living; 
viz., David R., Mary H., John T., Lucy M., William H. and James 
M. Mrs. Thornber died Jan. 25, 1866. iMr. Thornber again mar- 
ried, March 3, 1868; this time, Margaret Pilkington, and they have 
one child, Joseph. Mr. Thornber resides on sec. 6, and owns over 
1,000 acres of valuable land. 

Sylvester T. Tiirney, whose portrait is given on page 763, is a 
native of Fairfield county, C/onn., where he was born July 30, 1833. 
His early years were spent on his father's farm in that county. Ilis 
advantages for an education were limited to attendance at the 
common schools, mostly in the winter, until about the age of 17, 
when he, being the only son, employed his winters in assisting 
his father in cutting and hauling ship timbers, and in the summer 
working on the farm. This manner of life he followed until the. 
age of 22, when he left his father's house and commenced life's 
labors on his own account, locating in Delaware county, N. Y., 
where he remained three months, and then went still farther West, 
arriving in Chicago, HI., in the fall of 1855. In a day or two he 
started for Peoria by rail, and from that point by stage to Canton, 
Fulton county. At this point, finding his meanis had dwindled 
so that his worldly possessions amounted to only one $20 gold 
piece, he immediately looked np somethitig to do, and soon 
found work on a farm at $17 per month, at whicli he worked two 
3'ears. In 1857, realizing the usefulness of the Osage orange as a 
hedge, he went into the business of raising hedge plants for market, 
and planted 30 acres on land rented for the purj^ose. Owing to the 
hard times of this year (1857), he found very little sale for the 
])lants in that section, and was obliged to haul them as far as 80 or 
90 miles for a market. In 1858 business revived, and in 1859 he 
turned his attention to contracting with parties and planting the 
hedge himself, at $112 per mile. This spring (1859) he planted 30 
miles of hedge in Hancock and Henderson counties. This same 
year Mr. T. came to this county, locating at La liarpe, and in i860 



planted 15 s.v.r _ ^ :y. ^ lis eT\?p failed lo corce 

up, and in 1S61 '• acres: iMs ismed on: well. 

and he sold ^5.7-: v .r:„ .: ;.,. ' ?ei out ar*:'iii 15 miles of 

hed^e fence for parties besides i . - is the firsi to suecessiiiily 
introdace the hedgN? :_^ - '_ ~ setrlng bein^ al:»oi:: 

the first tliat did we. 

In 1561 Mr. T. was married to Miss Kiitie A. Birr. b-:.m Msreh 
15. 1S4S, in Kentncty. and a dangiiter of Elias and Svaliie Be&n- 
champ"* Barr. l>oih natives of Kentaeiy. and came to this 
conntT in 1S5'?. The next year after his marriage he b^ug^ht the 
southwest one-ioarth of see. 1. Koek Creek tp., which ws^^ raw 
pMdrie; not a fence or improreme:!! had been placed iip«:«n it ry 
the hand of man. He immediately ejected a frame house 16xi4 
feet, one and one-half stories high^ which in those dars was con- 
sidered Xo. 1. He also built a frame stable. Tlie bonse is still 
standing near his present residence. This season Mr. T. bc'tx^t 
five yobe of cattle and started thean, on one large plow, breaking 
prairie, and, as he said, it was as modi as they edald do. Hie 
conn try was cv^vered with hajod-bush and wiUov, and it required all 
the power of the five yoke to tear up thmr nMts. He ft»ced the 
whole with a four-board fence, and that &U sowed S'j acres of 
wheat, which tamed out 1,000 bushels. In 1S64 be put in 1:2C> 
acres of wheat, doing all the wKuk: himself, with the assistance of 
a boy to dri^? a harrow. This turned out i,OOM bushd% whi^ he 
s^ldat 6i-~5 per bushd. These were the only twt> minat oops he 
ever put in. Since that time he has turned his attentk» to raising 
com and feeding it to h<:^ and stock: neviw sold but two «ops of 
com. — one, "*,CK»> bushels at So ctSw ; and <Mie, :2,5«>3 bnskds at 75 «&. : 
has turned o5' in one year as high as 90 head of cattle and 20C' 
hogs: on an average, (50 head of stock. In 1S71 Mr. T. turned his 
attokition to breeding and raising a fine grade of draft h»s^ of 
Gorman stock, and introduced the first imported Norman staUkui 
(~ Kothamagns"^ ever introduced into this oountrr. Snee tint 
time he has made it his whole bi^iness; has on "hand now tv^ 
thoronghbi^ stallions, and eig4it graded stallions £N>m one-half to 
seven-^ghths, and 27 brxx>d mares of graded stock, as high as serea- 
eighths^" Tliis business, besides being a baie£t to the country at 
lara«. in furnishing superior draft lioisess has jvoved a paying invest- 
ment to Mr. Tumey. Mr. T. has since added to the hoine fann. so 
that now it consists of S40 acres. Mr. T. also bought and improved 
the northeast one-iourth of see. 10, Kock Crei^ tpu but s<dd it in 
1S75, when he erected his present fine resideice. at a cost 
of $^500. It is a :i-srorv frame, oOiSS feet, 10|fert o»ling bdow 
and nine teet ceiling above stsdrs: is fitted widi all modon im- 
provements: has hot and cold water up stairs and down. Tbe pfaiee 
is one of the pleasantest and best -improved in die owmty; has 
also fine bams, etc.. etc. 

In politics Mr. T\tmey is a Democrat. 

Mr. and Mrs. T. have a tamilv of S diildren — Lowrie £., bom 



msiviKT or HAXcocE corsTT. S79 

Mar 11, l>6f; Evwett Z^ born Mu«h 29, 1S«6: Abarilla P^ bom 
Jnlj 31, 1S74^ like Tamers are of En^flish decent; the Barrs of 
German, and Beanchamps of Frenoh origio. 

JianAaU VrnkBudburi., deceased^ was bom May IS, 1521. was a 
native of Tascaiawas eouDtr, Ohio, wh»e he resided until 1S50, 
^dkoi he crossed the plains to California: there he sojonmed nntil 
1S5S, haTin^ twice visited in that time his old home; he then 
returned to the plaee of his nativity; the same year moved to 
Peoria. Illinois. He was a tailor by vocation, bat on aeeonnt of 
j&Uino; health he abandoned this badness and began traveling. 
Becoming tiied of traveling, afW he arrived at Peoria, he parchas^ 
a iwm in Sdinyler eoimty, Illinois, near the town of Hnntsville. At 
the latter place he married Mis^ Anna Baxter, in 1S5S%, and they 
haf« had 4; daoghtos and one son, of wh<Hn bat twoare living; vizT, 
Annie May and HJattie K Tlte nam^ of tiie deoeasra were 
Marshall, Mattie and Elsie. Mr. TanBoskiik was m«de a Mason 
by J. L. Andoson, Lodge ^o. 315. located at Aagosta, this 
eoanty. He was a worthy membtf of the M. R Chorch and a con- 
sistmt Cliristian ; he was also a m»nb» of the Chapter and Coaiual 
ci Aagosta, Knighted in Almoner Commandary Xo. 32. Aagosta, 
on the second day of April. 1>59. He was also a charter member 
of Hnntsville Lodge, A. F. and A. M., oambo* 465. In 1869 he 
ronoved with his fiunihr to his l^urm one mile east of Adrian, and 
became a memb^ of the Dallas City Lodlge, A. F. and A. M., nnm- 
b» 235 . He died Fdouary 12, 1579. wiiii triamphs of living faith 
in a crocified Bedeemer. He was a f&vorite among the citixens of 
the diffisroit loealiti^ in wiuch he dwelt, and was widely known 
and a very prcNminent man; none knew him bat to love him. 

Iheiffkt WkUfom^ was bora in Tmmball coonty, Ohio, Xovem- 
ber 12, ISSO, and is a son of Wyman and Lara TThircomb, the 
former a native oi Teimcmt and the latter of New York. Oar 
sobjeet w«b brooght to Adams coan^. Illinois, by his paroits in 
1S42; he new saw a school-hoose antil he was tai years old. The 
eitiBOis of the locality in which he spent his boyhood days erected 
a sdiool-hoQseof split frame work and shaved boards; in this rode 
bendies were placed, apon whidi the little Sockers would sit and 
** lam thor speUin* le5*c«n." Mr. Wldtcomb came to this eoanty 
in 1S53, and in 1$56 was married :o Miss Mary H. Ellison, by whom 
he has had 13 children; of these br.t 5 are living; viz.. "VTyman T., 
Famham M., J<^ D., James A. and Lewis M. Mr. Wnitcomb is 
engaged in fioming and stock-raising on sec ^ this tp., and owns 
410 aicres of valaaUe land. 

«/oAj» If^mdkip was born in Franklin eoanty. Vermont. Feb. 19, 
1S33. and is a son of Josiah and Bebeoea. also natives of Termont. 
He was reared mostly on a &nn. and received a common- school 
edncation. He was manied in the spring of 1559. to Miss Mary 
C. R. whom he has 4 diildren; viz., Llewelia, Frances E.,* 

Wm. - -vnnieE. Oar subject went to New York in 1542, 

and eaibc to Bareaa eoanty, IlL, in 1556, where he engaiged in 
&rminv nntil IS^l. when he removed to Schavlerconntr.lll. He 



8S0 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

came to this conntj in 1S63, where he now resides, in the town of 
Ferris, engaged in farming. He is also proprietor of the Ferris 
House, which, bj the way, is a good hotel. A brother, Horace 
Winship, died in the late war at Fort Birancus. 

Warren Yaple was born in Madison county. 111., Mar. 20, 18 2i, 
and is a son of John and Alice (Squires) Yaple. The former a 
native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut. Mr. Yaple 
was reared on a farm and educated in a common school. He early 
learned the carpenter's trade. His parents removed with their 
family to this county in 1831, and located in Pontoosuc township; 
but at the beginning of the Indian troubles, just prior to the Black 
Hawk war, they ^^removed back to Madison county. Warren 
came to this county in 1865. He married Miss Elizabeth Bates, 
in 1846, a daughter of Joseph H. Bates, and they have had 11 
children, of whom 9 are living; viz., Joseph J., Alice J., Leander 
J., Belle M., Albina H., Thomas M., Letitia A., Artimisia £. and 
Mary H. Mr. Yaple and family spent two years in Sedgwick 
county, Kansas. He is now engaged in farming and stock-raising 
on sec. 12, owning 165 acres of valual)le land. 

OFFICIALS. 

Here is a list of the men who have served this township in an 
official capacity, both past and present: 

SUPEEVISOKS. 

Edwin McXeal 1856 Wm. H. Odell 1863 

Alexander Roseberry 1858 John Davison 1864 

John Davison 1859 Benj. F. Duvall 1870 

Wm. H. Odell 1860 John Davison 1874 

David T. Starkey 1862 Benj. F. Duvall 1877 

CLERKS. 

A. H. Osman 1856 Benj. F. Duvall 1870 

GeoTse Davis Trites 1858 W. S. Ramsev 1871 

William H. Odell 1859 Richard C. Emert 1874 

Simon Loop 1860 George W. Thompson 1875 

Georse D. Trites 1861 C. O. Jennev 1877 

Richard C.Emert 1864 J. A. Allison 1878 

Benj. E. Washburn 1868 George W. Carlisle 1879-1880 

ASSESSORS. 

J. McNeal 1856 Elias Ban- 1863 

Charles Abbott 1858 Charles Abbott 1865 

John Jenkins 1860 Hiram Temiehill 1870 

John Davison 1861 Elijah Haines 1872-1880 

Hugh McCreary 1862 

COLLECTORS. 

B. McXeal 1856 Jas. T. Anderson 1867 

George Henry Pratt 1858 S. W. French 1869 

Isaac Roseberry 1860 Richard C. Emert 1871 

John Davison 1862 W. P. JlcCollum . 1873 

David W. Orr 1863 J. W. McCormick 1875 

Thomas Lionberger 1864 A. B. Atkins 1877 

Wm. McMiu-phy 1866 James H. Campbell 1879-1880 



SONORA TOWNSHIP, 

K'umbered 6 — 8, lies on the rapids, extending from the head of 
Kauvoo to the mouth of Larry's creek. The bhiffs of tliis stream 
and of Chandler creek below Xauvoo, with those along the river 
shore, supply considerable timber; and the land is very broken 
over most of the distance for a mile or two, inland. The east two- 
thirds of the township contains some handsome prairie land. So- 
nora contains some as valuable and well-appointed farms as are to 
be found in the county. A portion in the northeast is very flat, 
and not well adapted to grain. 

The first settlers were along the river. Several of the first jury- 
men were in this township, at date of organization, among whom 
we can name the Moftitts, Hugh Wilson and his son James and 
son-in-law Dunn, Rev. Charles Robison and others. Later 
settlers were Abram Golden and his sons, Dr. Adolphus Allen, 
Christian Kreymeyer, Abel Casto, the Sheridans, Roger Hibbard, 
Hezekiah Bradley. Still later we find the names of Geo. Benner, 
G. "W. Black, J. J. Gardner, D. G. Luce, Christopher Smith, 
Joseph Miller, George Smith, Samuel Brownlee. O. J. Hall, John 
Brown. "W. H. Fulton, George Edmunds, Hezekiah Brant, Isaac 
Thomas, Henry Benner, and others. 

Sonora Landing is the business center on the river line, and Son- 
ora postofiice, at the same point, is the only postoflice in the town- 
ship. The township seems to be well provided with school-houses, 
they being, with one exception, located in three 'rows in each di- 
rection across the township, and equi-distantfrom each other. ]^o 
other township in the county, except Rock Creek, approaches this 
regularity. 

Golden's Point, of noted fame in the history of the county, 
received its name from Mr. Abram Golden, one of the early 
settlers in the edge of the prairie. The place was at a point of 
timber projecting into the prairie, at or near the farm since owned 
by Mr. Chris. Smith. 

Mr. G. was born in New Jersey, and raised in Kentucky. Was 
a volunteer under Gov. Shelby at the battle of the Thames, when 
Tecumseh was killed; and tells the stoi-y that he saw that chief's 
hide stripped ofl" him, by the soldiers, after he was killed, to make 
razor straps of I Mr. Golden was born in 1780, and died aged 86. 
Mrs. G. died in 1S75, at about the same age. 

The famous Sonora stone quarry is located on the river, about a 
mile above the mouth of Larry's creek. Large quantities of build- 
ing stone have been taken from this quarry, and shipped to various 
points for use in public buildings. 

(881) 



^^2 histobt of haxcock coitstt. 

EEIJ'.-IOrS PS'X-EESS. 

The only clinrches wiiiim Sonor: - drst, a Christian Churdi 
in the forest near Larrv's creek, y - ; . ?i the Men tebello line; 

and another, free to all den: :.s. situated on the prairie 

above Sonora Landing. The l ^ Church mnst be 20 or 30 
years old ; has had a good oongre^rion. now aomewhat reduced, 
and has been for some years past without a regular Pastor. The 
building is a frame, has been n^lected of late, and looks dilapi- 
dated. 

The free church is a few years old only, and was built by a 
union of the dilTerent sects with outsiders, a plan to be com- 
mended by sparsely senled neighborhoc^is. 

Settlers in the north part of the township attSfCh themselves to 
the dinerent Chr.rches in Xauvoo. 

PKKSOXAL, 

Following ar^ short biographical outlines of many of the well 
known resiaents of this township. 

/*?<!<.' B-j;gt'fr is a native of this county, and was bom Jan. 13. 
lS-55: he is a son of David and Catharine Baxter, both natives of 
Xew Jersey. He was reared in this county, educated in the 
college at Carthage, but was deprived of the privilege of securing 
a complete education on account of his fathers ill health. His 
father lived unrll June, 1579. when his disease became acute, and 
death was the result. Isaac still runs the home farm. His mother 
is still living, at the age of 61. Dec, 31, 1S79, he married Miss 
Ensenie Kellogg, of this county. 

S^isyl'ijh Bmnt, whose porttait is presented on page S73, is 
descended from British ancestry, but whether of Scotch, or Enirlish, 
or K^ih, is not certain. At all events the lirst of the fsunily in 
America were very early settlers here. The first by the ^mily 
name was John Brant, a soldier in the Kevolntionary war. und^ 
Washington, and a resident of Maryland. After that war he 
moved to Kentucky, then to Indiana, near Evansville, where he 
died aK->nt l>3i or 1535, aged about Si years, leaving one son, 
John, Jr., and S daughters, "The son was married in Indiana to 
Sybil White, a native of Xew York, near Bndndo, and a danght^ 
of Anson White, of English origin, and also a Kevolutionary 
soldier. Soon after marriage John moved to Wabash cv»nnty. III., 
taking with him his wife and one v hild, Heiekiah, Ae subject of 
this sketch, who was K>m Jan. 1. 1526. "niey located on Barnetr's 
Prairie, on a farm, although Mr. Brant was a cooper by trade; 
about six years afrerwarvi they moved to Tiuceanes,. Ind., where 
Mr. B. foliowevi coo^^^ring several years. He then movevi to Law- 
rence county. 111., where he died about 1S36, leaving 6 children: 
Hezekiah, Alfred, Silas, Horatio, Johnson and John, all yet living 
except John, who died in infimcy. The widow married again, and 






X 







LA HARPE 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. - 885 

died in Clay county, 111., March 1, 1879, aged about 75 years, 
being at this time the grandmother of itt children, and the great- 
grandmother of 6 children. Her last husband was Mr. Chrisman. 

Mr. Hezekiah Brant's early advantages for a school education 
were limited, his father dying when he was but 10 years of age and 
the eldest of 6 children, and all in rather destitute circumstances. 
He never learned a letter of the alphabet until he was 13 years old, 
when he commenced to attend school some in the winter, but all 
together he never attended school more than six months in his life. 
The family moved to Clay county. 111., in 1839. The iirst work 
Mr. B. did was on a ferry-boat at Yincennes; next he was hired out 
by his mother to work on a farm at $40 a month; in seven months 
he met with an accident which disabled him from work, and when 
he went to his landlord for pay, the latter refused to pay more than 
$5 or $6. Mr. B. worked at farming and other work until 1844, 
.when he commenced to labor at brick-making, which business he 
followed two years; at the age of 16 he went to Vincennes to learn 
the blacksmith's trade with John B. Dunning, where he remained 
until Jan. 1, 1847, when he went to Clay county and ran a black- 
smith shop six months; then he followed the same trade at Dicks- 
burg, Ind., until 1850. 

June 6, of this year, Mr. Brant married Isabella Dick, a native 
of Ediaburgh, Scotland, and a daughter of James and Wilhelraina 
(Watson) Dick. She came to this country, landing at New Orleans 
in October, 1837. Mr. Dick had come the previous spring. His 
family, consisting of wife and 4 children, namely, Marian, Isabella, 
Wilhelmina and Jemima J., all but Mrs. Brant now deceased, 
sailed from Liverpool on the " Tallahassie," arriving at ]^ew 
Orleans only two hours after Mr. Dick's arrival there to meet them. 
The latter located in Knox county, Ind., where his uncles had lived, 
and where he had visited when 18 years old. Here Mr. Dick lived 
many years and became a prominent man in the State, being a 
Member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1850. He was 
a Democratic lawyer and a stump speaker. When a youth he 
learned the tanner and courier's trade, and followed the business a 
little after coming to this country. In Scotland he was brought up 
on a farm. His father, Wm. Dick, was a first cousin to the great 
scientific theologian, Thomas Dick, LL. D. His wife, Wilhelmina, 
nee Watson, was a daughter of Robert Watson, an architect, of 
Edinburgh, who died while on a visit to this country. James Dick 
followed farming, as well as the law, owning about 1 ,500 acres of 
land. He died at the age of about 57 years, Nov. 24, 1863, leaving 
a family of 5 children, 8 children having previously died. 

Mr. I3rant, after his marriage, moved to Olney, 111., where he 
carried on bhicksmithing from ls50 to 1855, when he moved with 
his family to apiece of land in this tp., the patent to which his 
father-in-law had bought in 1840. Mr. Dick had paid no attention 
to the land represented by liis patent ex'ce])t to come and look at it. 
He often talked about his "land in Hancock county," speaking of 



886 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

its fertility, etc. One day while Mr. Brant was visiting him this 
land was mentioned, and the former asked in a joking way what he 
would sell it for. Mr. Dick replied that he would give it to him, 
which offer was accepted and the deed was drawn up and signed. 
Mr. B. afterward ascertained that the land had been sold 21 times, 
for taxes. He bought the tax claim for $90. This was the N. "W. 
J of sec. 34, Sonora tp. The homestead now consists of 560 acres. 
He has since erected a very large, substantial stone house in 1873, 
at a cost of $5,000, He has also a fine barn and other farm build- 
ings. Indeed, Mr. B. has put on this place all the improvements 
that are now on it. He raises grain and stock. 

Politically, Mr. Brant is a Democrat, and he has served his tp. 
in various local offices. 

His 8 children are: James D., married and living on tlie home 
farm; Hezekiah W ., married and living in Nodaway county, Mo.; 
Chauucy M., married and residing with his father; Mina S., John 
N., Herman S., George M. and Susan J. 

Joel H. Bolton was born Aug. 16, 1849, and is a son of George 
and Mary Bolton, the former a native of England and the latter of 
Ohio. Our subject was taken when young to Schuyler county, 
Missouri, where he was reared and educated. In 1860 he returned 
here and staid until 1871, when he went to Colorado and engaged 
in gold mining. He remained there until 1874, when he returned 
to this county. He is at present a dealer in live stock. May 10, 
1876, he married Floretta Z. Golden, by whom he has had one 
child; viz., Ada. Our subject's grandfather on his mother's side 
was 1st Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and he was also a private 
soldier in the Union Army of 1st Missouri cavalry. 

John Browiiy deceased, is a native of Berks county. Pa., and was 
born July 18, 1808. He was a son of George Brown, who also was 
a native of the Keystone State. He was reared in Ohio, and was 
educated in one of the Ohio universities. Eighteen years he spent in 
teaching school. He came to this State in the year 1860 and set- 
tled in this county the same year. He resided here until his death, 
which occurred July 10, 1879, at the advanced age of 72. He was 
joined in marriage in 1827 to Sarah Seiferd, his now bereft wife. 
They had 8 children; of these, 5 are living; viz., Michael, John C, 
Luther A., Jacob S. and William H. The heirs own a farm of 320 
acres in this tp., which their father procured in his industrious life. 

David J. IJcerd was born January 13, 1827, in Lawrence county, 
Indiana. He is a son of Henry and Nancy Ikerd, both natives of 
North Carolina. Our subject went to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1854, 
and staid there until 1856, when he came and located in this county, 
where he resided until the time of the war, when he was drafted as a 
soldier in Co. A, 57th jReg. 111. Inf. He was one year in the 
military service and then returned home and resumed his former 
occupation, namely, farming and stock-raising. He was married 
December 28, 1848, to Bernetta Meglemre, by whom he has had 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 887 

7 children; viz., "William H., Jemima A., Nancy E., Thomas A., 
Beadj A., Susan E. and Meredith J. 

James A. Jones is a native of Jefferson county, Kentucky, where 
he was born September 11, 1S52, a son of Carter T.Jones; became 
to this county with his parents in 1869, and here they have since 
resided. The mother of James A. had one brother, who was 
killed while a soldier in the Union army. 

Thomas J. Levns is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, 
where he was born April 19, 1831. He came to this county in 1853, 
where he resided until January 1, 1864, when he enlisted as a soldier 
in Co. H, 2d Illinois Field Artillery, under Captain Steinbeck. 
He became a veteran January 1, 1864, and was mustered out 
August 5, 1865. He participated in the following battles; viz.. 
Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Chickamauga, and last at 
Nashville. When peace was declared he returned home and 
resumed his former business; viz., school-teaching. He was edu- 
cated in his native county. 

John Lightner is a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was 
born January 17, 1817; is a son of William and Esther Lightner, 
both natives of Pennsylvania. He came to this county in 1852, and 
settled near Nauvoo, where he has since resided, a farmer and hor- 
ticulturist. He was married May 6, 1874, to Ila Balmer, of 
Nauvoo, and they have had 2 children; viz., John and Minnie. 

J.R. McBroom is a native of Butler county, Ohio.and born August 
3, 1832. He is a son of Andrew McBroom, who was a native of 
Kentucky. J. K. was reared and educated in Butler county, Ohio, 
and came to this State in 1853, and settled in Adams county, where 
he stayed until 1873, when he came to this county and located in 
Sonora tp., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. He owns 160 acres of land in Adams county. He 
was married in 1855 to Miss Susan A. Lowless; tliej^ have had 11 
children; of these, 8 are living; viz., Mary E., John L., Olive S., 
Cora M., Susan M., Anna D., Milton and Ethel K. 

James Ogden is a native of Lancashire, Eng., and was born March 
30, 1829. He is a son of Dennis and Elizabeth Ogden, both 
natives of England. James emigrated to this country with his 
mother in 1842, his fatlier having died in England. He first set- 
tled in Nauvoo, where he made his home until in 1850; during the 
great gold excitement he went to California, where he engaged in 
gold mining until ls54, when he returned home, and remained 
during the winter of 1855; then lie went again to California, where 
he staid until 1859 and then returned to this county, where he was 
married to Miss Elnora Bisse, of this county. Remaining here 
until April 22, 1862, he then started with a four-mule team across 
the plains to Washington Territory, where he remained until March, 
1863, when he went to Idaho and enga<;ed in mining. August of 
that year he started home and arrived Nov. 5, 1863. 

In January, 1864, he went to New York city, and from there to 
San Francisco, ma, Panama. There he engaged in gold-mining 



SSS HISTORY OF HANCOCK COrNTY. 

until December of the saiue year, wlieu he returned to this conntv, 
where he has since resided, enijaged in farming and stock-raising, 
on a farm of 160 acres. Mr. Ogden has had 9 children, of whom 
6 are livincj; viz.. Eliza J.. James L., Samuel J., "William A.. 
Barnhai-d J. and Levi H. 

Mr. O. took an active part against the Mormons. He was then 
living at Augusta, and was coming to Xauvoo to see his mother; 
when near Carthage he was impressed bv the Anti-Mormons as a 
soldier to banish them from the State: and he participated in a 
skirmish the next day after the soldiers camped in Xauvoo. 

Hinry T. Pitt is a native of England; and was K">ru Jnly 15, 
lSo7. and was brought here bv his parents, Thomas and Charlotte 
Pitt in '41 and tirst settleii in'Xauvoo, where they remained for one 
year, when they moved out in Sonora tp., whei-e they have since 
reside^!. Pec. 'l"2, 1S61. Mr. Pitt married Huldah J. Stevens, and 
thev have had S children, 7 of whom are living; viz., James E.. 
^Villiam O., Ida M., Hattie C Henry T.. John E. and Milton W.; 
Alice Ann is deceased. Mr. Pitt's educational fiicilities were 
much limited: notwithstanding this, he attained a tair education, 
mainly by reading. He is a prominent officer in the Church of 
the Latter-Day Saints. 

John Pitt. — The grandtather of the subject of this sketch was 
Kobert Pitt, a native of Heivfordshire, England. His wife's 
maiden name was Hannah Hill. They lived and died in the above- 
named place. Thomas Pitt, his son. was the father of John, and a 
native also of Herefordshire, England. He was married to Char- 
lotte Hardwick. of his native place. He livei^l for several years 
after his marriage in Herefordshire, following work at his trade, 
which was that of a carpenter and millwright. "Wlien his family 
had increased to 10 children ^two of whom however were married ), 
he began to think of em icjrating to the L'niteil States. In conform- 
ity with plans thus laid, lie sent his wife and part of the family in 
the spring of 1S41, with a company of friends and acquaintances. 
His son John t the subject of this sketch^ followed in the fall, all 
arriving safely in Hancock county. 111. The father, Thomas Pitt, 
after settling his atlairs in England, arrived in this county in the 
spring of 1S42, l>eing one year after his wife's arrival with part of 
the tamily. The names of his children tliac came to this county 
were: James, now deceased : John, the subject of this notice; Rob- 
ert, who has been in California the past oO years; Henry and 
Walter, of Sonora tp.; and Caroline, now the wife of Henry Ellar, 
also living in Siniom tp. ; Ellen, Ann, Emily and "William are 
deceased. The names of the two children that were married and 
left in England were Eliza, who is now the wife of John Parsons 
and lives in the city of Hereford, and Elizabeth, the wife of S{\muel 
Barnes, and lives in Moorehampton. all of England. Thomas Pitt 
did not work at his rrade in this county, but bought a small farm 
on sec. 11, this tp.. on which he liNcd with his family until his 
death, in his TSth vear. mourned bv his familv and a larire circle ot 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COTNTY. SS9 

friends. lie was a verv temperate, exemplary man in all his habits, 
and was respected bv all. Ilis widow, now aged S2 years, is still 
living at the old homestead, and for her age is still very active and 
enjoying excellent health. 

John Pitt, the subject of this sketch, is one of the largest and 
most prominent farmers of Sonora township. He was born in the 
village of Dymmock, Gloucestershire, England, Dec. 30. 1S27. 
This villaije is situated on the line where three counties joined, the 
names ot tlie same being Herefordshire. Gloucestershire and "Worces- 
tershire. He was in his 14rth year when he came with his father's 
family to this county. Hfs advantages for an education were very 
limited, and were chietiy obtained in the subscription schools before 
leaving England. After arriving in this county his early youth 
was employed in working on his father's tarm. When he arrived 
at the age of 19 years he was given "his time" by his father, when 
he went to Macomb, 111., where he worked on a farm during the 
summer; with the proceeds of this summer's work he bought him 
a horse. The next winter he worked at chopping wood and split- 
ting rails, and with the proceeds of the winter's work he bought 
another horse. He now had a tearu. The following spring he 
returned home where he rented land and put in a crop of corn, 
wheat, oats, etc. This crop, assisted by plenty of hard work, turned 
out prosperous. For the tirst few years he continued to rent land, 
during which time he bought and ran a threshing machine for 
several seasons. During the past few years he has become more 
independent and forehandeti. He married in March, 1S53, Mary 
J. Chadsey, who was a native of Indiana; soon afterward he bought 
40 acres of land on sec. 11. Sonora tp., where his present residence 
now stands. He has since added to the homestead, so that now it 
consists of '270 acres. He has also 313 acres in other precincts. 
makiuiT his landed possessions amount to 5S3 acres in all. 

Mr.^itt is a Republican in politics and has served his tp. in 
various local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Pitt have 10 children living, 5 
sons and 5 daughters. Their names are as follows: James A., 
Charlotte J.. Mary M.. AVm. H. S.. Lillie F., John T. F., Charles 
K., Eva J.. Frederick C. and Cora E. James A. married Ida Datiu 
and lives in this tp. ; Charlotte J. married Duncan Cummings and 
lives near Avon, Minnesota: Mary M. married Wm. Chadsey, of 
Rushville, 111., and lives in Hock Creek tp., this county. 

A portrait of John Pitt is given on page. S23. made from a 
picture taken at the age of 53 years. 

Charlt.^ Sftveris is a native of Maine, and was born April 6, 
1S2S. He was taken by his parents, Daniel and Mary Stevens, to 
Meigs county. Ohio, where he was reared and educated; came to 
this county in 1S53, where he purchased a farm of 50 acres in this 
tp. Here he resided until the war. when he enlisted as a soldier in 
Co. F, 151st 111. Vol. Inf. a division of General Sherman's army. 
Mr. Stevens served one year in the military service; he also had two 
brothers who were soldiers in thearmv. Orin and Edwin C. Orin 



890 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

was a soldier from the first of the war to the last. Edwin C, his 
other brother, participated in the first attack on Yicksburg, in 
which he was wounded January 2, 1863, from the effects of which 
he died in a few davs. A day or two previous to his death he 
wrote the following letter: — 

January 4, 1863. 
Dear Father andMother: — I take perhaps the last opportunity of writing you 
a few lines. I received a severe wound on the boat before leaving the Yazoo, by 
a shot from one of the Kebel skirmishers, who attacked the bofit just before we 
left, killing one instantly and wounding three others. The ball struck me in the 
mouth and lodged in the left side of the neck, carrying several of my teeth with it. 
To-day, wliile I was gurgling some water in my lliroat, it caused bleeding, and I 
came near bleeding to death before it could be stopped. I have no hopes of ever 
getting well. If I should not, don't mourn for me, but remember that I died an 
easy death, and in a good cause. Dispose of the little property I have in a way 
that will make yoi; most comfortable. The expedition that moved against Vicks- 
burg proved a failure, a great many men lost and nothing accomplished. The 
skirmishers fired on our boat: the fire was returned by our boys, killing 
several. The gun-boats opened on them which soon put them to flight. 

Respectfully, (Signed) Edwin C. Stevens. 

Charles is of "Welsh' ancestry; his grandfather on his father's 
side was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under Gen. Washington. 
His wife's grandfather was a private in the same war, and was 
present when the Declaration of Independence was signed and 
declared. Mr. S. was married April 30, 1851, to Marj'- J. Bellous; 
they have had 6 children; viz., Luella T., Emma Y., Orin C. 
Edwin C, Tillie and Hattie D. 

J. T. Thomas,, a native of Kelson county, Kentucky, was 
brought by his parents, James and Abigail Tiiomas, to Adams 
county, this State, when only three years of age, where he was 
reared and educated. There were but nine houses in Quincy when 
his father came there. Our subject left his parental roof in 1852, 
and came to this county and located in Sonora tp., where he has 
since resided. lie is one of the most prominent farmers in that 
township; he owns a fine farm of over 600 acres, and a good resi- 
dence. Mr. Thomas was married in 1850, to Louisa Nichols, 9 
children being the fruit of this union; of these, 8 children are living; 
viz., Laura A., Lilburn T., William IL, Sarah L., Naoma J., Martha 
E., James H. and Purliet. 

D. R. Thornher was born July 20, 18-1:9, in this county. He is 
a son of Henry and Lucy Thornber. The former is a native of 
Lancashire, England, and the latter of Yorkshire. Our subject was 
reared and educated in this county, and has for several years 
devoted his time to school-teaching, all his education being attained 
in a common district school. Politically he is a Greenbacker, and 
of the most i-adical school. He was the man who established the 
paper known as the Labor Tribune^ of Keokuk. The paper is still 
published, and has an extensive circulation. Mr. T. was married 
April 6, 1871, to Sarah J. Haigh. To them have been born 5 
children, of whom i are living; viz., Lucy S., Mary E., Maggie A. 
and Phebe J. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 891 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS . 

Below we give a list of the Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and 
Collectors of this township since its organization: 

SUPERVISORS. 

J. Gardner 1851 Christopher Smith 1868 

William Coe 1853 James Moffitt 1871 

Geo. Edmunds, Jr 1858 Christopher Smith 1873 

Robert Davis 1859 Geo. Edmunds, Jr 1873 

James Moffitt 1861 John Brown 1874 

Samuel Brownlee 1803 Christopher Smith 1876 

James Moffitt 1863 James Moffiitt 1879 

William C. Paine 1866 J.N. Datin 1880 

CLERKS. 

C. P. Golden 1858 Darwin Edmunds 1870 

Harvey Collins 1859 Chas. P. Golden 1871 

Corj-don Bradley 1861 John Brown 1873 

James Bolton 1863 James Bolton 1873 

Geo. W. Black 1863 John Horton 1874 

C. P. Golden 18G6 J. N. Datin 1875 

O. W. Fulton 1869 John C. Brown 1876-1880 

ASSESSORS. 

W. H. Fulton 1858 George Benner 1873 

Wm. S. Williams 1859 John L. D. Horton 1876 

John Pa<re 1861 J. N. Datin 1878 

John Brown 1863 John L. D. Horton 1880 

APPANOOSE. 

Benjamin Riter 1858 William Jackson 1863 

George T. Thompson 1850 Charles C. Ritter 1867-1880 

COLLECTORS. 

Christopher Smith 1858 John G. Weber 1873 

Erastus Rossilter 1859 Milo P. Fulton 1874 

George Benner 1861 J. J. Moffitt 1875 

William L. Temple 1^:63 Luther A. Brown 1876 

John C. Brown 1869 John Kendall 1877 

C. G. Robison 1870 Gust. Siegfried 1S78 

Myron A. Black 1871 William Temple 1879 

John Datin 1873 John Datin 1880 



LA HARPE TOWNSHIP. 

Township 7-5 occupies the northeast corner of the county. 
Nature has done much for it. it is well timbered, skirting two 
branches of Crooked creek, and it Jias as excellent a bodj' of ])rairie 
land as can be found in the county. What is known as "North 
Prairie," lying in the north part of the township, has always been 
noted for its productiveness. Its settlers combine a goodly mix- 
ture of Yankee, Middle State and Southern blood. Time has been, 
before railroads changed things about, when La Harpe township 
sold more wheat in the Warsaw market than any other, except per- 
liaps, Fountain Green, the north prairie being capable of 25, 30, 
and even 40 bushels per acre. It may take the lead still. 

The name given, first to the village, is that of one of the early 
French explorers, who traversed the Illinois wilderness and prairies 
200 years aso. The town was laid out in 1836 by Major William 
Smith and Marvin Tryon; previous to this date it had been called 
Franklin, but was changed because Uncle Sam refused to give the 
postoffice that name, there being enough Franklins already. lu 
1831, Maj. Smith settled there from N. H. with a stock of goods, 
though to whom he expected to sell his goods is a myster3^ 
Another member of the firm was Mr. Oliver Felt, at Montebello, 
with a portion of the stock. This can be understood, for all "along 
shore" were squatters and keel-boat men and half-breeds and whole 
breeds (red and white) for customers. Mr. Smith's was thus the 
first store in the township. The La Harpe concern only lasted 
about three years, the trade being too limited. 

Louis R. Chaflin was the first Postmaster, a position which he 
held till 1846. When Mormonism spread itself over the county, 
Mr. Chaflin, among some others of La Harpe, embraced it; and when 
they lelt, in 1847, he left with them, and the last his old neighbors 
heard of him he was a missionary of that sect, proselyting in the 
wilds of Australia. 

La Harpe is well supplied with railroads, the Toledo, Peoria & 
Warsaw entering it from the east, and running to the city, where 
it divides, the Warsaw branch running southwardly, and that to 
Burlington taking a northwest course and crossing the line at Disco 
Station. 

La Harpe is the only town in the township. It has become a 
place of considerable business, the business center for all the north- 
east portion of the county. It sports a bank, a good complement 
of well stocked business houses, and a proportionate number of 
tradesmen and manufactories and a newspaper. Its population is 

(892) 



'0'i-: 





^^7 /^.^/^^dt^ 



L/\ H A R P E TP. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUXTr. S95 

a stirring and intelligent class, and manages to keep well even with 
the people of other towns in the county. 

Who succeeded to the office of Postmaster, after Louis R. Chaf- 
lin. we are not advised, though we find Henry Coulson in the office 
not long afterward. Then followed Mr. Bliss, I-Ir. Coquillette, 
Mr. John TTarren, succeeded by his son, E. L. "Warren, the present 
incumbent. 

Among the first settlers we may mention Jacob Compton and 
Abraham Brewer, the former of whom sold to Major Smith. These 
settlements were made about ISoO. After these come Wright 
Riggins, L. R. Chaffin. Mr. Hendricks, Mr. Hobraker, Jonathan 
Wassom, Job Clinkenbeard. John Scott. Mr. Robinson, Jesse Sey- 
bold. Isaac Sears. George Sears. Daniel Drake. Marvin Tryon, 
Samuel White, Lot Moffit, Jeremiah Smith. Lewis C. Maynard, 
Henry Comstock. Charles Comstock, James Gittings, Dr. George 
Coulson. Daniel N. Bainter, Hezekiah Lincoln, Jasper Manifold. 
John Warren. Benjamin Warren. Joseph W. Xudd. James Rey- 
nold^, Dr. Richardson. George Oatman, Mr. Johnson, Lyman Wil- 
cox, Joel Bradshaw, W. C. Bainter. H. H. Barnes, Smith Bryan, 
Samuel Cogswell. L. S. Coirswell, John Manifold, Wm. F. Mani- 
fold. H. R.^Painter. M. D. Sanford. 

KELIGIOrS PROGKESS. 

^A'e are not advised as to the beginnings of religious work in 
this township, the earliest obtained being that of the Congreira- 
tional Church in March, 1S36. In that month a Con^regjttional 
Church was organized, consisting of sixteen members. . The names 
of these members have not been obtained. Twelve years there- 
after a re-organization took place, under the ministration of Rev. 
Warren Xichols, with the following named 12 members: Sam- 
uel Hutton, Henry Comstock and wife, L. C. Maynard and wife, 
Lauren Tattle and wife. Henrv Bliss and wife. William Leavitt, 
Mrs. W. A. Nichols and Mrs. S. W. Xudd. April 27, 1>4S, Lewis 
C. Maynard was chosen Deacon. The church edifice was erected 
about 1S54. Of its earlier Pastors, we have the names of Revs. 
Apthorp, Hawley, Williams, Rankin, Perkins, Babbitt, Xichols, 
Henry, Johnson. Pennoyer and Atkinson. 

For the foregoing we are indebted to a memorial pamphlet, pub- 
lished by the Illinois Association in 1S63. Repeated applications 
have foiled to elicit any data from the other Churches in La Harpe. 
There is a Methodist Episcopal organization, a Protestant Method- 
ist, a Christian and a Catholic, all of which, we believe, have 
regular services, and most o1^ them church buildings. There is 
also a Protestant Methodist Church on Xorth Prairie. 

BIOe^RAPHICAL. 

Here are sketches of many of the well-known citizens of 
La Harpe township: 

W. A. Bahiter. farmer, sec. 23; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
Muskingum county, O., in 1S25, and is a sou of Peter and Mary 

51 



896 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

(Emaler) Bainter, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, who came 
to this county in 1S53, settling in this tp. Both reside in La Harpe. 
The subject of this sketch was married in 18-±9 to Miss Leran Rol- 
ler, a native of Welden county, Va,, and they have had 5 children, 
all living, — William L., Susan, Linda, Carrington A. and Martha. 
He resides on the homestead, which consists of one-half section 
of land, valued at $4:0 per acre. He is School Director, which 
office he has hlled 16 or 17 years; is also a member of the Masonic 
order. Politically, he is a Democrat. 

II. H. Barnes, Justice of the Peace, was born in Madison county, 
N. Y., in 1820; in 1837 he came to Illinois and located on a 
farm in Henderson county; in 1839, he went to the pineries of 
Minnesota, then a Territory, and with ten others engaged in lum- 
bering, near the St. Croix river. The Chippewa Indians were 
exasperated at this intrusion and called a convention of war, and 
the wliites were driven away. They were met by the Government 
Agents who were sent to make the first payment for territory to 
this tribe. Blankets and money were paid them, and the party 
came away with 600 logs. He afterward returned and spent 11 
months there, being kindly treated. On his return to this State, 
he located at Peoria, and engaged in staging between that point 
and Burlington, Iowa. In 1848, he came to La Harpe and engaged 
at his trade, harness-making; subsequently he opened a salesroom 
for wagons and carriages, and had a large trade; in 1853, he was 
elected Constable and served three or four years; also, he has served 
as Deputy Sheriff 12 years, and City Marslial nine years; was Mayor 
two terms, and Alderman a number of years; has been Justice 
of the Peace since 1S73. He also deals largely in horses, handling 
from 400 to 500 a year, making purchases and selling to the Gov- 
ernment. In 1844 he married Miss Mary, daughter of George 
Coulson, and they have 4 children, — Robert, Franklin, Edward and 
Harry. 

Willh G. Bernethy, farmer, sec. 22; P. O., La Harpe; was born 
in Bond county. 111., in 1832; his parents, James and Elizabeth 
(Gilliland) Bernethy, emigrated to that county, about 1826; sub- 
sequentl}' they moved to Canton, Fulton county. 111., and to 
La Harpe tp. in 1835. He was a farmer, and although solicited to 
fill many offices of trust, preferred the quiet of his home. He 
raised a family of 8 children, 4 of whom are now living, — Robert 
G., James H., Willis G. and Jane. His death occurred at the 
homestead January 19, 1877; the widow, now in her 79tli year, 
resides on the homestead with her son and daughter, AVillis and 
Jane. The farm, consisting of 90 acres, is well improved. 

Joel Bradshaw, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., La Harpe; is one of the 
oldest citizens of the county. He was born in White county, 
West Tennessee, Sept. 15, 1812; when quite young he was brought 
by his parents, John and Fannie Bradshaw, to Madison county 111.; 
they afterward removed to Morgan county, where they died, re- 
corded " Early State pioneers." The subject of this notice was 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 897 

married in 1833 to Miss Catharine, daughter of Hugh Dickson; 
she was born near Knoxville, East Tenn.; they have had 10 chil- 
dren, of whom 7 are living: Jane, Emma, Eliza, Wm. D., Geo. W., 
J. S. and James M. Mr. B. settled on his present estate in August, 
1837; his farm of 188 acres is valued at $60 per acre, being under 
a high state of cultivation. He is a Democrat. 

William D. Bradshaw, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., La Harpe; was 
born in Morgan county, 111., in 1837, and is a son of the preceding. 
In 1867 he married Mary E., daughter of Samuel M. Bainter, an 
early pioneer of the county. He has one child, Sarah M. Mr. B. 
settled on his present estate in 1867; it consists of 160 acres, and 
is quite valuable. He is School Director. 

John W. Bray, deceased, was born at "Welsh Pool, Wales, Dec. 
24, 1806, and married Miss Ann AVilkinson May 22, 1830, and a 
few years later emigrated to America, settling near Philadelphia, 
where he worked at his trade, that of tinsmithing; in this business 
he succeeded well and accumulated some property. In 1840 he 
joined the Freemasons and soon became an enthusiast in the 
principles of the order. He was a charter member of the La- 
Harpe Lodge No. 195, and was the organizer of Bristol Lodge No. 
653 I. O. O. F., at Bristol, Pa. In the former order he was S. W., 
"W, M., Select Master, and when he died he was Scribe. He emi- 
grated to Carthage in 1852, and the following year he started in 
business with his son Thomas. He was one of the first of the city 
fathers, and was serving as Alderman at the time of his death, 
Sept. 4, 1879. After dinner one day he lay down, and when he was 
called and no response was heard, he was found dead. He was a 
good and true man. 

ThoTnan S. Bray, son of the preceding, was born in Bucks 
county, Pa., in 1836; in 1862 he married Miss Emma, daughter of 
Wm. Leavitt, an early settler of this tp. He has served on the 
Board of Education six years; has been an Alderman, and is one 
of the oldest and most respected merchants of La Harpe. He has 
3 children living: Edwin, Annie and Winnie. Politically Mr. B. 
is a stalwart Republican, as was his respected father. 

George W. Braymer, dealer in sewing machines, wall-paper, etc., 
was born in Montgomery county. Pa., in 1829; in 1855 he came to 
La Harpe engaging in mechanical work until he opened his 
present trade in 1870. In 1851, in his native State, he married 
Sarah H. Griffith, of the same State, and of their 7 children all 
are living: Emma, Adell, Linford, Edward, William, George and 
Bessie. For years Mr. B. has been Superintendent in the Method- 
ist Protestant Church, and is one of the active business men of 
the community. He is a Republican. 

E. C Brockett,i?cc\ViQx,'&QQ,. 23; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
Trumbull county, O., in 1850; his parents, Hosea, and Aurilla 
(Nutt) Brockett, were natives of New York and Ohio, and came 
to this county in 1854, settling on the present farm. The home- 
stead farm consists of 200 acres, valued at $45 per acre. The sub- 



898 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

ject of this sketch was married in 1873 to Miss Mary E. Biggs, a 
native of this county, and their 2 children are Eva O. and Clarence 
W. Mr. B. is a son of one of the old settlers of the county and 
tp. His father is a resident of California, and his uncle lives on 
the homestead. Politically Mr. B. is a Republican. 

S. F. Brijaii, farmer sec. 9; P. O., La Harpe; was born in Mercer 
county, Pa., Hov. 1, 1832; when eight years of age he was brought to 
this county by his parents, Jacob and Mary (Bagler) Bryan, in May, 
1840; he settled in this tp. and engaged in farming many years, in 
which he was successful. He moved to La Harpe, where he now 
lives in retirement. The ages of these respected pioneers are ^(^ and 
75 years. The subject of this notice in 1859 married Miss Dolena, 
daughter of Joseph T. Painter, who settled on his farm in 1836, 
where she was born in ISTovember of that year. Eight of their 9 
children are living: Emma Y., Joseph P., John F., William E., 
James E.., Mary, Charles C. and one not yet christened. The 
homestead farm consists of 160 acres, valued at $50 an acre. It has 
a flow of living water upon it. This point is historic, as the cabin 
of La Harpe stood but a short distance from it, as also the rem- 
nants of an old fort supposed to have been occupied by a pre-his- 
toric race. 

William O. Butler, dentist, La Harpe, is a son of ISToah and L. 
C. (Dickinson) Butler, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, who 
settled in La Harpe in 1851; father was a graduate of the Missouri 
Medical College, and was a practicing physician in this city until 
his death in 1876. He was prominently identified with the inter- 
ests of the community. His estimable widow and five children 
survive. The subject of this biography was born in Clarke county. 
Mo., in 1850; he completed a course of study in the Missouri 
Medical College and graduated at the Dental School of Pennsyl- 
vania, and is the only graduate dentist in the county. In 1873 he 
married Miss Kate Lisk, a native of La Harpe, and their two 
children are Clyde and Edith. Dr. B. is an Alderman, a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, of the A. O. U. W., and of the Illinois 
State Dental Association. He is thoroughly devoted to his pro- 
fession. He established in practice here in 1873, and has a good 
patronage. 

William T. Cam/pbell and sisters, dealers in dry goods, millinery 
and notions. La Harpe, established themselves in business here in 
1872, and now control a large trade. They are the children of 
James and Eliza (McCulloch) Campbell, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who came to this county in 1853, settling in Fountain Green tp.; in 
1874 they moved to La Harpe, where the father died in 1877; the 
widow and eight children survive. "William T. was born in Franklin 
county,Pa.,in 1839; in 1870 he married Mary A. Barr, a native of the 
same State, and they have one boy, Charlie. Mr. C. served as Clerk 
of Fountain Green tp., and is now an Alderman, a Superintendent 
of the Sunday-school connected with the Congregational Church, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 899 

and is one of those enterprising men who have given prestige to the 
business of La Harpe. 

/. W. Ca>fsell, principal of La Harpe Seminary, is a native of 
Knox county, O., where he was born in 1839. He was educated at 
Wittenburg College, Springtield, O., and graduated at that insti- 
tution in 1866. In September of the same year he entered the 
college at Adrian, Mich., as Professor of Greek and Latin, where 
he officiated six years. He organized and superintended the public 
schools at Lincoln, Neb., in 1872, where he was engaged two years. 
On his return to Illinois he settled on a farm in this tp., where he 
has resided until called to fill his present position. He entered the 
ranks of the Union soldiers in Co. A, 20th O. V. I., in 1861 for three 
years' service, and was discharged at Bolivar, Tenn., on account of 
sickness, after one year of service. He was a participant in the 
battles of Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. In 1871 Prof, 
C. was married to Miss Mary, daughter of James Gittings, an early 
pilgrim of Hancock county. Their living children are Abbie, Robert 
and Ort. The Professor and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Protestant Church. 

A. ClayGomb, proprietor of the Tremont House, La Harpe, was 
born in Breckenridge count}^ Kentucky, in 1812; his j^arents, 
Coonrad and Nancy (All) Cla3^comb, were natives of that State, 
both deceased. Mr. C. was on a farm until thirty years of age. In 
1835 he traveled extensively through the Western States, selling 
goods, but returned to his home, where he was married in 1847 to 
Miss Sarah Barr, a native of Kentucky. In 1853 he moved to La 
Harpe and purchased the hotel on the site of the present house, 
which was burned to the ground in 1871. He erected a new build- 
ing the same year, which also was destroyed by fire, January 31, 
1879. In these conflagrations he lost about $3,500, besides the 
family wardrobe. Not discouraged by these losses, he erected the 
present house (" Tremont ") at a cost of $3,000, which is the only 
first-class hotel in La Ilarpe; it has the best improvements, and a 
livery stable attached, and commands the best trade of the traveling 
public. Mr. C. also has a farm of 160 acres in St. Clair count}', 
Missouri, under a good state of cultivation. He is a member of the 
Methodist Protestant Church, and the father of 2 children: Harry 
E., who assists his father in the hotel, and Delia, deceased. 

Albert Conii<toch, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
this tp. in 1843; his parents, Henry and Lucy (Crocker) Comstock, 
natives of Conn., and Mass., came to this county in the fall of 1836, 
and settled on this place; here they resided until his death, in 1879, 
at the age of 85. His widow survives, aged 81 years. He was an 
active man, identified with the interests of the county, and was 
highly esteemed. The subject of this biography was married in 
1866, to Miss Narcissa Strong, a native of this State. They have 7 
children, all of wliom are living: Grant P., Chesley H., Joseph, 
Alfred, Ernest, Orpha S. and llobert K. The homestead farm 
consists of 200 acres, valued at $45 per acre. Member of the Con- 



900 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

gregational Church and the A. O. U. W. The family are among 
the oldest and most respected of the county. 

Charles W. Conistoch, farmer, sec. 23; F. O., La Harpe; was 
born in Hampden county, Massachusetts, July 28, 1828, son of 
Charles and Sophia (Bonner) Comstock, natives of Connecticut and 
Massachusetts, who came to this county in the fall of 1S36, and 
settled on the farm of the present estate, consisting of 120 acres, 
valued at $-10 per acre. He was among the earliest settlers of this 
tp.v where he resided until his death in January, 1880, in the 81st 
year of his age. She died in 1867. He was a quiet, unostentatious 
man and devoted to the Church. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1852 to Miss Julia A. Haggerty, a native of Bourbon 
county, Kentucky. They are the parents of 5 children. 4 of whom 
are living: Laura M., wife of Pliny A. Maywood, resident of this 
tp., Thomas D., Charles J., who died in June, 1879, in Sacramento, 
California, in the 22d year of his age, Leonard A. and Herbert H. 
Mr. C. assessed the town in 1866, and is School Trustee at the 
present time. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 
1865. Politicall}^ he is a Republican. He was drafted into the 
serviceof the army in 1864, and served until July, 1865; partici- 
pated in the battles of Kingston, North Carolina, and was honorably 
discharged. 

William N. ComstocJc, farmer, sec. 26; P. O., La Harpe; was 
born in Hampden county, Mass., Jan. 20, 1825; is a son of Henry 
and Lucy (Crocker) Comstock, natives of Connecticut and Massa- 
chusetts, who came to this county in the fall of 1836, and settled in 
this township, where they resided until his death in Jan., 1879. His 
widow and 8 children survive. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1850 to Miss Sarah ]S^utt, a native of Trumbull county, 
O. They are the parents of 4 living children — Fannie, Mary, 
William and Frank. In 1869 Mr. C. settled on his present estate, 
consisting of 230 acres, valued at $45 per acre. He is Commis- 
sioner of Highways, and is one of the early living pioneers of the 
county; is a member of the Masonic order, and is favorably 
known throughout the count3\ Politically he is a Republican. 

George Coulson, hardware merchant, La Harpe, established in 
the grocery business in 1870, and in his present business Jan. 1, 
1879. carries a stock worth $3,000, and has a good trade. Mr. C. 
was born in this county in 1843. His parents. Dr. George and 
I^ancy (Cossitt) Coulson, were natives of Virginia and Connec- 
ticut, and came to tliis county in 1834, settling in this place. The 
father was one of the first practicing physicians in La Harpe, and 
one of the earliest settlers. In 1840 he moved to Council Blufls, 
Iowa, where he resided until his death, in 1851. Mrs. C. died in 
this city in 1866. The subject of this sketch was married in 1869 
to Miss Maggie, daughter of Daniel Bainter, of this tp. She died 
in 1878, leaving 2 children, George and Mary, both living. His 
present wife, Rebecca Mayer, was a native of this county. They 
were married in 1879. Mr. C. filled the oflice of Assessor four 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COrNTY. 901 

rears: is a member of the I. O. O. F., and one of the oldest living 
settlers of the county. Politically he is a Democrat. 

James C. Coulson, editor of The La Harper., was bom in La 
Harpe. Sept. 24. lS-i4. His tirst experience in the newspaper 
business was at Raritan, Henderson countv. 111., where he started 
the JKaritan Bullethi, a small paper 10x12 — a four-page weekly, 
which he afterward enlarged to a five-column quarto; afterward 
continuing this about one year. In Xovember, 1S77, he sold out 
to his partners, Barnes and Butler, and in March, 1^7S, he bought 
the office and good will of The La Harper, of Mr. L. S. Cogswell, 
and he has continued its proprietor and editor since that time, con- 
ducting the paper as an independent in politics. It is a five-column 
quarto, and has a circulation of about 600. Its advertisements are 
all of a local character. It is a live paper, and is in a very pros- 
perous condition. 

Chas. P. Crum, farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Disco; was born in Cass 
count}'. 111., in 1S53; is a son of James and Christina (^Ream) 
Crum, natives of Indiana and Ohio, who settled in Cass county in 
1S30, where she died in May, 1S7S. He survives. The subject of 
this sketch was married in 1S75 to Miss Salina. daughter of A. J 
Janes, a native of this county. They have 3 children, Roy. and 
twins, not yet christened. Mr. Crum came to this county in the 
spring of 1S76, and engaged in the grain and mercantile business 
at Disco, but kept up his farming. In 1S78 he disposed of his 
grain business, and turned his attention wholly to farming. He has 
an excellent farm of 160 acres, valued at s60 per acre, which is 
under a good state of cultivation and well improved. He is a 
member of the I. O. O 7., and of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
Politically he was raised a Democrat, but is now a staunch sup- 
porter of Republican principles. 

J. G. Figley. miller. La Harpe, is a native of Columbiana county, 
O., where he was born in 1>24. In 1S46 he visited this county, 
and returned East. He married in 1S49 Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, 
a native of Pennsylvania. In 1>51 he came to this county, and 
located at Warsaw, where he resided until 1>62, when he enlisted 
in Co. C. 111. \o\. Inf., and served in the Quartermaster's depart- 
ment until the close of the war. In 1^6S he moved to Clarke 
county. Mo., and in 1S75 went to Kohaka, Wis., and for two years 
engaged in the mercantile business. This he disposed of and pur- 
chased the mill at La Harpe, upon which he has expended about 
83,000 in repairs, and he is now having a large and lucrative trade. 
Mr. F. is serving his second term as Alderman; is a member of 
I. O. O. F., and one of the active, enterprising merchants of 
La Harpe. His parents, David and Dorcas Figley. were natives of 
Washington county, and are both deceased. The following are his 
six living children: Marv, Jasper M., Cora, Curtis, Isola and 

Charles Finne;/ Gdl was born in Antwerp. Jefterson county. X. 
Y., Oct. 22, 1829, a son of Daniel L. Gill, who was born in 1783, 



902 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

ill Yermoiit, and was during his life-time a farmer, and during the 
war of 1S12 was Captain. He removed from Xew York to Indiana 
in 1S3T, where lie bought a farm a half mile from Muncietown, Ind., 
and where he died in 1S3S, leaving a widow and 6 children, in 
comfortable circumstances. Her maiden name was Sallie Cogs- 
well, and she was also a native of Yermont and of Scotch ancestry; 
in 1841 she moved to Illinois with her children, locating in Foun- 
tain Green tp., on sec. 5; she died in Nauvoo Dec. 25, 1S45. 
Charles' education was limited to that of the common schools in 
the winter, from 12 to 19 years of age. At 12 he commenced to 
work on a farm for $4 a month, continuing with the same man 
nntil he was 19, when he M-as employed by Geo. A. Chittenden in 
Warsaw, as clerk in the forwarding and commission bnsiness; six 
months afterward, in company with David Bettisworth, Mr. Gill 
bought out Mr, Chittenden and continued six months longer, when 
Mr. G. bought out Mr. Bettisworth's interest, and continued until 
1852, when he went to California with three others, with 5 yoke of 
oxen; in California he engaged in various pursuits, but none of 
them proving to be permanent, he returned home in 1853, in Feb- 
ruary; but in March he started for California again, taking 165 
head of cattle, and he succeeded in getting them through, which 
proved a profitable investment. In the spring of 1S55 he returned 
overland, by mule train, and went to steamboating between St. 
Louis and St. Paul, at first owning an interest in the ""Julia Dean" 
and '' Minnesota Belle," and followed the business until 1858, 
when he bought a farm of 365 acres, the south ^ of sec. 29, Pon- 
toosuc tp., where he lived nine years; he then came to La Harpe 
and put lip a large brick building and opened a private bank, 
which he conducted from 1867 to 1875, when he sold out, on 
account of failing health, to Hungate & Ward, and spent two years 
in the South for his health. Mr. Gill was married, Dec. 20, 1855, 
to Lucy S. A. Bainter, in Fountain Green tp., a native of Ohio and 
daughter of Daniel X. and Sarah Bainter, who came to this county 
in 1836, and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gill are now resid- 
ing in La Harpe, in a very pleasant residence, with 4 children, 
whose names are Ella, Charles F., John and Sarah M. Politically, 
Mr. Gill is a Pepublican; in 1877 he represented the 2-ith district 
in the Illinois House of Representatives, which position he filled 
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Since 
that time his chief occupation lias been the care of his property, 
which consists of about 600 acres of farm land in this county, 
some town property, securities, etc. He also carries on a general 
produce and grocery store. He has been Treasurer of La Harpe 
for the last eight or ten years. He and his wife are members of 
the Congregational Church. 

Mr, Gill's portrait will be found on page 883. 

William W. Gillon, grocer. La Harpe, established in his present 
business in 1879, carries a stock of 82,500 and has an increasing 
trade. Mr. G. was born in London, England, in 1844, and emi- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 903 

grated to the United States in 186S, locating in tliis city, where he 
began teaching school, and followed various pursuits until he was 
enabled to open his present place. He was educated in the colleges 
of London, and a graduate of the school of 1859. Subsequently he 
received an appointment as clerk in the office of the Crown 
Solicitor, and three years afterward entered the mercantile business 
in London. In 1863 he was married to Miss Rose Ilagger, a native 
of London. To this union 7 children have been born, 5 of whom 
are living: Alice 11., Amy C, "William B., Henry E. and Cora N. 
He has three brothers, Henry, Edward and Bruce, in the East 
Indies; two of them hold important offices in the civil service of 
the English Government. Mr. G. is a professor of book-keeping 
in the seminary of this city; is also a member and officer in the 
I. O. O. F. and of the M. P. Church. In politics he endorses the 
Republican party, and favored the nomination of Grant. 

James Gittings^ a pioneer settler of this county, was born in 
Jefferson county,Ya., Feb. 21,1801; his parents were Ason and 
Elizabeth (Clark) Gittings, who were born in Maryland, about 
15 miles from AVashington, D.C., of English ancestry, the tirst of 
whom in America settled here long previous to the Revolution. 
Ason Gittings was a farmer b}' occupation, and also followed 
wagon-making to some extent. He lived in Muskingum county, 
O., many years, and died there. He had, however, lived in this 
county awhile, with his family, but was not satisfied; his wife died 
in March, 1847, and he returned to Ohio. The subject of this 
sketch passed his early ^-ears upon his father's farm; at the age of 
26 he commenced planting and raising tobacco, in Belmont county, 
O., which he continued for three years, taking his tobacco to the 
Baltimore market to sell. In 1830-'31 he engaged in flour and 
freighting from Zanesville, O., to New Orleans, La. His first trip 
was in 1829, when he went as supercargo, owning 100 barrels of 
flour himself and taking charge of 400 1)arrels for others. The first 
trip he made entirely on his own account, he cleared some «s500. 
In 1833 he bought a farm in Muskingum county, of 320 acres, for 
which he paid $1,600 in cash, and in 1835 he sold this farm and 
came to Hancock county, 111., where he purchased, in 1836, the 
north half of sec. 5, La Harpe tp. Previously he had spied out the 
land and found it a goodly one in comparison with what he saw in 
the East. Prior to 1837 he walked the entire distance from Zanes- 
ville, O., to this county tJu'ee times! On his new land in the West 
he first broke about SO acres and sowed it in wheat, in 1836, and in 
the spring of 1S37 he moved his famil}' to this county. He built a 
flat-boat on the Ohio above Zanesville, placed his family and goods 
upon it, and with five other families he started West in that primi- 
tive style; at Cincinnati he sold the boat and transferred all to a 
steamboat bound for St. Louis; remaining at the latter jilace four 
or five days the boat came on with them to AVarsaw where they 
landed in April, 1837, after having been a month on the way. 
Thence they came by team to within three miles of La Harpe, 



904 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COTJNTT. 

where he had rented a house; here he lived about one year, build- 
inc^ a house on his own place, into which he moved in the spring 
of 1838. 

Sept. 17, 1832, he married Jane Van Horn, and in 1842 she died, 
leaving 5 children, 2 only of whom are now living, Elizabeth and 
Robert. May 17, 1844, Mr. G. again married, this time Mrs. 
Dogue, nee Susannah Thompson, daughter of John and Libbie 
Thompson, natives of Maryland. Mrs. G. was born in Stokes 
county, N. C. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson both died in Fountain 
Green, this county, where they had settled in 1837. James Git- 
tings has since added to his possessions so that he now has 2,700 
acres, all connected in one piece, in Illinois, and besides he has 740 
acres in Missouri. He commenced life with nothing, working for 
only $6 a month, but through perseverance, energy, honesty and 
frugality he has amassed this large estate. 

Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. In 
politics he has always been a strong supporter of human liberty, 
and is now a Republican. By his last wife the 2 children are 
Clarence R. and Mary Jane. The latter is now Mrs. Castle, and 
lives in La Harpe. "We present in this volume, on page 369, a 
portrait of Mr. Gittings, from a photograph taken at the age of 72. 

B. J. Headon, farmer, sec. 36; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
Morgan county. 111., in 1841. His parents, Thomas S. and Mar- 
garet Moore, came to this State at an early time and settled in 
Morgan county, where she died. He survives, in the 78th year of 
his age. The subject of this sketch was married in 1866 to Miss 
Maria C. Coultas, a native of this county, and they are the parents 
of 5 children living — William, Mary, George, Jennie and Rosa. 
The two deceased are Joseph and Demont. Mr. H. came to this 
county in 1868, and settled on his first estate of 200 acres in this 
tp. and 87 in Fountain Green. He is a School Director and member 
of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat. 

J. H. Hungate^ banker. La Harpe, of the firm of Hungate & 
"Ward, is a son of Adonijah and Eliza ("Ward) Hungate, natives of 
Kentucky, who emigrated to this county in 1833 and settled in 
Fountain Green tp., where the subject of this sketch was born in 
1838. The following year his parents moved to McDonough 
county, and engaged in farming. "When 17 years of age Mr. H. 
took a course of studies in the schools of Knox county, and entered 
the law college at the Chicago University, at which institution he 
graduated in 1862, and began the practice of his profession with 
Judge Bailey at Macomb. In 1864 he was elected Circuit Clerk 
of McDonough county, and filled that position four years. In 1869 
he moved to St. Louis, where he resided until 1874, and then took 
a trip to the East. The same year he formed the present partner- 
ship, and succeeded T. Gill in the banking business, which has since 
been successfully carried on. He made a strong race for State Sen- 
ator on the Democratic ticket, and was again defeated after his 
nomination to Congress in 1876. He was married in 1878 to Miss 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 905 

Florence E., daughter of James W. Mathews, a prominent man of 
Macomb — a neice of Dr. Mathews, of Monmouth, and descendant 
of the Stanley Mathews family of Virginia. They are the parents 
of one son, Wheaton Ward. The firm of Hnngate & Ward is one 
of the most successful and solid institutions of La Harpe. Opening 
their business in adverse times, they have distinguished themselves 
and been crowned with success. Mr. H. is a Democrat. 

tZohn iV. Hurdle. — The ancestors of this gentleman were Scotch, 
the first of whom we haveany account being John Hurdle, a native 
of Maryland, near Baltimore, where he lived many years. He after- 
ward moved to Muskingum county, O., where he followed farming. 
He died in this county in 1843, aged 75 years, leaving 3 sons and one 
daughter. He was an Abolitionist, and in his voting precinct in 
Ohio there were but three others who voted with him. His son, 
William Y., who was the father of John N., was next to the youngest 
child, and was born in Virginia and brought up on his father's 
farm, but on attaining manhood he studied medicine, which he 
practiced 15 or 20 years in Ohio. About 1826 he married Miss 
Mary Kinney, a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., a daughter of 
Williani and Margaret (Mahan) Kinney, both natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, who afterward moved to Ohio, where Mr. William Y. 
married. In 1853 they, with 7 children, moved to Illinois, and 
bonght, in company with his son, John N., 320 acres of land, being 
sees. 5 and 8, La Harpe tp. In 1861 he moved to Henderson county, 
where he died in August, 1863. His widow now lives with her 
son, John jS'. 

John N. Hurdle was born Feb. 15, 1831, in Muskingum county, 
O. His educatioa was chiefly confined to the public schools of his 
native State, mostly in winter. At 18 he put in crops on rented 
land, at times when he was not needed on his father's place; this 
was on shares, and in this way he had accumulated some $600 by 
the time he was 23 years old. Dec. 15, 1853, he married Mary 
Wolf and immediately moved to Illinois, with a two-horse team, in 
26 days, and located in Henderson county, where he bought a one- 
fourth sec. for 81,900, going in debt $1,500. This debt he paid in 
just three years, and then he sold out for $•1,600. In February, 
1857, with his father, he bought a one-half sec. in La Harpe, 320 
acres for $7,875. In 1861 Mr. H. bought out his father, giving a 
mortgage on the same for nearly $4,000. These times, from 1857" 
to 1864, were pretty hard, and he oflPered 6,000 bushels of corn for 
10 cents a bushel, to pay the interest on the mortgage, which was 
not accepted; the mortgagee sued for his interest, but finally com- 
promised, and Mr. H. was to pay the same in June following, and 
by that time he had sold his corn for 70 cents a bushel. 

xlpril 9, 1860, Mrs. Hurdle died, leaving 2 children; namely, 
Edgar F., who was born July 13, 1856, and Emma F., born August 
18, 1858. Laura J., who was born August 7, 1855, died November 
23, following. ^Eay 28, 1861, Mr. Hurdle again married, this time 
Miss Elmira A. Barr, a native of Breckenridge county, Kentucky, 



906 HISTOKT or HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and daughter of Elias and Sallie A. (Beanchamp)Barr, both natives 
of tliat State. They came to this county in 1857, settling on sec. 1, 
Rock Creek tp. Mrs. 11. 's grandfather, Adam Barr, was a native 
of Maryland, served in the Revolutionary war under Washington, 
and died in Kentucky. Elias Barr was a Democrat, served as assessor, 
etc., and died in Rock Creek tp., July IS, 1874, leaving 5 sons and 
6 daughters, Mrs. Hurdle being next to the eldest. The widow, 
who with her children were left in good circumstances, is still 
living on the old homestead. Mr. Barr was a high-minded and 
honorable man. 

Since his coming to this county Mr. Hurdle has added to his 
possessions so that he now has 905 acres of land in the home farm. 
His large residence 18 by 40, with L 32 by 18, was built in 
1872. and is one of the finest farm houses in the county; it cost 
$6,000 besides time and labor. In 1868 he also built a large frame 
barn, at a cost of $4,000, size 40 by 60 feet, the carpenter work alone 
amounting to $900. 

Mr. Hurdle's children: Lula B., born March 19, 1862; Sarah 
Olive, July 19, 1863; Maggie C, October 2, 1855; Carrie A., June 
14. 1868; Willie Elias, January 24, 1S70; Dora K., February 20, 
1872; Henry A., March 5, 1876; and John Franklin, ISTovember 
21, 1877; all living. 

In 1873-'4 Mr. H. met with some reverses of fortune, by endeavor- 
ing to assist and accommodate others, indorsing notes, etc., to the 
extent of nearly $20,000, all of which he had to meet, as his friends 
failed to come to time; but he is fast recovering from the loss. He 
is one of the most substantial and enterprising farmers and citizens 
of the county; has strong religious convictions, and has been a 
member of the Church ever since he was eighteen years of age; has 
always observed with strictness the rigid habits of tenij)erance. 
honesty and integrity, and has ever been a high-minded, honorable 
Christian gentleman. He joined the Washingtonian Temperance 
Society when he was seven years of age, and has ever since adhered 
strictly to his pledge. He and four of his children are members 
of the Methodist Protestant Church, and his life, according to the 
uniform testimony of the neighbors, has ever been an exemplary one. 
In politics he is a Republican. We give a portrait of Mr. Hurdle in 
this volume, which may be found on page 893. 

Henry Hyatt, grain dealer, La Harpe, was born in Yates county, 
N. Y., in 1825. His parents, Thomas and Hannah (Finch) Hyatt, 
were natives of IS'ew York, and remained there until 1855, at which 
time they came to Hancock county and located in this tp., where 
he resided until his death. The esteemed widow survives in the 
76th year of her age. The subject of this sketch came to the city 
in 1849, and engaged in the drug business. In 1859 he disposed 
of his stock and entered the grain trade. He purchased the ele- 
vator located near the depot, and makes large shipments of grain to 
St. Louis and other points, where he is connected. The average 
amount of grain handled at this elevator is 100,000 bushels of 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 907 

wheat, 30,000 to 40,000 of oats and 20,000 to 30,000 of rye. Ur. H. 
was married in 1852, toMiss'Fredonia Duncan, a native of Illinois, 
who died in June, 1866, leaving one child, George W. Mr. 
Hyatt was again married in May, 1867, to Miss Josephine Lane, a 
native of Illinois. One daughter, Anna M., has been born to them. 
Mr. H. has served as Mayor of the city, and has been otherwise 
identified with the interests of the city and tp. 

Andreio Jackson James: — The ancestors of this gentleman on 
his father's side were of Welsh descent, and settled in Maryland 
probably 60 years before the Revolutionary war. The tirst we 
learn of the family by this name was Evan James, who lived at 
AVestport, now Tolona, Maryland. His wife was a Miss Firman. 
He was a farmer by occupation, and died at the place mentioned, 
leaving a widow and a large family of children. She afterward 
moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where she died at the age of 
81 years. One of her sons, Evan, Jr., was born in Maryland in 
1792, and married about 1812, Miss Lydia Wolf, in the same State; 
soon afterward he moved with his family to Muskingum county, 
O., where he followed farming, lumbering, etc.; afterward, in 1854, 
he moved to Edgar county, 111., where his wife died; he married 
again, in that county, and subsequently moved to this county and 
lived with his son, the subject of this sketch; he died in 1869. 
. A. J. James, our subject, was born Sept. 15, 1815, at West 
Zanesville, Muskingum county, O., where he passed his early years 
at farming, logging and lumbering; at the age of 21 his father 
gave him a colt, saddle and bridle; this is all he had to start with, 
and all he ever had given him. The first year, he worked a piece of 
land on shares; the next year, in partnership with his brother, he 
went into the logging and lumbering business, but was not success- 
ful; the debts they contracted required the next two years of their 
time to pay up; they then followed farming six years, on rented 
land; then they dissolved partnership and A. J. continued on the 
same land six years longer, paying 20 bushels of corn per acre for 
rent, and hauling the grain two or three miles to a still-house; at 
the end of this six years he had accumulated money enough to buy 
240 acres of land; on this farm he lived two years; he then sold 
out at $15 per^acre and moved with his family to this tp., locating 
on sec. 17, Oct. 22, 1852, where he bought 500 acres of land at $10 
an acre; since that time he has added to his possessions in this 
county so that it now amounts to 1,311 acres, besides having 495 
in Iowa, The improvements on the home farm on sec. 7 are 
among the finest in the county; the home farm consists of 640 
acres; the dwelling is a large two-story brick, and the fine, large 
frame barn is built in the gothic style; they were built in 1868-'70, 
at a cost of about $20,000, including all out-buildings, door-yard 
fences, ice-houses, etc. 

Mr. James was married in Coshocton county, O., Oct. 31, 1838, 
to Miss Sidney Pigman, a native of that county and a daughter of 
John and Jane (Thompson) Pigman, natives of Hampshire county, 



V>OS Hl55Tv^KY OF HAXOvVK CX>UXTY. 

Va.. who came to this county in IS5S and livtxl on Mr. A. J. 
James' t'arni, where thev died, Mr. P. in ISi^T, avrevi SI veai-s, and 
Mrs. P. in March. ISTS. Mr. Pigman was very widely and favor- 
ably known in Ohio, where he spent the most oV his lite, in Ct>shoc- 
ton county. In that place he served 20 years as Justice of the 
Peace, l>esides holding various other otfices of trust and honor. 
He wa;? in the war of IS IS, wjis a llag-l)earer at the battle of Tippo- 
oanv.v, and was present the time Tecumseh was killeii, Knuir the 
second man to discover the tact, lie alw^us claimevi that it was a 
man namevi Wheatty that killed Tecumseh, instead of Gen. John- 
son, who had the cjvdit of it, 

Mr. James' children: Lydia J., deceased, was K^rn Oct, 14, 1S39; 
John P.. was lK>rn Aug 25. ISil: E\-an, Xov. 4, 1S43: Francis M., 
April 11, 1S40: Josephine, deceased, was lK»rn Dec. 15, 1S4S; 
Mary E., Xov. 6, 1S51: Eoxana, deceased, was K>rn March 7, 
1S44; Siilina, Sept. S. lS5t^; Sidney, deceased, lK»rn Xov. 14 1S5S: 
Henrietta, Dec, 21, lSt>0: and Andrew J., Jr., Oct. 25. ISiU! The 
tive eldest were born in !N[uskingum county, O. 

Mr. James is a Republican in |x»litics. and lias been Supervisor 
And in various other official positions. His portrait will be found 
on W^* 459. 

T. Jf. Jiim^<. farmer, sec. oo; P. O., La HarjM?: was lK»rn in 
Muskinofum county, Ohio, in .lS4i5: is a son oi Andrew J. and 
Sidney (Tigman^ James, natives of Ohio, who came to this county 
in 1S52 and are among the living pioneers of the countv. The 
subject of this sketch N\-as married in ISTl to Miss Frances A. 
Vincent, a native of this tp, Charles 0. is their only child. Mr. 
J. is a meml^er of the I. O. O. F. and of the Metluxlist Church. 
The farm upon which he now resides consists of lOof acres of val- 
uable and productive land. Politically Mr. J. endorses Republi- 
can administration. 

6^v/y<f £jrl^hJtn<^\ Jf, D., was born in Allegheny countv. Pa., in 
ISlo. His tatlier. "William Kirkpatrick, was a native of ^vtland, 
who emigrated to the United States at an e,arly time and settled in 
Pennsylvania, where he marrie^l Miss Jane Jamison, a native of 
the same State; both aredece.^sevl. The subject of this sketch was 
oviucated for his profession at Cincinnati. O. He studied medicine 
with his preceptor, Dr. J. H. Ogden. of Harrison county, W. Va., 
and attended lectures at the medical college of Cincinnati, at which 
he graduated with honor. Subsei^uently he entered the drug busi- 
ness in West Virginia, in which he was successful. In 1S54 he 
moved to Henry county. Iowa, near Mt. Ploas^int. and for two 
years followed the practice of his profession. He then moved to 
this city and luvs since Iven in constant pr:K'tico. He was married 
in ISoii to Miss Maria Tretwell. a native of England and daugh- 
ter of Thomas R. Tretwell. of Mercer county, deceaseti. They are 
the parents of children, all liviuir: Jane, Elizalvth. Amanda, 
William, Robert and Ida, Dr. K. "lias a verv lar^fe, vet uniform. 



HISTORY OF IIAN(X)(;K OOINTY. UOU 

])r}ic,tice, uiid is widely known and estuonicd. llo is a member of 
tlio MiiHonic order and of the Methodist (Jiuircli. 

ILzekidh Z/'/iCY;Z//, nitinnl fanner, a son of Abraham Lincoln,' a 
cousin of the honored Pi-(!Hideiit of the IJtnted States. His mothei-'s 
maiden name was Ehzabeth Miidd. His parents camu to this 
county in 1S'21> and settled in Fountain Green tj). They were 
umon^ the earliest pioiuiers of the county, and the farm is to this 
<lay known as the " Lincoln farm," and consists of 220 acres of 
land, wliich he entered. He was the first Justice of the Peace for 
20 years. She died in Sept., 1S51. Abraham died in Jan., 1852. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Hardin county, Ky., in 1S29. 
He was married in ls07 to Miss I'hn^bc! lirtjwer, a native of i\ew 
York State. In ISGS he en^^ai^ed in the dry-^oods business at 
Dallas City, in comj)atiy with Philip Knowles, to whom he sold 
his interest, and tbrjned a ])artnership with W. Block in the irier- 
cantile business at h'ountain Green. The firm came to this city 
in the fall of 1IS05, and the followini^ year he purchased Mr. 
]>lock's interest and carried on the business alone until he sold and 
retired from all active ])ursuits to tin; enjuyment of his industry. 
He once served as Collector of Fountain (jreen tp. He is a 
member of the Masonic order, and is one of the oldest pioneers 
and business men of the county. Politically lie is a Republican. 

Jame.s Mayer, dealer in ai^ricnltural impleinents, La Harpe, was 
born on tlui Mississijypi river Ai)ril 10, 1842. His |>arents, John 
and VA'r/Ax J>ickerstaff, were natives of Preston, Fiii^land, and em- 
barked on a sailinir vessel for the United States in 1842. They 
landed at Nauvoo, and shortly after came to La Harj^e. He was a 
blacksmith and worked studiously at his trade until his death in 
1874. The wife and mother survives in the 5sth year of her a^e. 
The subject of this sketch followed the ])rofession of his father 
until 1870, when he entered the mei'cantile business, and has since 
been actively engaged. He has served as City Marshal, Police 
Mai^istrate, Supervisor, and is a meml^er of the present School 
Board, etc. He opened his present business in 1880, and is en- 
gaged in fire insurance. Among his comjianies are the Hartford, 
of Hartford, (>onn.; North American, of Philadelpliia, Phojnix, of 
Brooklyn: American and German, of Peoria. He was married in 
18G3 to Miss Laura Everson, a native of Ohio. Their children are 
Irving and one not yet christ-.'iU'; 1. 

Deacon L. (J. Maynard. — The ancestors of the Maynard family 
are of Scotch descent, and were among the very early pioneers who 
settled in America. Tradition says that two brothers Maynard 
were the founders of the family in America, of wdiich L. (J., the 
subject of this notice, is a descendant. They settled in Massachu- 
setts and raised families. C'aj)tain Gardner j\Ia3'nard, who ])rob- 
ably served in the lievolutionary war, was a farmer in the town of 
Phillipston, Worcester county, IVIassachusetts, where he died. His 
eon Calvin was the father of L. C, a resident of the same ]>lace, and 



910 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COrNTY. 

died when the latter was sixteen years old. His widow, nee Lncy 
Piper, was left with a family of i children. 

The snb-ject of this sketch was born March 7, 1S06. passed his 
earlv yonth on his father's farm and received a good common-school 
edn'e-ation; at sixteen he attended Amherst Academy three months; 
taught school every winter nntil he was twenty-eight years of age, 
attending to tarm work in the summer. At the age of sixteen, 
when his tather died, he went to live with Doctor Stone, with the 
understanding that he could teach winters, the money he should 
receive for which he was to keep; and the doctor was also to clothe 
him and furnish his medical services free and give him ^70 on his 
i?lst birthday. This programme was faithfully carried out, and 
Mr. ^[. found himself at that age with about $300 on hand, most of 
which he had earned at teaching. April 6. lSo5. he married Miss 
Adeline Ward, dauirhter of Xahum Ward, of Phillipston. ^lassa- 
chusetts. and of Irisli descent. Artemas Ward, the great-grand- 
father of Mrs. Maynard. was a Genenil under Washington in the 
Revolutionary war. Previous to his marriage, in ISol, Mr. L. C. 
Maynard and his brother, Jeffrey Amherst Maynard. CAme to Illi- 
nois on a prospecting tour, hunting a good place for a home, and 
they selected a half section near Canton. Illinois, and bought a tax 
title on a half section of timber land near the same place; they 
afterward secured a clear title to both pieces of land. L. C. returned 
to Massachusetts in the tall well pleased with the country; accord- 
ingly, immediately after his marriage he started West with his wife. 
mother and youngest brother, going by stage to Albany. X. Y., by 
railroad to Schenectady, by canal to BuAalo, by steamboat to 
Cleveland, Ohio, where he visited friends; thence they were 
taken by an uncle with a team to Morgan county, thence by team 
to Marietta. Ohio, then by steamboat to St. Louis. Missouri, then by 
steamboat to Havana, Illinois, and tinally by a private team 
to Canton, Illinois; the trip consuming six weeks of time; 
but in a month or two Mr. Maynard removed to La llarpe, 
having brought with him a general stock of goods, and started the 
first store in this place. Continuing this establishment until ISoS, 
he sold out and purchased an uniinproved farm, the X. AV. ^ of sec. 
27. Lallarpe tp.. which place he thoroughly improved with build- 
ings, hedge fence, etc. During the hard times of lSo3, Mr. M. was 
broken up in trade, and he went upon his farm, which he inortgaijed 
and came near losing; hut he finally paid for it; in ISSi he sol»i it 
and bought another on the X. W. \ of sec. 2ti. same tp.. where he 
now resides. Here he has put up a fine residence, barn and other 
buildings; has improved it and added to it so that it now comprises 
20 S acres. 

Mr. Maynard is not only one of the early pioneers who has by 
his energy and labor made this country what it is. socially, morally 
and financially, but he is honored and respected by every one for 
his strict honesty, and his enterprise in things pertaining to the 
benefit of his fellow men, for all of which his mirse and heart were 



his;tory of haxcxvk Cv»unty. oil 

ever open. He was an abolitionist before the war; his house was 
known among the otKcers ot" the under-i;:round railroad as a stajtion, 
and many bh\ck men. no doubt, to-day remember with irrateful 
hearts and memories the helping hand to treedom that was extended 
to them from this station. Mr. M. is now a Republicjui, and has 
tilled various local offices in his tp.: he has been a member of the 
Congregational Church since his sixteenth ye^ir. and Mrs. M. luis also 
been a member from her youth. They have a family of S children; 
4 of whom are living; namelv. Luov S.. born Mav :22. 1S37; Louis 
P., July ± 1S3!>; Xlihum W., :N[arch ;2S, ISil. died September 11, 
1S4'2; James S., September 1(3, 1S43, died Xovember *2. 1S46; 
Calvin IL, Mav 7, ISiO, died Xovember 6, 1S76; James AV., Sep 
tember 10, ISiS; Pliny A.. March 16, 1851; and Joseph C, May 
27, 1S54, died October 20, ISOo. James and Pliny are married 
and live on the homestead; Lucy S. lives with her parents, and 
Louis P. lives in Henderson county, ten miles from the homestead. 

On Mr. Maynard's arrival in this county there was no Congre- 
gational Church at this place; in the summer ot' 1S36 a companv 
was collected for the purpose of organizing a Church at his house, 
a log cabin. Rev. Asa Turner, of Quincy, officiated on the occasion. 
The members present were: Marvin Tryon and wife, Benjamin Rice 
and wife, E. A. Deming and wife, Roswell C. Jerome and wife. L. C. 
Maynard and wife, and others. This was the nucleus of the subse- 
quently large Congregational Churchof La Harpe. At this meeting 
Mr. Maynard was elected Deacon, which office he has held con"^ 
tinuously to the present time. And the Sunday-school that was 
then organized has always been in existence, with few vac^itions, up 
to the present. At the first meeting Mr. ^L was also elected Super- 
intendent of the Sunday-school, and he has officiated for 40 consecu- 
tive years. In early times tiie school was held at various places; as, 
Ross' school-house, Methodist meeting-house, etc. About twentv- 
four years ago the society erected a house of worship in La Harpe, 
since which time the Sunday-school has been held in it. 

We give in this volume, on page 315, a portrait of Deacon Mav- 
nard, from a photograph taken at the age of 73 years. 

J. W. JfcCont farmer, sec. 20; P. O., La Harpe; was born in Over- 
ton county, Tenn., in 1S15. His parents, John and Mary ^AVillard) 
McCord, were natives oi South Carolina and Tennessee, and made 
their settlement in McDonough county in 1S30, where he entered a 
large tract of land, and they were among the first families to loci\te 
in that county. They resided there until their death. The subjeci 
of this sketch moved to this county in lS4ii. and settled on "liis 
present estate, C(->nsisting of 100 acres, valued at s75 per acre. He 
was married March 15, 163S, to Miss Nancy Manifold, a native of 
Tennessee. They are the parents of S children, 6 of wlumi are 
living, — Elizabeth, George, Sarah, John, Xoah and Ida. Mr. 
McCord and wife are members of the Presbyterian Cliurch, and are 
highly esteemed. Politically Mr. McC. is Democratic. 

52 



912 HISTORY or HANCOCK COUXTT. 

J. J. Mo Yey, farmer, sec. 29; P. O., La Harpe; is a son of Henry 
and Mary (Jones) McYey, natives of Maryland. They were 
amono; the pioneers of Ohio, and raised a family of 10 children. 
Both died in Ohio, the wife attaining the age of 90 years. The 
snbject of this sketch was born in Coshocton connty. Ohio, in 1S24. 
In iS40 he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Ramsey, a native 
of Muskingum county, O.; 3 of the 6 children that were born to 
them are living, — Clara, Lawrence and Elmore. The deceased are 
Lunda, Russell and Ernest. In 1S60 Mr. McYey moved to this 
tp. and settled on his present estate, consisting of 190 acres of land. 
This is one of the finest farms in the tp. His wife is a member of 
the Methodist Church. Politically he is a strong advocate of 
Republicai: principles. 

John Miller, farmer, sec. 18; P. O., Disco; is a native of Scott 
county, 111., where he was born in 1S32. William and Margaret 
(Dickson) Miller, his parents, were natives of Tennessee, and eai-ly 
pioneers in Morgan county, where he died in 1S3S. She died after 
removal to this county in 1S66. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1S55 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Scott, an early 
pilffrim of Hancock, where she was born. They are the parents of 
l-I children, 11 of whom are living, as follows: Mary J., George, 
Delia, ^yaymon, John, Hattie, Eddie, OUie, Andrew J., Xellie and 
one not yet christened. Mr. M. settled ow his present estate in 
1857. now consisting of 520 acres, valued at $40 per acre. His 
advantages for education were very limited, and only by energy and 
industry he attained success. He has been School Director tor 21 
or 22 successive years, but never aspired to political position. 
Politically he favors the Greenback platform. 

Rufus jV orris, blacksmith. La Harpe; was born in Chenango 
county, X, Y., and came to this county in 1838, settling in this 
place, engaging at his trade. He came from Xew York on 
horseback, which at that early day was an adventurous undertaking. 
He is one of the oldest settlers of La Harpe. He served three years 
in the war, in the oOtli 111. Yol. Inf. 

Farmer Nudd, farmer on sec. 33; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
this county in 1844, and is a sou of Joseph W. and Sarah ("Wales) 
Xudd, natives of Massachusetts and Xew Hampshire, who came 
to this county in the spring of 1835, settling on tlie place where 
they yet reside. The subject of this sketch was married in 1S68 to 
Miss Rosabel Vincent, a native of this county, where she was born 
in 1847, and they are the parents of 4 children — Joseph S., Harry 
C, Clay, and one not yet named. Mr. ]^udd settled on his present 
farm atter his marriage; it consists of 390 acres, 180 of which are 
in Fountain Green tp., and is valued at $40 an acre. Mr. X. is 
Road Supervisor, is a member of the Mutual Aid, has been School 
Director, and in politics is a Democrat. He is one of the oldest 
living settlers of the tp. 

George F. Otto, furniture dealer, La Harpe, was born in Phila- 
delphia, Pa., in 1834. His parents, William and Mary A. (Wood) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 913 

Otto, 'vrere natives of that State; both are deceased. Mr. Otto cume 
to this county in 1S5G, and the followina: year located in this city. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and followed his occupation until lie 
established his present business in 1S69. He carries a stock of 
$1,500, and has a good trade. In 1S57 he was married to Miss 
Hettie A. Hyatt, a native of Xew York State. Mr. O. has filled 
the office of City Treasurer and Alderman; was elected Mayor of 
the city in 1S79, and filled the same otfice pro tern two years; has 
been a member of the Masonic order 14 years, and is one of the 
active business men of the city. His family are connected with the 
Protestant Methodist Church.' Two brothers of Mr. Otto, William 
H. and Leroy T., served through the war. and died with consump- 
tion after returning home, 

Henry B. Painttr, farmer, sec. 4; P. O., LaHarpe; was born in 
Mercer (now Lawrence^ county. Pa., in 1S2S. When nine years of 
age he was brought to this county by his parents, William and 
Hannah (^Reynolds') Painter, who made their settlement on the 
present farm, at that time, of SO acres. They resided here until 
their death. The subject of this sketch has by energy, economy 
and industry secured 320 acres, the most of which is well cultivated, 
and is one of the finest farms in the county. He erected his com- 
modious dwelling in 1S71. His marriage to Miss Jane Dawson 
occurred in 1S52. She is a native of Kentucky. Of their chil- 
dren 7 are living — Joseph H., Anna, Flora, Marion, Charles W., 
Louis H. and Jennie E. Mr. P. is School Director at the present 
time, and numbers among the oldest and most respected citizens of 
the county. Politically he was formerly a Whig, but now endorses 
the Republican platform. 

George W. Peck, farmer, sec. 2S; P. O., La Harpe; was born in 
Mason county. Va.. in 1S19. In 1841 he moved to Gallia county, 
O., where he was married June 10. 1S41, to Miss Lucina Rowley, a 
native of Ohio. In 1S50 they came to this county and settled in 
this tp., where they have since made their home. Of 10 children 
born to them 9 are living. Their farm, consisting of 65 acres, is 
valued at 850 per acre. They are members of the Methodist 
Church, and among the oldest and respected families of the county. 
Politically he is Democratic. 

William Pcrrin, Jr.^ druggist. La Harpe, commenced his pres- 
ent business Dec. 1, 1S71, carries a stock of $5,000, and has a 
large trade. He was born in England in 1S36, and emigrated to 
the United States in 1S47 with his parents, William and Elizabeth 
(Gulliver") Perrin, who located in Warren count}-, 111. He after- 
ward settled in Monmouth tp., where she died in 1S09. The sub- 
ject of this sketch enlisted in 1^62 in Co. F, S3d I. Y. I., and 
served until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of 
Fort Donelson, and against Forest at Nashville and Chattanooga. 
In 1S67 he was married to Miss Mary Todd, a native of Des 
Moines county. Iowa. They are the parents of 6 children, 5 of 
wh^m are living. Flora, Mary, Hattie, Arthur and George. Mr. 



914 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

and Mrs. P. are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. P, is 
among the active business men of La Harpe. He is Republican in 
politics. 

Charles B. Place, grain dealer; P. O., Disco; was born in 
Muskingum count}-, O., in 1852, and is a son of Joseph and 
Eleanor (Baxter) Place, natives of Yirginia and Ohio, who came to 
this county in 1865, and settled in Pilot Grove tp., where they yet 
reside. The subject of this biography was married in June, 1877, 
to Miss Mary, daughter of A. J. James, of this tp. They are the 
parents of one child, Ernest. Mr. P. entered the mercantile busi- 
ness at Disco in 18YS; subsequently he disposed of his stock and 
became largely engaged in the grain business. His shipments 
average 100,000 bushels per year. He enjoys a good trade and is 
one of the enterprising 3^oung merchants of Disco. 

John Sjperry, retired, was born in East Bioomfield, X. Y., in 
1811, and came to this State in 1832. He stopped at Quincy, and 
the following year his parents, George and Mary (Lemmon) Sperr}-, 
came and located in Adams county. In 1833 the family moved to 
this count}^ and located at La Harpe. He was a carpenter and 
erected many of the first buildings in the city. They both died at 
Council Bluffs in 1844 or '45. The subject of this sketch engaged 
at various occupations until elected Justice of the Peace; he was 
re-elected three times, serving 14 or 15 years, when he resigned. 
He has also held other public trusts. He was married in 1832 to 
Miss Sarah, daughter of Lyman Oatman, an old settler of the 
county, now deceased. By this marriage 10 children have been 
born, 8 of whom are living. Two sons, Eli and Aaron, lost their 
lives in the late M'ar. 

Robert Sutton, M. D., was born in England in 1842, and when 
four years of age emigrated to the United States with his parents, 
Robert H. and Martha (Reaj') Sutton. He was a clergyman of the 
Methodist faith, and located in Pittsburg, Pa. He followed his 
professional calling until 1858, when he became blind. Subse- 
quently he returned to Pittsburg, recovered his sight, and in 1877 
he retired frotn the ministry and moved to Waynesborough, Pa., and 
is living in quiet retirement. The subject of this biography received 
his early education in the schools of Fairmont, W. Va., and Henry 
College, 111. He attended lectures at the Chicago medical school, 
and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, O., in 
1863. The same year he began the practice of his profession in this 
city, where he has since been successfully engaged. He was married 
in 1864 to Miss Susau G. Chenour, who died in 1871. One child, 
David C, is the surviving offspring. He was again married to 
Miss Orpha E., daughter of Jesse C. Chandler, an early settler of 
this county. The}^ are the parents of 2 children, Mark C. aud 
Jesse B. Dr. S. is serving the sixth term as Superintendent of the 
cit}^ schools, is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and 
enjoys a large practice as a physician. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 915 

Benjamin Warren is a native of Shapleigh, York county, Maine, 
and was born April 20, 1828, of Entjlish ancestry. The founder 
of the family in xlmerica was also Jienjaniin Warren, the grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, who came to this country soon 
after the Revolutionary war and settled in AYaterborough, York 
county. Me., where he died leaving 7 children. One of his sons, 
Luther Warren, was the father of the present Benjamin Warren, 
and followed tarmiug; he moved from Maine to Illinois in 1866 
and made his home with his sons John and Benjamin, in this county; 
he and wife are now deceased. The subject of this sketch re- 
ceived his education in Maine previous to his 17th year, in the 
common school; he then went to Boston and attended a commer- 
cial school for six months or a year; then followed clerking in that 
city the ensuing five years in a real-estate broker's office, and after- 
ward became partner. In 1848 he returned to his native State, 
attended scliool the following winter, and in February he started 
for the prairie State, Illinois, and arrived in La Harpe, where he 
commenced as clerk in the store of his brother John; the latter had 
come in 1850. He soon became a partner with his brother in 
general merchandising and continued until 1863, when he retired, 
and since then has been in no regular business in La Harpe, but 
for three years past has been a member of the firm of Warren & 
Co., at Peoria, produce and commission merchants. 

Mr. Warren married Miss Portia Nutt, at La Harpe, Oct. 1, 1851, 
who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, and is a daughter of 
Lecuster and Mary Ann (Cummings) Nutt, of that county. Mr. 
Nutt was a native of Connecticut, and his wife, of Virginia. Mr. and 
Mrs. AYarren have a family of 7 children, as follows: BenjamiUj Jr., 
now of the firm of Warren & Co., Peoria; Charles A., Cora E., 
Mary C. John, Jr., Luther and Allen L. The first five are living 
at home with their parents. The family are at present residing at 
La Harpe, in one of the finest residences in the county, built by 
Mr. AYarren in 1874-'5, at an expense of about $15,000, and fur- 
nished with all modern improvements, with water up stairs and 
down, and fitted for gas, etc. 

In politics Mr. AYarren is a Democrat, and he takes a very active 
part in the promulgation of his principles. He has served his 
township in nearly all the local offices, among which is that of 
Supervisor; in this capacity he has served ten terms; he has also 
been County Treasurer and ex officio Collector, and is filling this 
office at present. In the fall of 1872 he was elected State Senator, 
and in the 28th General Assembly he was a member of the Com- 
mittees on Revenue, Finance, Agriculture, Railroads, Manufactures 
and Mining; and in the 29th he was a member of the Committees 
on AVarehouses, Roads, Highways and Bridges, Education, State 
Educational Institutions, and was chairman of the Committee on 
Revenue. 

John Warren, retired merchant, is a son of Luther and Charlotte 
AYarren, both natives of York county, Me., and both born in 1792. 



916 HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Luther W. lived on a farm in his native county till 1861, when he 
came to La Ilarpe, where he died in October, 1871. His death 
occurred on the cars, between this place and Canton, by the side 
of his son John. He died without making a sound or giving any 
intimation of his approaching demise. The wife and mother died 
Nov. 17, 1879. The subject of this biography was born in York 
county, Me., Jan. 6, 1815. He received the advantages of a good 
English education, and w^hen 19 years of age began teaching school 
in his native State, where lie taught the winter season for four 
years. In May, 1838, he came to La Harpe, then containing but a 
few log cabins, and engaged in brick-making in the summer and 
school-teaching in the winter. He taught the first school ever 
kept in La Harpe. On April 9, 1814, he commenced mercantile 
business on a small scale, and his was the second busines-^ -place 
opened at that time. He dealt extensively in produce, buying and 
selling wheat and pork, and made large shipments to St. Louis; 
and in his various operations made and lost considerable money. 
He was united in marriage, Dec. 28, 1845, to Miss Polly Ricker, 
a native of Maine, who died April 10, 1847. He was again mar- 
ried, to Miss Sophronia Ricker, July 9, 1848; she was also a native 
of Maine, and a sister of the deceased. To this union 11 children 
have been born, 7 of whom are living. In 1850 a partnership 
with his brother was formed, which continued till 1862. In April, 

1852, Mr. "W. started overland to California with an ox team, and 
was 111 days on the road. The party passed through the country 
of the Modoc Indians, and only the strength of their numbers 
saved them from annihilation. He engaged successfully in the 
manufacture of brick in California, and returned via Panama in 

1853. He erected his fine and commodious residence in 1856, and 
in 1873 purchased the postofiice building and took charge of the 
otfice, in connection with a business in books and stationery. A 
few years later he was stricken with paralysis, which deprived him 
of speech, and the cares of his business passed into the hands of 
his only son, Edgar L. Warren, who was born in this tp. in 1855. 
He is a young man of excellent business qualifications, and con- 
trols a large trade in stationery, wall-paper and fancy goods. For 
six years he has been largely engaged in the insurance business, 
and is agent for the yEtna and PhoBuix companies of Hartford, 
Conn., and the Home Insurance Company, New York. His 
father has held various oflices, and the family are among the 
oldest and respected of this community. 

Luther Warren.^ dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, La Harpe, 
was born in York county, Pennsylvania in 1833. In 1850 he came 
to this county, and two years afterward crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia prospecting, where he remained three or four years. On his 
return he entered the mercantile business, in this city, where he 
has since been engaged. He was married in 1857 to Miss Etha- 
line Stone, a native of Jefferson county, O. To this union 6 chil- 
dren have been born, 4 of "whom are living: Frank, Ruby M., 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



917 



Willis E. and George O. Mr. W. has held many prominent offices 
and numbers among the oldest settlers and reliable business men 
of La Harpe. Politicalh' he is a Republican. 



OFFICIALS. 



The- following is a Hst of the Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and 
Collectors that have served in this township since its organization. 



SUPERVISORS. 



Samuel Cogswell 1851 

David Gochenour 1853 

Jas. A. Lester 1856 

William Smith 1858 

BeDJamin Warren 1804 

Andrew J. James 1866 

A. J. Bradshaw 1868 



L. S.Cogswell 1869 

Cornelius C. Preston 1871 

Benjamin Warren 1872 

John Miller 1874 

L. S. Cogswell 1875 

James Mayor 1877 

Benjamin Warren 1880 



CLERKS. 



B. W. King 1856 

Francis M. Hurdle 1853 

William Garrigues 1860 

Jeremiah Smith 1861 

D. B. Stone 1864 

John P. Bruudage 1865 

John S. Peyton 1866 

George Coulson 1868 

Israel Brundage 1871 



Theodore H. Stone 1872 

Jeremiah Smith 1873 

Benjamin Warren, Jr 1874 

George W. Soule 1875 

Theodore H. Stone 1876 

H. S. Dickson 1878 

Israel Brundage 1879 

I. W. Hindman 1880 



ASSESSORS. 



Henry C Coulson 1856 

Joseph T. Painter 1858 

S. W. Leavitt 1860 

Joseph T. Painter 1861 

Joseph Nichols 1864 

Charles F. Comstock 1866 

Joseph Nichols 1867 

John Miller 1869 



Wm. J. Riggins 1870 

Joseph Nichols 1871 

John Miller 1872 

William Bunger 1873 

John Miller 1875 

William Bunger 1876 

John N. Paiuler 1877 

George Coulson 1878-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Heniy C. Coulson 1856 

Joseph T. Painter 1858 

F. M. Hurdle 1860 

Benjamin Warren 1861 

John Warren 1862 

Jas. M. Campbell 1864 

James Mayor 1865 

Wm. E. Coquillette 1866 

John Warren 1867 

Henry Beckman 1868 



Jeremiah Smith 1869 

H.H. Bliss 1870 

George Coulson 1871 

Israel Brundage 1872 

David H. Gochenour 1873 

Walter H. Fordyce 1874 

Charles Gochenour 1876 

William Swisher 1877 

John Sperry 1880 



DURHAM TOWNSHIP. 

There is probably no better township of land in the county than 
that numbered 7-6, and named Durham, It lies on the extreme 
north line of the county, and is chiefly prairie, thoui^h much of it 
is rolling and well drained. It has a small branch of Crooked 
creek on its east side, and a portion of Camp creek in its north- 
west corner, each of which are skirted by bodies of timber. All 
the railroad it contains is about a mile of the Burlington branch of 
the Toledo, from Disco across its northeast corner. Its northwest 
corner lies less than two miles from the river at Dallas Cit^^ Dur- 
ham may be called the western extension of what in the early days 
was known as " North Prairie," a tract of splendid farming country 
lying north of La Harpe and extending into Henderson county. 
Disco, on the east line of the township, must be near the center of 
it. This town was laid in Feb., 1876, by John Shutwell, and is 
located on the line of Durham and La Harpe townships. It is 
young and small yet, but seems to be a place of considerable busi- 
ness as a railroad station. 

Among the early settlers in Durham we have the names of 
Thomas Dixon, Sr., George Weaver, John Gihnore and brothers, of 
1835; and Jacob Mendenhall, William Logan, Ferdinand Brent and 
son, James and Wm. Meeker, and Jesse Avise, of 1836. Among 
those the dates of whose emigration we are not advised, are the 
Boyses, Manifolds, Loftons, Harknesses, Wilsons, James Mills, L 
Wimp, Wm. McGuire. 

Among the first things in Durham township, we may mention: 
First school-house, of hewed logs, built in 1837, and called Camp 
Creek school-house; first school taught by Mary Jane Jacobs, now 
of Washington Territory. First preaching by Rev. Wm. Johnson, 
Episcopalian ; first Sabbath-school by Wm. McGuire, at same place ; 
first M. E. preacher was Kev. Pool; first P. O. was called Camp 
Creek, John L. Avise, P. M. Concerning this P. O. it was on 
sec. 18, west line of the tp.; when Mr. Avise died it was kept by 
his widow; and when she married Mr. Lyman Harkness, he was 
made P. M., — three in one family. It was afterward removed to 
Durham Corners, and kept by J. Hugh McGuire. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

As stated above, the first preachings in Durham were by Revs. 
Johnson and Pool. We have no data as to Church organizations. 
The M. E. society has a church edifice at Durham Center, built in 
1865, which we believe is the only one in the township. 

(918) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 919 

PERSONAL. 

It will be more interesting to give short biographical sketches of 
the best-known residents of this township, which we now proceed 
to do. 

0. 8. Avery, a farmer of Durham tp., was born in Ohio in 1817. 
His parents were Simeon Avery, a native of New York, and Re- 
becca,M(?(j Passmore, a native of Ohio. Coming to Illinois in the fall 
of 184:3, he first settled in Dallas tp., where he resided till the 
spring of 184:7, when he came to Durham tp. In 184:6 he was 
married to Miss Eliza J. Atherton, who is now 52 years of age. From 
this union she is the mother of 10 children, of whom 6 are now 
living; namely, James O., Eliza J., Rebecca A., John M., Nancy J., 
and Laura B. Mr. Avery owns 240 acres of land, of which about 
150 acres are under cultivation. His educational advantages were 
very poor. He never went to school three months in a year, and 
yet he is a man who reads a great deal. He has been School Treas- 
urer and Collector. He is a member of the Masonic Lodfife, and 
and is politically a Republican, 

David Bylei\ who is one of the many prominent farmers of 
Durham tp., is the son of John Byler and Sarah (Hay worth) 
Byler, who were natives of Tenn., and of German descent. He is 
also a native of Tenn., and was born in 1818. He first came to 
Illinois in 1836 and settled in Adams Co.; after having lived there 
15 years, he came to Durham tp. He is now on sec. 9. He was 
married in 1840 to Miss Grace Jane Levi, who at her death 
was the mother of 2 children, John P. and Silas H., who are 
farmers in this tp. He was married a second time, in 1851 ; from 
this marriage, his wife, at her death, was the mother of 4: children, 
2 of whom are living, Grace Jane and Henry C. In 1858, he was 
again married, to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, who is now 46 years 
of age, and the mother of 3 children, all of whom are living : 
Sarah, William Newton and Mary Bell. Mr. B,, when he first 
came to the State, had very little to start on, but by close 
management and the exercise of good judgment, he has succeeded 
well in all his undertakings. He now owns where he lives three 
quarters of fine land, which he estimates at about $50 per acre. 
He has also two quarters on sections 15 and 21, and nearly one 
quarter of timber in same tp. In Adams Co, he owns 200 acres 
of good land, and has an interest in a quarter of land in Missouri, 
He has held several township offices ; was Supervisor 10 or 12 
years, and now holds the offices of Justice of Peace, Township 
Treasurer and School Director, His educational advantages were 
very good, teaching school considerably when young. He has been 
a farmer all his life, and by hard work has earned what he ha^. He 
and his wife have been for a number of years members of the Bap- 
tist Church, Politically, he is a Democrat ; was a Whig until 1852, 

Stephen Eckles, a farmer of sec, 20 of Durham tp., was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1827. He is the son of James Eckles and Eliza- 



920 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COnNTT. 

m 

beth (Quick) Ecldes, who were also natives ol Pennsylvania. Re- 
moving to Illinois in 1847, he first settled in Adams Co., where he 
resided until the spring of 1851, when he came to Hancock Co., and 
settled where he now lives. In 1865 he was married to Miss Lu- 
cinda AValters, who is now 39 years of age, and the mother of 4 
children : Calvin, Emma, Stephen and William, all of whom are 
living. Mr. E. owns 80 acres of land, all of which is very well im- 
proved, and is worth about $45 per acre. The high esteem and lo- 
cal repute in which he is held in his community is evidenced by 
the fact that he has held every office in the township, from School 
Director to Supervisor, which office he now competently fills. 
Mr. E. informs us that his advantages for securing an education 
were very good for the times. Politically, he was, is, and alwa3's 
expects to be a Democrat; has been elected by that party to the 
position which he now occupies as Supervisor. 

Daniel Farreii, who is the son of Daniel and Sarah (McAndry) 
Farren, is a native of Ireland, and supposes himself to be about 70 
years old, the exact date of his birth being unknown to him. He 
came across the ocean to America in 1836, and first settled in Penn- 
sylvania, where he lived two years, and then came to Illinois. He 
came to Hancock Co. in 1852, and settled where he now is in 
Durham tp., on sec. 4. In 1855 Mr. Farren was married to Cath- 
arine Markey, who was a native of Pennsylvania. She is now 50 
years old, and is the mother of 7 children, all of whom are living : 
John, Philip, Mary, William, James, Rosanna and Sarah. Mr. F. 
owns 280 acres of very good land, not quite all of which is under 
cultivation, and is worth about $40 per acre. Politically, he is a 
Democrat, and is a member of the Catholic Church. His educa- 
tional advantages were quite limited. 

William K. Gittings. — The ancestors of this worthy citizen ol 
our county were from England, and settled in Baltimore county, 
Maryland, prior to the Revolutionary war; the first we know of 
them b}' this name was Kinsey Gittings, who married Mary Clem- 
mons, and who moved to Washington count}', Kentucky, in an early 
day, and followed farming; he died in that county about 1830, 
aged 65 years, leaving a widow and 6 children ; the former died at 
the fame place about 1840. Their eldest son, William H. Gittings, 
was raised on his father's farm in Kentucky, where he remained 
until he was 28 years old ; he followed farming and boating to New 
Orleans, etc. In October, 1818, he married "Miss Ellen Mudd, a 
native of Maryland, and a daughter of Richard aiid Mary (Berry) 
Mudd, all of Maryland and English ancestry; Richard Mudd was 
an officer in the Revolutionary war under Washington ; at an early 
day lie removed with his family to Kentucky. After his marriage 
Mr. William Henson Gittings lived in Union county, Kentucky, 
where 8 children were born to him; in 1834 he moved to Illinois, 
stopping a short time in Morgan county, and in 1835 came to this 
county, with his family, and settled in Fountain Green tp., on sec. 
7j where he afterward bought of the Government 180 acres of partly 




f 



DURHAM TP. 



U-^'tt^.Q^ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 921 

improved land. In politics he was a decided 'Whiff, and in ISi^ 
was a nominee of his party lor the State Senate. In this connty 
he had nothing to commence with, but in time came to be one of 
the wealthiest men in this section, lie was a man of the strictest 
integrity, whose word was as good as his bond. In his habits he 
was very temperate, and in all respects he was honored and respected 
by the community. He was a member of the Catholic Church. 
He died November 7, 1>09, aged nearly 79 years, leaving 10 chil- 
dren, who were all married at the time, and are all living at present. 
He had a family of 15 children, but 5 are deceased. 

"William K. Gittiugs. the third child of the former, was born 
November 5, 1S22, and was on his father's tarm until 26 years of 
age, when he was married January 9, 1S49. at the Church of St. 
Peter, Xanvoo. Illinois, by Father Gritiin, to Amelia E. Hardy, a 
native of Kentucky and a daughter of Ivo H. and Mary (^Riley) 
Hardy, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky, 
and of English descent. Ivo Hardy and wife moved to this county 
in 1S35; he is now dead, and his widow is now living with Mr. "W. 
K. Gittings. On Mr. G.'s marriage he immediately moved upon a 
farm on sec. 1. Durham tp., consisting of about SO acres, which he 
had bought some time previous to his marriage. The first house 
he built was a small log cabin 14 by 16; in this he lived one year, 
when he built a small frame; in 1S60 he erected a large two-story 
and L, which he has since occupied. 

In politics Mr. G. is a Democrat, and he has been Supervisor 
four terms, and was one of the first Road Commissioners after the 
organization of the county. He and his wife are members of the 
Catholic Church. He has since added to the home tarm until it 
now consists of 720 acres, and he has given to two of his children 
who are married 320 acres besides; his children are: Mary Ellen, 
now the wife of "Wm. L. Dean, of this tp. ; Julia A., now Mrs Wm. 
Yager, also of this tp. ; Cory I., now Mrs. John Arnold, and living 
in Henderson county, near Burlington; Ivo James. Henry Mar- 
cellus and Catharine Matilda, at home. "W"m. Berry. Rose Ellen 
and Sarah May are deceased. 

Jason K. Jacob, who has been a resident of Durham tp., Hancock 
county. 111., for over 40 years, is a native of Connecticut, and was 
born Aug. 24, 1S06. His parents' names were Udna and Elizabeth, 
who were natives also of Connecticut. His father was a farmer, 
also a mechanic by trade, and taught school some in his early life. 
Mr. J's grandparents were early jnoneers of Connecticut, and his 
father removed from Connecticut to Xew York about 1S12. when 
his son Jason, the subject of this sketch, was quite young. Here he 
lived until 1S20. when he went to Indiana, and living there 6 or 
7 years he again returned to New York, his son- Jason returning 
with him. Afterward, in 1S3S. his father and family came "West and 
settled on sec. 34 of Durham tp., where he (^Jason) still lives. Mr. 
J. was married in 1S39 to Sarah A. Thompson, who is the mother 
of 6 children, of whom 5 are living: Orson, the oldest, who is now 



922 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

traveling for S. Hamill & Co., Keokuk; Milton, who is now running 
a store and buying grain in Sciota, 111. ; Richford, who is farming 
in the same tp.; Viola, who is the wife of Marshall Terry, a clothier 
in Blandinsville, 111. ; and Horace, who is still fanning at home 
with his father. Mr. J. owns 30 acres of land where he now lives, 
which is pretty well improved and worth about $2,000. His advan- 
tages for an education were only such as log houses afforded. 
Politically he is and always has been a Democrat, and has held 
several offices, such as Magistrate eight years in this county. School 
Director, Trustee, and Commissioner of Highways. He and his 
wife are both members of the Christian Church. 

James Edison Manifold. — This man's father, George Manifold, 
was a native of Tennessee, and came to Hancock county in 1836, 
bringing with him a family of a wife and 8 children. The names 
of the children were: Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth, Nancj'^, William 
Fleming, Joseph N., James E., Benjamin, Jashur and John, all 
living in this county except Joseph JST., who lives in Rockford, 
111. Geo. Manifold's wife's maiden name was Mary Persley, and 
she was a native of Tennessee. He died in this county a year and 
a half after settling here. His occupation was that of a farmer, and 
his farm consisted of three quarter-sections, and his residence was 
one and a half miles west of La Harpe. He died somewhat in debt 
for his land, but the widow and family afterward succeeded in 
paying all balance due. She died about ten years ago, and her son 
John now occupies the old homestead. 

James E. Manifold lived on the old place with his mother, 
sharing in clearing the place from debt, until he was 24 j'ears of 
age, having received such a limited education as was afforded in 
the primitive log school-houses of the day. In the spring of 1853 
he bought 160 acres on sec. 9, Durham tp., for which he paid $1,150, 
$500 down, which latter sum he had made in raising a crop of wheat 
on rented laud. On this farm was a small log cabin and some 
slight improvements; 100 acres of it was raw prairie; but the farm 
is now one of the best cultivated in the county, with fine improve- 
ments, fences, etc. The farm now comprises 280 acres, and Mr. 
M. has also 240 acres on sec. 28, and 80 on sec. 20. Mr. Manifold 
has had but $200 given him in his life, and that was after his mar- 
riage; and he has therefore made all his present possessions by 
direct earning. He follows stock farming to some extent, feeding on 
an average from 100 to 200 head of stock per annum; raises on an 
average 80 to 90 acres of corn, all of which, besides more, he feeds; 
he raises wheat, oats, etc., for market. His residence is on sec. 9, 
and he is very pleasantly situated. 

In politics Mr. M. is a Republican, and in religion he has been 
a member of the Methodist Church for the last fifteen years; Mrs. 
M. has been a member of the same Church since she was 18 years 
of age. 

Mr. Manifold was married Nov. 17, 1853, to Elizabeth Logan, 
near Dallas, in Henderson county; she was born in Indiana, Nov. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY, 923 

28, 1830, and was a daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth (McCarty) 
Logan, formerly of Marion county, Ind., and moved to Hancock 
county in 1835, locating on Camp creek, in Durliam tp., where he 
bought land, of which b.e finall}' owned a large quantity; he gave 
each of his 9 children SO acres, and at his death left 160 acres. He 
died in this county in 1S47; his wife died in 1843. In coming to 
this county he brought 9 children with him; namely, Sarah, James 
M., Eenj. J., Wm. H., Enoch M., Jonathan B., Samuel W., Jane 
and Elizabeth. These are all living, and gone farther west (Mis- 
souri and Kansas) except Elizabeth and Enoch, who live in Mercei- 
county," 111. Mr. Manifold's portrait is given in this volume, ]). 423. 

Js>B. McMillen, is the son of James McMillen and Eleanor 
{Berhethy) McMillen, and was born in Brown county, O., in 1828. 
Coming to Illinois in 1849 he first settled in La Harpe tp.; living 
there one year, he went to Fountain Green, thence to Pilot Grove, 
where he remained for 20 years. AVhile here his occupation was a 
farmer and at the same time was engaged in the drug business at 
Burnside for a number of years with L. V. Aleshire. And after- 
ward he removed to Durham tp. in the spring of '75, where he now 
lives on sec. 34. He was married in the tall of 1854 to Miss Mar- 
garet S. Evans, who is still living; from this marriage they have 
had 8 children, of whom all are living except one. Their names 
are: Eleanor A., the wife of John L. Heller, who is a druggist in 
Abingdon, 111.; Ethel, who was recently married to W. W. Glass, 
now a farmer of Fountain Green tp.; James E., who is a faruier in 
Durham tp.; Christina P., who is the wife of James Lionberger, 
a farmer in Pilot Grove; C_yrus Grant, Sarah B. and John Oscar, 
who are still at home. Since he removed to Durham tp., Mr. 
McM. has been an extensive farmer and stock-dealer. He has a 
large farm consisting of 350 acres where lie lives, and 115 acres in 
Pilot Grove, on sec. 3. All of it is pretty well improved and he 
estimates it at about $45 per acre. He has on his land a large 
and commodious stone barn, probably the best in the tp. This 
building is 40 by 60 feet in size and holds about 50 tons of hay; 
has a basement story for 20 horses and 60 cattle; and altogether, 
is a conveniently arranged structure. Mr. McM. has onh' one 
brother, John, who is a preacher and retired citizen of Winterset, 
Iowa, and 3 living sisters, 2 of whom are in this State and one in 
Iowa. 

His educational advantages were only such as were afforded ])y a 
district school. Politically he is a Republican. He and family 
are members of the Christian Church, and all are highly esteemed 
by those who know them. 

James 31ilU^ son of William Mills and Sarah Morrison, was 
born in Ohio county, Yirginia. near Wiieeling, in 1816. He came 
to Illinois in 1853 and settled in Durham tp., on sec. 20; here lie 
still resides, together with his three maiden sisters, Caroline, Sarah 
Jane and Minerva Zane, who keeps house for their bachelor 
brother James, the subject of this sketch. Mr. M. owns 160 acres 



924 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

of pretty-well-iinproved land which is worth about $50 per acre. 
He has never held any office and never belonged to any secret 
oro-anization. His educational advantages were only such as were 
offered by subscription schools. Political!}' he is a Republican. 
Mr. M. stands high in his community as a gentleman of sterling- 
worth, and as a man whose integrity all admire. 

Sarah Morris, the daughter of William Gather and Elizabeth 
Gillet, who were of Yankee and Irish descent, was born in Penn- 
sylvania in 1836. Coming to 111. in 1851 she first settled in Hen- 
derson county, where she resided one winter and then came where 
she now is, on sec. 12 of Durham tp. In 1856 she was married 
to John Morris, who died in 1876; from this union she is the 
mother of 6 children, 4 of whom are now living: Elizabeth, Day- 
ton, Sumner and Charles. She owns 20 acres of good land 
which is prett}^ well improved and is worth about $-15 per acre. 
Her educational advantages were somewhat limited. She is a 
member of the Methodist Church. Politically her husband was a 
Republican. Her mother is still living. 

Y. F. Partnelee, a merchant of Durham tp., is the son of Ormin 
Parmelee and Phebe (Lyons) Parmelee, and was born in Conn., in 
1853. His parents, who were of English descent and natives ot 
Conn., are now both dead. He came to Illinois in 1870 and set- 
tled in Durham tp., where he has been ever since. He went into 
business at Durham Corners three years ago, buying the dry-goods 
and grocery store formerly owned by C. M. Thomas. He is now 
doing a very good business and has a good home trade. lie carries 
a stock of about $1,500, and by fair, square dealing and prompt 
attention to business, has gained the confidence of his many friends 
in the community. Politically Mr. P. is a Democrat and now 
holds the office of Town Clerk. Before going into business here 
he was a farmer. His father was also a farmer and stock dealer. 

Heynolds (jc Robertson , mercliants, Disco. This young and enter- 
prising firm established business in October, 1 879. They carry a 
stock of $5,000, and have a lucrative trade. The senior partner 
of this firm, W. H. Robertson, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., 
in 1856, and came to Illinois with his parents, William and Ann 
E. (Pennell) Robertson, who are residents of Terre Haute, Hender- 
son county. Mr. R. had a large experience as clerk in the mercan- 
tile houses of Terre Haute, and has adaptation and energy for suc- 
cess. He was married in 1878, to Miss Jane Forseman. Edla is 
their only^ child. The junior member, Mr. Reynolds, is a native of 
Clinton count}', O., where he was born in 1848. His parents are 
residents of Henderson county, where they settled in 1879. Mr. 
Reynolds was engaged in farming until the present partnership 
was formed. He was appointed Postmaster at Disco, Jan. 1, 1880. 

Josiah Hifchey, a farmer of Durham tp., was born in Tennessee, 
in 1830. He is the son of John M. Ritchey and Catherine Dough- 
erty. He came to this State in 1851, and settled in Adams county; 
after living there one year he came to Hancock, and first settled in 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 925 

Dallas tp., where he resided until 1862, when he removed to Dur- 
ham, and settled on sec. 29, where he now lives. In ISo^i he was mar- 
ried to Miss Amanda F. Knowles, who is now 44 years of age; 
from this union she is the mother of 9 children, all of whom are 
living: Hiram C, Philip ]\[., John M., Sarah L., Margaret E., 
Catherine, James II., Lucy M. and Dora B. Mr, R. has SO acres 
of well-improved land which is worth about $45 per acre. Has never 
held any office except School Director, two terms. His educational 
advantages were very much inferior to those of to-day. 

He has two sisters living, one in this tp., and one in Iowa. His 
father is dead but his mother, Y6 years old, is living in this tp. 
Politically, Mr. R. is a Democrat. He and family are members 
of the United Brethren Church. 

Jariie-'< Rhea, one of the most prominent farmers of Durham 
tp., is a native of Kentucky, and was born in 1834. His parents' 
names were William and Ann, who were of Irish and Dutch 
descent. He came to Illinois in 1850, and first settled in Adams 
county, where he resided until 1856, when he came to the place on 
which he now lives, on sec. 31. He was married in 1855 to Nancy J. 
Smith, who died about four years after their marriage; and was mar- 
ried a second time shortly afterward to Harriet I. Smith, a sister 
to his former wife. His first wife was the mother of i children, 
of whom one, whose name is Thomas, is now living. His second 
■wife is the mother of 7 children, of whom 4 are living. Their 
names are: Theodore F., George, John and Adaline. His advan- 
tages for an education, when young, were very poor, being com- 
pelled to go four or five miles to attend school. Politically, he is 
a Republican. Mr. R. owns in Durham tp., where he lives, 117 
acres, all of which is well improved. He has a fine two-story 
house, size, 28x32, with an L, which he built in 1872, at a cost of 
about 83,000. He has, also, one of the finest barns in the tp., size, 
44x68, which he built in 1874, at a cost of $;2,000. Besides the 
land on which he lives, he owns in Pilot Grove tp., 240 acres of 
well-improved land, the average value of all of which is about $40 
per acre. 

By hard work and strict adherence to the principles of right and 
justice, Mr. R. has accumulated considerable wealth, and has suc- 
ceeded in establishing a reputation beyond reproach. 

Robert Thomas, one of the old settlers of Durham tp., but of 
late a retired citizen of Carthage, 111., was born in Kentucky, in 
1807. His parents, whose names were James and Sarah (Childers) 
Thomas were also natives of Kentucky, and of Englisii and Welsh 
descent. Emigrating to Illinois in 1829, he firstsettled in Adams 
county, where he lived about 25 years. Pie next came to Hancock 
county, in 1856, and settled at Durham Center, on sec. 16. He 
was married in 1830, to Miss Rebecca Thompson, who is now 56 
years old and the mother of 9 children, 6 of whom are living: Mel- 
vina, Mary, Robert, Helen, Charles and George. 

His educational advantages were rather poor, although he reads 



926 HISTORY OF HAXCOCK COUNTY. 

considerably now. He has been a member of the M. E. Church 
for -iS years. 

G. W. Yaiidniff, son of Joseph and Laviua ^^Xichols) Yandrutf, 
who were natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Pennsylvania, in 
1820. His descent is Holland Dutch. He emigrated to Illinois 
in 1849 and first settled at Mendon, where he lived three years; 
lie then went to Henderson county, where he remained about a 
year and a Iialf; thence he came to Hancock county, where he has 
resided ever since; he is now on sec. 14. He was married in 1847, 
to Miss Hettie Gillet, who died in about 25 years. He was mar- 
ried the second time in 1873, to Susan Smith, who is now 52 years 
old. and the mother of 5 children, all of whom are living. Mr. Y. 
owns 321 acres of land, which is well improved and worth about 
850 per acre. 

When a boy, he attended a subscription school in a log cabin, 
where they had greased paper for windows, and roughly hewn 
boards for seats. He has held the ottices of Collector and Road 
Commissioner. He is now a member of the Masonic fraternity; he 
and his wife are both members of the Church of God, of which 
there is a small denomination in his community. Politically,' he is 
a sincere Greenbacker. 

Linw^ L. ~Wllcox. a prominent farmer of Durham tp., was born 
in Haddam. Middlesex county. Conn.. July C. 1819. He is the 
eldest son of Lyman and Emily i^Hubbard) AVilcox. both natives of 
Middlesex, Conn., and until 16 years of age he was on his father's 
farm; he then spent three years as an apprentice at the tanner's 
trade; then taught school one winter in Connecticut. April 3. 
1839, he married Miss Abigail Burr, of the same State, and imme- 
diately removed to Hancock county, 111., settling in LaHarpe tp. ; 
the following winter he taught school in La Harpe, and his wife 
taught the same winter in a log school-house one and one-half 
miles east. In 1841, Mr. Wilcox rented land in La Harpe tp.. and 
the next year he purchased the northeast quarter of sec. 22, Dur- 
ham tp., which place he improx-ed and occupied until 1S56, when 
his wife died, in Connecticut, July 12. 

While on a visit to his native State in 1849, with his family, 
he became interested in a chain jump, which he was the first to 
introduce at any point west ot the Alleghany mountains. He 
manutactured and sold the article for about four years, employing 
six to twelve men. After the death of his wife, as before men- 
tioned, he built a portion of his present residence, which was 
enlarged by additions and completed in 1872, at a cost of 82,300. 
His barn, erected in 1869, is one of the best in the country. 
Everything on the premises is neatly arranged. Has a milk cellar 
communicating wvith an ice-liouse, a very convenient contrivance tor 
taking ofi' the wagon bed and keeping it in an elevated position, 
<.>ut of the way, an arrangement for loading, corn (^can load 40 
bushels of shelled corn per minuted, cultivator wheels usable also 
for a hand cart, and various other convenience's wherein he is " lit- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 927 

tie ahead'' of most of the world. He began life poor, but by hon- 
est dilio-ence has acquired a competence. He practices the cash 
system in all his dealings. 

He has taken a prominent part in the '' farmers' movement," and 
was Master of the first Grange organized in the northern part of 
the county; was originally a Whig, then a Republican, and now 
is a prominent Greenbacker; has been a member of the M. E. 
Church for 4'2 years, and has been Recording Steward. 

Mr. "Wilcox has been twice married. By his lirst wife, already 
mentioned, he had 5 sons and '2 daughters, 3 of whom are living — 
Daniel W., Cynthia E. and Edward A. Oct. 5, 1S5S, he married 
Fannie M. Buell, of Killingworth, Conn., and of their 4 children 
3 are living— Ellsworth F., Collins H. and Freddie. Mr. W. has 
three sisters — one in this tp., one in Elvaston, and one in Kansas. 
He has two brothers — one in Good Hope, McDouough county, 111., 
and one in Kansas. 

Mr. Wilcox is an intelligent, industrious and influential citizen, 
and as a prominent man of his community, we present on page 
^03 a portrait of him, from a photograph taken when he was 40 
years of age. 

TOWN OFFICERS. 

Here follows a list of the men who have served this township 
officially, both past and present: 

SUPERVISORS. 

James Porter 1850 Jason K. Jacobs 1865 

Jesse Duffield 1853 Robert Inixhram 1808 

Jesse Avise 1856 David Bvler 1869 

David Byler 1858 I. M. Morris 1874 

Robert lughram 1860 "Wm. K. Gittings 1875 

AVelliu2:tou Jennev 1862 Stephen Eckles .1879 

David Byler. . . . ." 1864 

CLERKS. 

John McGuire 1855 Wesley Huston 1869 

A. B. Stevens 1850 Wesley Persian 1875 

Stephen Eckles 186-4 Geo. W. Hendrix 1876 

Wellinirton Jennev 1865 L. W. Buell 1877 

John McGuire...' 1866 Ed. Wilcox 1878 

William Scott 1867 V. P. Parmelee 1879-1880 

Stephen Eckles 1868 

ASSESSORS. 

James Porter 1855 Stephen Eckles 1870 

William Scott 1858 Robert Inshrara 1871 

J. B. Barr 1860 Stephen Eckles 1873 

Stephen Eckles 1862 Wm. E. Atwater 1874 

Jesse Avise 1863 J. N. Burr 1875 

Walter Stiles 1864 Stephen Eckles 1876 

John W. Hartzell 1865 Joseph Gittintrs 1877 

Robert Inghram 1866 J. N. Bradfield 1878 

John C. Alumous 1867 Francis Wilson 1879-1880 

Wesley Huston 1S68 

58 



928 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



COLLECTORS. 



Stephen Eckles 1855 

David Pershin.. 1859 

Stephen Eckles 1860 

William Eckles 1863 

William Scott 1864 

Stephen Eckles 1865 

William Scott 1867 

Noah M. Hartzell 1868 

Georae W. Vandruff 1869 



Wesley Huston *. 1870 

Francis Wilson 1872 

Wesley Huston 1873 

S. W. Yasrer 1874 

R. L. Phillips 1875 

John W. Byers 1876 

J. B. Kice ■ 1878 

Henry Reiselt 1879 

Josiah Dickson 1880 




PONTOOSUC AND DALLAS TOWNSHIPS, 

Forming together township 7 n — 7 w, lie on the north line of the 
county and on the river, which cuts dff about half of the upper 
tier of sections in Pontoosuc. The stream known as Snake Hollow 
(we never heard of any big snake story connected with it, though 
there must be one, of course) empties into the river at Pontoosuc. 
Camp creek runs northeastwardly through the southern portion of 
the township, into Durham. There is much valuable farm land in 
this township, and is well settled with an intelligent and thrifty 
community. 

The township is divided for political purposes; the two and a 
half tiers of sections on the east side being Dallas, and the three 
and a half on the west side comprising Pontoosuc. 

The town of Pontoosuc is on the river and was laid out in April, 
1837, by Hezekiah Spillman, Marvin Try on and James W. 
Brattle. 

Dallas City is also on the river, three miles above, and was laid 
out Oct., 1848, by John M. Finch. This is a town of considerable 
trade, &ud has a population of perhaps 1,000 souls. 

Colusa, on the C. B. & Q. railroad, in Dallas township, is a small 
village five miles south of Dallas Citj'. 

Perhaps the first settler in this township was Hezekiah Spill- 
man, and ore of the earliest permanent settlers in the county. 
The exact date we have not been able to fix, but he was a citizen 
when this was a part of Pike in 182.5. Spillnian's Landing, on the 
river, has been a place of note among all the early settlers; and it 
was here that he, with a few of his neighbors constructed a rude 
l>lock house during the Black Hawk war. His death occurred 20 
or 30 years ago. 

Of the other early settlers we can name Mr. Yaple, Major John 
McAuley, Esquire Bennett, George Mej^ers, John Welch, Brant 
Agnew, Jesse Wimp, Elijah Pease, Johnson Clark, Thomas Harris, 
Edward Davis, Louis Smith, Thomas Stevens, Israel Atherton, 
Andrew Daubenheyer, John R. Tull, Reuben Tull, William Tull, 
Alexander Martin, William Pratt, Robert Atherton, Aaron Ather- 
ton, John R. Atherton, William H. Bennum, John Garner, Ileni-y 
Williams, Matthias Allis. 

The first postoffice in the township was called East Bend, Thomas 
Stevens, first Postmaster. Li 1846 Jeremiah Smith, since of 
La Harpe, was Postmaster at East Bend. At Dallas City, J. M. 
Finch was first Postmaster, succeeded by R. M. Brewer, he by Mr. 
Finch again, then G. H. Ames, then B. Mendenhall. The present 
one is Mr. Tandy. 

(929) 



930 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

The first common school taught in the Spillraan's Landing settle- 
ment, was by Mr. Reuben Tull, in a little cabin near the riv^er. In 
the fall of 1839 a hewed-log school-house was put up. This, like 
most other school-houses in those days, was used for meetings of 
all kinds, religious, political, social, etc. 

AVithout doubt the oldest person resident of Hancock county is 
Mrs. Lofton, the mother of Mr. N. Lofton, of Durham, and Mr. J. 
Lofton, of Dallas, and now residing with the latter. We are re- 
liably informed that she was 102 years old on the 14th day of Feb- 
ruary last (1880), having been born that daj^, 1778. It was only 
about two years ago that she was in any way afflicted mentally, and 
is yet in comparatively good health physically, but confined to her 
bed. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

The first religious movements about Spillman's Landing, was the 
preaching of Mr. Bennett from Adams county, of the Protestant 
Methodist Church. In the spring of 1838, Rev. Enos Thompson 
was sent into the section by the Illinois Conference. He organized 
the first M. E. society, with the following named members; John 
R. Tull and wife, Alexander Martain and wife, Wm Tull and wife 
and William Pratt and wife, with Mr. Pratt as leader. 

A Presbyterian minister from Fort Madison, sometimes came 
over and preached on Sunday afternoons (date not known) near the 
river, under the shade of trees, the audience seated around on 
the grass. 

Mr. Thompson occupied the field forabout two years preaching 
every four weeks, his circuit being extensive. This afterward took 
the name of Carthage circuit. The first quarterly meeting in the 
north part of the county was at the house of Wm. Pratt, Rev. 
Richard Haney, Presiding Elder. 

The first Sunday-school in the section was on April 18, 1841, 
John R. Tull, superintendent. It was composed of the Tulls, 
Athertons, Van Tassels, Lakes, Loomises, Pratts, Ollises, Martains, 
Bennnms, Neals, Yaughns and McAuleys, 37 in number, nearly 
half of whom are now in the spirit w^orld, the remaining ones 
nearly all members of Churches. 

There was also preaching (date not given) at an early day, by a 
Baptist minister, at the residence of Mr. Stevens. 

The first chui'ch built in Dallas City was of stone, by the 
United Brethren in 1855, of which we have no further data. 

The Congregational Church of Dallas City was organized Jan, 
17, 1859, by Rev. William Salter, of Burlington, and Rev. Andrew 
L. Pennoyer, of La Harpe, with 19 members; viz., Geo. H. Ames, 
Mrs. Frances Ames. Henry F. Black, Mrs. Mary N . Black, Thos. 
C. Patterson, Mrs. Catharine E. Patterson, John F. Thomas, Mrs. 
Jane Thomas, Mrs. Marietta Rollosson, Stephen Jackson, Mrs. Sarah 
Jackson,John D. Jackson, Mrs. E lizabeth Jackson, Lyman B. Rand, 



HISTOKY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 931 

Miss DiantliaMcMullen, Miss Amanda Saj^res, Miss Rachel Ann 
Sayers, Miss Emma Stoops, Mrs. Julia M. Bryan, some of wliom 
were members of other Churches. In 1S60, a brick church, with 
stone basement, was built, 30 by 45 feet. Later data not obtained 
Of the other Church organizations in Dallas and Pontoosuc, we 
liave no record. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES OF PARTIES IN THE TOWNSHIP OF 
PONTOOSUC . 

As biographical sketches of well-known residents are interest- 
ing, and as they legitimately constitute an important part of the 
history of a community, we now give a few: 

Alexander Ahernethy is the son of Dr. William Abernethy, who 
was one of the first settlers of this county, a native of Canada, born 
in 1813, and who settled in this State in 1816, locating in Pontoo- 
suc township, engaging in the practice of his profession, wliich he 
continued until 1875, when he retired from active practice and en- 
gaged in mercantile business, which he continued until his death, 
June 22, 1878. Dr. Abernethey was the first physician in the 
township, and was known as the '' Pioneer Doctor." He took an 
active part in expelling the Mormons from the county, and captui-ed 
several prisoners and a quantity of arms and ammunition. He was 
married in 1836 to Miss Lucy E. Kreps, of West Virginia. They 
have had 7 children, 5 of whom are now living. The Doctor was 
for 19 years Postmaster at Pontoosuc, and held other offices of 
importance in the township. 

Alexander Abernethy was born in 1814, at Mount Pleasant, 
Iowa, and came to this State with his parents in 1846. He was 
engaged in teaching for nine years, and upon the death of his 
father he bought the drugstore his father had established, and has 
since been engaged in trade. He is now Postmaster at Pontoosuc, 
being the successor of his father in office. He has the only drug 
store in the place, and does a large and remunerative business. 
He has held a number of township offices of importance. He 
was a volunteer in the 16th Wis. Inf , and was with Sherman on 
his march to the sea. 

F. C. Little was born in Ohio in the year 1829, and emigrated 
with his parents to this State in the spring of 1847. His parents 
settled in Pontoosuc tp., in the fall of 1847, on sections 16, 17 and 
20. Mr, Little now resides on sec. 16, having one of the best pro- 
ducing farms in the tp. Lie was married in the spring of 1849 to 
Miss Nancy McAnley, daughter of Major McAuley, of Pontoosuc. 
She died in 1877, leaving him and five sons and four daughters to 
mourn her loss. Mr. Little has a large number of friends and ac- 
quaintances, and is well and fav^orably known throughout the 
county. 

Captain James JLogan^ one of the pioneers of Hancock county, 
was born in Indiana in 1816. He came to this State in 1835, and 



932 HISTORY OF HAJSCOCK COUNTY. 

settled iu "Warren countj, where he lived until 1838. He settled 
in Durham tp., this county, in 1841, where he resided a short time, 
and then came to Pontoosuc, where he now is. Mr. Logan was one 
of the principal men in effectino; an organized force to oppose the 
depredations of the Mormons. He was Captain of the noted com- 
pany known as the "Bloody Pontoosucians," through whose efforts 
principally the Mormons were driven out of Nauvoo. Captain 
Logan was married in Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1860. Mr. Logan 
was engaged for a long time in mercantile business at Pontoosuc ; 
also managed and owned a large brick-yard at the same place. He 
is one of the self-made men, and is now in his old age enjoying the 
fruits of his industry and energy in early life. He has many friends 
and acquaintances in Pontoosuc and the surrounding country. 

John Moyes, another of the early settlers of this count}-, is a na- 
tive of Scotland, and was born in 1S09; came to this country in 
1833, and settled in New York city. He moved to Ohio in 1836, 
and came to Illinois in the spring of 1839, stopping a short time in 
Springfield; he then came to Pontoosuc, where he has since resided. 
He was in the U. S. Army during the Mexican war. and was with 
Gen. Scott's division when they captured the city of Mexico. He 
was married in Brooklyn, TsT. T., in 1835, to Miss Catharine Fur- 
geson. Mr. Moyes is one of the oldest residents now living of the 
village of Pontoosuc. He has held a number of the town and 
county oflices, and has the confidence and esteem of the entire com- 
munity. 

IT. J. Biggins, the second son of Right Riggins, one of the 
pioneer settlers of Hancock county, was born in La Harpe tp., 
this county, in Jan., 1837, where he resided with his parents until 
1S5S, when he started out in life for himself. He was married to 
Miss Eliza A. Peck, of Durham tp., in 1857; moved into Pontoo- 
suc tp. in 1876, and purchased a farm on sec. 27, where he has since 
resided. His wife died in 1871, leaving him and their children to 
mourn her loss. Mr. Riggins has been identified with every move- 
ment for the advancement of the township interests, having held 
all the offices of importance and trust in the township. Mr. R. 
has always been engaged in farming, and now has a farm of 160 
acres under a high state of cultivation. 

John M. Schramm was born in Germany Feb. 19. 1809. and 
came to this country in 1837, settling in Pickaway county, Ohio, 
where lie resided nine years ; he then came West and located at 
Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained a short time; then went to 
Burlington, Iowa, and built a flouring mill, which he ran for one 
year, and then moved back to Keokuk, In 1846 he came to this 
State and settled in Pontoosuc, this county, where he now resides. 
He built a large flouring mill and was superintendent of the same 
for a number of years. In 1841 he was married to Miss Annie 
Miller, of Ohio. She died in 1843, leaving her husband with two 
small children. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Miss 
Eliza N. Swinhardt, of Ohio. They have 4 children now living. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 933 

Mr. Schramm has been enora^ed in milliner ever since he came to 
this country, and he, in company with his three sons, now owns the 
only flouring mill in the tp., the mill having a capacity of-iO barrels 
per day of 10 hours. They have a large trade, giving especial 
attention to custom business, and are popularly and favorably 
known in this and adjoining townships. Mr, S. also has a farm of 
40 acres near town. Mr. Schramm is one of the self-made men, and 
has acquired his large property by his own industry and' eiforts. 
He has been a life-long Democrat, and a strict adherent to the party 
and its principles. 

JoKii R. Tall was born March 26, 1807, near the bank of Nanti- 
coke river. Sussex Co., Delaware. His parents and grandparents 
were Asbury Methodists, the tirst churches in that country hav- 
ing been planted by Bishop Asbury and his co-workers. They re- 
mained on the same place till John was about twelve years old, 
when they removed to a large farm three miles off", over in Mary- 
land. Here they remained six years, when they came West to 
Ohio, and settled on the Miami, eighteen miles north of Cincin- 
nati. 

Arriving at manhood, Mr. Tull returned to the place of his na- 
tivity, and married Miss Nancy Langford, daughter of Littleton 
and Hannah Langford. Here he lived two years and then returned 
to Ohio, where he resided in various localities till 1836. 

In the spring of that year he came with his familj' to Hancock 
county, and squatted beside a hazel thicket on the southeast quar- 
ter of sec. 7, in 7 north, 7 west. Here he obtained help to put up 
a log cabin 16x18 feet, and moved in, with the ground for a floor, 
himself, wife and four children. He then rented a few acres of 
land from Hezekiah Spillman. About that time his brother, Reu- 
ben Tull. arrived with a span of horses for him, and they soon got 
the ground planted to corn, potatoes, etc. But bread becoming 
scarce, and none to be obtained, he succeeded in purchasing from a 
steamboat that stopped to wood at Spillman's Landing, a barrel of 
flour for $8.00, which sufliced awhile longer. 

Mr. TuU's experience in procuring corn for bread is given. He 
heard of some for sale down below Lima, in Adams county. This 
he procured, paying 37^ cents per bushel, and after a hard drive of 
forty miles and back, got it home; but now it was to be ground 
into meal, and the nearest mill to get it done was down on Crooked 
creek, some fifty miles away. To this he went, obtained the meal, 
and returned, after a travel altogether of 180 miles. This lasted 
till roasting-ear time. Then the family had roasting ears for break- 
fast, for dinner, and for supper; and when the corn became too 
liard, they grated it for meal. By the time it became dry enough 
to grind, there had been a horse-mill erected near Commerce. In 
the fall deer and turkeys were plenty, and living was excellent. 

At this time there were settled in the neighborhood Edward 
White, Jonathan Lamme, John McAuley, John R. Atherton, Brant 



934 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Agnew, John Garner, Henry Williams, Robert Atherton, Alexan- 
der Martain and Aaron Atherton, perhaps others. In the spring 
of 1837 Mr. T. received from the Shaker Village, in Ohio, a lot of 
grafted apple-trees, which he planted. They all grew, and this was 
the first orchard of grafted fruit set out in the north part of the 
county . 

Mr. Tull was throughout an active and discreet opponent of the 
Mormon aggressions; and his personal experiences with that peo- 
ple were of an interesting and often highly dramatic character. 
Some of them are told in other chapters of this book. For notice 
of his career as a nurseryman, see also chapter on " Nurseries and 
Horticulture." 

Mr. T. has been through his long and useful life, an active and 
devoted member of the M. E. Church, and since 1S50, a licensed 
minister in its pulpit. He assisted in organizing the first Church 
and Sabbath-school in his neighborhood, and was ever among the 
foremost in sustaining them. 

His residence is still on the land on which he settled 44 years ago; 
and its fine condition and neat suri'oundings bear testimony to a 
life of labor, industry and taste. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICEKS. 

The Supervisors, Clerks, Assessors and Collectors of the town- 
ship of Pontoosuc are as follows: 

SUPERVISORS. 

JosephKidson 1850 B.P.Hewitt 1867 

H. C. McMurphy 1853 Henrv Walker 1868 

I. M. Agnew 1855 John S. Campbell. 1870 

B.F.Newton 1858 John W. Maxwell 1871 

Henrv Walker 1859 Samuel Lamb 1875 

I. B. Agnew 1860 Thomas H. B. Walker 1879 

Samuel Lamb 1861 William Biggins 1880 

CLERKS. 

S.;H. McDonald 1855 J. I. Lionbercer 1869 

E". M. Sanford 1856 Jas. L. Sanford 1870 

J. H. Brooks 1858 John S. Harper 1871 

E. S. Mclntyre 1859 W. A. Feldhausen 1872 

E. M. Sanford 1861 Wm. Englehardt 1873 

John C. Woodworth 1863 Alexander Abernethy 1876 

Henry Walker 1864 Riley Thomas 1878 

Jacob Hettrick 1866 John Moyes 1879 

Isaac N. Fisher 1868 Wm. Englehardt 1880 

ASSESSORS. 

James N. Johnson 1855 Robert Alexander 1867 

E. M. Sanford 1856 John S. Campbell 1868 

John R. Tull 1858 Waterman S. Wood 1869 

John Bailey 1859 Riley Smith 1872 

Henry Walker 1861 Jo-seoh D. Riter 1875 

John R. Tull 1863 Henry Walker 1876 

Robert Alexander 1863 John Lamb 1877 

Joseph D. Riter 1865 Franklin C. Little 1879-1880 

John M. Schramm 1866 




£.;>v. 



■j^ 




Dallas 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 937 

COLLECTORS. 

S. R. Fortna 1855 Samuel Lamb 1872 

John H. McDoEald 1856 J. W. S. Wood 187S 

John Lionberger 1859 Jacob Ilettrick 1875 

L. C. Barker 1800 Thos. H. B. Walker 1877 

Jacob Hettrick 1861 Samuel AVright 1878 

John R. Newton 1866 Jacob Hettrick 1879-1880 

Jacob Hettrick 18(i8 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

of early settlers and prominent residents in Dallas township. 

//•I's ^«^7ey was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in 
Lycoming county in 1834; he emigrated to this State in 1S52 and 
settled in this county. Pie was married to Miss Martha J. Kedson, 
of this State in 1857. Mr. Bailey began life as a ''cabin boy" on the 
Mississippi river, which he followed for about two years; he then 
engaged in farming and running a threshing machine, which busi- 
ness he continued for twelve years; he then engaged in trade on 
the Mississippi, making trips from New Orleans to the ISTorth. In 
1870 he engaged in the grain and stock trade at Colusa Station, this 
county, and in 1871 opened a dry-goods and grocery store in con- 
nection with his other business. In 1877 he sold his interest in the 
store, and is now exclusively engaged in the stock and grain trade. 
He owns and operates the elevator at Colusa, which is sujiplied with 
all the modern improvements and has a capacity of 52,000 bushels. 
He also owns a fine farm near the station. Mr. Bailey began life for 
himself by working out, receiving for his labor 12^ cents per day. 
He is a self-made man, having begun at the bottom round of the 
ladder, and has worked his wa}" up, being at the present time the 
most extensive grain and stock dealer in this part of the county. 

Ahram Clark was born in this township in 1831 and is one ot the 
oldest settlers here; his father, Johnson Clark, emigrated to this 
State from Virginia, and located in Dallas township in 1830, on sec. 
11, where he resided until he died. Mr. Clark was married to 
Miss Mary J. Farr, of this county, September 9, 1858. He 
has been engaged in farming the greater portion of his life, and 
now lives on the old homestead where he was born. His brothers 
were volunteers in Captain Logan's company during the Mormon 
troubles. Mr. Clark has a large farm in a high state of cultivation, 
and is one of the prosperous farmers of this township. 

Jose2)h F. Dietrich was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, emigrated 
to this State in 1865, and located in Dallas tp., this county, in 1867; 
was married in 1852 to Miss Sarah Ann Benner, of Pennsylvania; 
in 18b2 she died, leaving him with 5 children; in 1865 he was 
married to Miss Sarah E. Wolfe, of Pennsylvania, and they have 5 
children now living. Mr. Dietrich has been engaged in farming 
since he has been in this State; he has a fine farm under a very 
high state of cultivation, on sec. 13, and he has the reputation of 



938 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY." 

being the model farmer of the tp. Mr. D. has been a life-long 
Democrat and always a zealous supporter of his party and its nomi- 
nees. He has held several oiJices of trust in tlie county, and is the 
representative of Dallas tp. on the Board of Supervisors. 

Thomas Dixon was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born 
near Little York, in Troy, in 1789; he moved with his parents to 
Knoxville, Tenn., when about 18 years of age. He was married to 
Mrs. Susan Green, of Yirginia, in the year 1811. They raised a 
family of 9 children. In 1830 he moved to Alabama, and in 1831 
he came to this State and located in Morgan county, and in 1833, 
to this county, locating in Durham tp., where he lived until 1855. 
He then moved to Dallas City, where he lived until he died. Mr. 
Dixon was a volunteer in the war of 1812, under Gen'l Johnson; 
he was in the battle of Horse Shoe Bend, and many other 
engagements. 

In 1832 he again enlisted in the U. S. Army, and remained in 
the service during the Black Hawk war. He was thefirst settler of 
the township of Durham. The nearest postoffice was 12 miles dis- 
tant, where the mail arrived about twice a month. Mr. Dixon was 
present when the Smiths, the leaders of the Mormons, were killed, 
and was Captain of the La Ilarpe company of volunteers, during 
the Mormon troubles. His son, Thomas L. Dixon, was born in the 
State of Alabama, in 1828, and came to this State with his parents in 
1831. He staid at liome and worked on the farm, until the year 1857, 
when he traveled through the Southern States teaching penmanship; 
returning in 1860, he settled in Dallas. In 1861 he removed to 
Chicago, and was engaged upon public works as foreman six years. 
He was married in 1861 to Miss Alline A. Hendel, of Waterbury, 
Conn. They have 4 children now living. He was a volunteer in 
Capt. Jim Logan's company during the light with the Mormons 
in this county. He has held mau}^ offices of importance in the 
township and county. 

John M. Finch was born in Pennsylvania, in 1815, and came to 
this State in 1838, locating in Rock Island, and engaged for a short 
time in steamboating and speculating, being then the owner of 
one of the best steamers on the Mississippi. In 18-11 he went to 
New Orleans and bought a very large stock of groceries, and land- 
ing them at Warsaw, hauled them with teams to Nauvoo, where he 
engaged in trade with Mr. Rollosson, the hrm being known as 
Finch & RoUosson. They continued in business at Nauvoo until 
the killing of the Smiths, then the leaders of the Mormons, and it 
not being safe to remain there longer, they moved their stock to 
Appanoose, where they were stored for some time. They then 
moved to Pontoosuc and opened a store there, also opening a branch 
store at Appanoose and La Harpe. Subsequently Mr. Finch came 
up the river to where the city of Dallas now stands, and after 
looking over the country, he and Mr. Rollosson built a large ware- 
house here, it then being the only building except a log farm house, 
which Mr. Finch now owns, and^which is now a part of his resi- 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 939 

dence. The firm engaged in the grain and cattle trade and opened 
a packing house. 

At this time they bought the best quality of winter wlieat for 
25 cents per bushel, and corn, shelled, ready for market, at 6^ cents, 
and dressed pork for $1.25 per cwt. ; and it M'as a losing trade, even 
at these rates. The next year Mr. Finch bought the Atherton 
farm and subsequently the Thompson iarm, constituting what is 
now the cit}- of Dallas. The firm added the grocery business to the 
warehouse trade and moved their families here the same year, and 
made the first plat of this city. They then built a flouring mill 
and distillery, that turned out 100 barrels of flour and 20 barrels 
of whisky per day. The mill and distillery burned down the fol- 
lowing spring. 

They continued in business here until the death of Mr. Rollos- 
son, Mr. Finch continuing in business until 1875. Mr. Finch 
was actively engaged in the mercantile business for over 40 years, 
and is one of the oldest merchants in Hancock county. He has 
been identified with all enterprises of the city, and has done more 
to advance the interests and build up the city than any other man 
now living here. He was the first Postmaster of the city, and 
could easily carry all the mail matter in his pocket; his first quar- 
terly returns to the Government was §1.06J. He has been Mayor 
several terms and held other offices of importance and high trust. 
He was a volunteer in Capt. "Jim " Logan's company of " Bloody 
Pontoosucans," during the Mormon troubles. He has been a 
life-long Democrat, and expects to live to vote that ticket for 
many years to come. 

John Hacker was born in Cruz, Germany, March 9, 1845, and 
came to this country in 1857, landing in New York city on the 
27th day of September, and w^ent to work on a farm, which busi- 
ness he followed until 1862. He then went to Dunkirk, N. Y., 
and engaged in sailing on the lakes until the fall of 1863. Dec. 
15, 1863, he enlisted in the 22d Regt. N. Y. Cav., and was in all 
the battles of the army of the Potomac, from that time until his 
discharge. He had his horse shot under him twice, but was never 
wounded. He was discharged in August, 1865, and again engaged 
in sailing, which he followed until May 29, 1869, when he came to 
this State and located at Dallas City, and engaged in butcliering 
and in buying and shipping cattle, and has been in that business 
ever since. By strict attention to his business he has a large and 
lucrative trade, and he is one of the progressing and enterpris- 
ing men of the city. 

Manford G. Harris was born in AVheeling, Va., in 1841. He 
migrated with his parents to this State in 1853, locating in Dur- 
ham tp. He worked upon a farm until 1861, and in August of that 
year he enlisted in the 50th Ills. Yol. Inf., and served as a soldier 
three years and two months, and was honorably discharged. He 
was in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and 



940 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Corinth. In 1873 he located in Dallas City, and entered the mer- 
cantile business, in which he is still engaged. He was married to 
Miss Sarah G. Hagerty, of Dallas City, Dec. IT, 1865, and they 
have four children. Mr. Harris is one of the leading men of Dal- 
las City, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the 
city and vicinity. 

L. W. Zandaker, If. D., was born in the District of Columbia, 
March 3, 1820, where he remained with his parents until 183S. He 
then went to Winchester, Ya., and in the following year com- 
menced the study of medicine with Dr. David T. Sulinstyne, remain- 
ing with him four years. In 1810 he emigrated to Licking county, 
Ohio, and engaged in the practice of medicine in Licking and Knox 
counties, Dr. Eggleson being associated with him a part of the 
time he was there. In 1851: he came to this county and purchased 
a tract of land in Dallas, and in 1856 removed his family to this 
place, and commenced the practice of medicine and surgery, which 
has been his exclusive business ever since. The Doctor was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Garrett, of Knox county, Ohio, on the 4th of 
July, 1847. They have 6 children now living; viz., Napoleon 
O'Brine, Helen Roecene, Justice Greenbury, Elizabeth Josephine, 
Virginia Lee, and Claybonieur. His wife died in January, 1865, 
and the same year he was again married to Miss Barbara Hocker, of 
Dallas City. His second wife died June 10, 1872, and he was mar- 
ried to Miss Eurena Humer, of Dallas City, in June, 1878. Dr. 
Landaker is one of the pioneers of this township, and one of 
the oldest physicians in the city of Dallas, has always had a large 
and successful practice. 

David S. Lionberoer was born in Licking county, O., August 2, 
1827, and emigrated to this State in 1838, locating in Dallas tp., 
this county, where he remained a short time, and then moved to 
Adams county, where he lived until 1851, when he returned to this 
county and located on sec. 13, this tp., where he has since resided. 
Mr. Lionberger has been engaged in farming nearly all his life, and 
is one of the well-to-do farmers of the county. He was married to 
Miss Mary Brown, of Pike county. 111., in 1851. He has repre- 
sented Dallas tp. in the Board ot Supervisors three years, and has 
held other offices of trust in the tp. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic Lodge in Dallas City, and is one of the leading men in the 
township. 

John M. Lionherger was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1835, 
and came to this county with his parents in 1839 and located in 
Pilot Grove township, where they remained a short time, and then 
moved to Adams county, and settled in Payson township. In 1851 
he returned to this county and located in Pontoosuc township, and 
followed farming for several years, and then went into the nursery 
business with J. R. Tull, which he continued until 1870, when he 
entered partnership with his brother and they engaged in the nurs- 
ery business in Dallas township. He was married to Miss 
Margaret J. Tull, daughter of J. R. Tull, in October, 1861, and his 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 94:1 

■wife died jMarcli T, 1865. In the fall of 1862, he, in partnership 
with his brotlier, went out with the 118th Reii'. IlL Vol., as sutler, 
and remained with the regiment until it returned and was mustered 
out. In the fall of 1866 he went to Quincy and studied dentistr}', 
and after the completion of his course of studies he located in 
Dallas City. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and 
Council. He is also a member of the order of "Knights of 
Pythias." 

Dr. Lionberger has on sec. 12, tliis tp., one of the finest fruit 
farms in the county, having over 1,000 fruit-trees. He has also 
•fitted up and put in excellent order a fine driving ])ark, known as 
the '' Lionberger Driving Park." The Doctor is the only dentist 
in Dallas City, and has a large and lucrative business. He is one 
of the prominent men of the city, and has many friends through- 
out the county. 

Benoni Mendenhall, the youno^est son of Jacob Mendenhall, is 
of Quaker origin, and was born i^ov. 6, 1827, on Highland creek, 
county of Washington, Ind.; removed with his parents in 1830 to 
Tazewell county, this State, near Pekin. In 1833 they again re- 
moved to AVarren county, this State, opposite Flint Hills, near 
Burlington, la.; again removed to Camp Creek, this county, in 
1836. Having obtained his majority, Benoni assisted his father 
on the farm, and agreeably to an old custom, received the old home- 
stead as a remuneration for taking care of his parents in their old 
age. In 1815-'6 he was a volunteer under Thos. Carlin, to assist 
in expelling the Mormons from the county. In 1852 he, in com- 
pany with 20 others, crossed the plains to the gold fields of the 
Pacific coast. In 1851 he returned to the old homestead and was 
united in marriage with Miss Margaret L. Philh'ps, March 30, 
1854. In December, 1856, he removed to Dallas City and engaged 
in the mercantile business witli his cousin, P. C. Mendenhall, 
which vocation he has followed, with a few short intermissions, 
ever since. In 1861, being then Captain of an independent mili- 
tary company, he immediately offered his companj' to the Govern- 
ment for active service. On account of an aged invalid mother, he 
resigned his command and waited until her death, when, under the 
call for 600,000 volunteers, he enlisted as a private in Capt. Allen's 
company (Co. H, T8th 111. Vol.), serving two years and six months, 
when he was honorably discharged at Camp Butler by reason of 
the Surgeon's certificate of disahility. Jan. 1, 1866, he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Dallas City, which position he held for 11 
jears, then resigned. He has filled several offices of trust, and is 
now a merchant. 

The portrait of Mr. B. Mendenhall is found on page 935. It 
is engraved from a photograph taken at the age of 46. 

John Mendenhall came from England about 1685, with one 
brother and one sister. He was cotemporary with Wm. Penn in 
settling Pennsylvania. John married Elizabeth Maris, 5th mouth, 
1685; she dying, he again married Esther Dix, 8th month, 1708 



942 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

By his last wife he had 3 sons and 4 daughters: Mordecai, the 
eldest, married Charity Mills, and removed to New Garden, N. C, 
(now Springfield), and had S sons and one daughter. Their names 
were John, Mordecai, Moses, Thomas, Stephen, Isaac, Aaron, 
Charity and Richard. Isaac, the seventh son, married Rachel 
Hoggatt and had 8 children; viz., Ruth, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, 
Zadok, Mordecai, John and Miles. Jacob removed, when a j'oung 
man, to Washington county, Ind., then an Indian territory, and 
married Rachel Lamb, and they had 3 sons and 2 daughters; viz., 
Zadok. Milo, Madison, Mary and Ruth. His first wife dying, he 
married ISTancy Hoggatt, and had 3 sons and one daughter; viz., 
Owen, Nathan, Rachel and Benoni. The first are all dead; of the last 
only 3 are living, — Owen, Nathan and Benoni, of Dallas City. 

Jacob Mendenhall was born Oct. 10, 1784, in Guilford county, 
N, C. Living with his parents until he attained his majority, he 
was importuned by his father to remain at the old homestead, but 
he had a yearning desire to try the new country then known as the 
Northwestern Territory. So he bade adieu to home and the old red 
hills of North Carolina, mounted his nag and made his way throuo-h 
the States of Tennessee and Kentucky; crossing the Ohio at Louis- 
ville (then a small village) and landing at a point where New 
Albany now stands, he struck out through the back woods, intend- 
ing to halt at Salem, Ind. There he went to work clearing up the 
beech forests, fencing a patch and building a cabin. Obeying the 
divine injunction, Jacob Mendenhall was united in marriage to 
Rachel Lamb, in the 27th year of his age, in January, 1810, by 
whom he had 5 children. Fortune smiled on his efforts, and after 
six years of toil, he engaged in the mercantile business, which 
proved very disastrous, and wound up by the Sheriff levying on 
and selling everything in his possession (there were no exemption 
laws then), even to the knives and forks of the dining table. 

Misfortunes never come single; his faithful wife sickened and 
died; still he bore up, kept his family of small children together; 
was united again in marriage to Nancy Hoggatt, in 1818, by whom 
he had 4 children. Again misfortune frowned on him. Although 
considered the stoutest man in Washington county — being six 
feet two inches in his stocking feet — yet by exposure and hard- 
ships he was attacked by inflammatory rheumatism, which com- 
pletely prostrated him for six months. 

Recovering, he resolved once more to try the West, and with his 
family sought the wilderness prairies of Illinois. Arriving at 
Pekin, on the Illinois river, he was advised to go no further, as 
" old Black Hawk" was about to levy war on the whites. Here the 
oldest son, Zadok, enlisted under Capt. Adams, and was killed at 
the defeat of Maj. Stillman, on Rock river. Remaining at Pekin 
until the war was over, he again faced westward, and settled eight 
miles east of Burlington, which then contained only a few log huts; 
was the first man that located the mill-seat and town of Warren 
now in Henderson county. Finally settling in Hancock county^ 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 943 

he selected two quarter- sections in township seven north, six west, 
on Camp creek; lie paid the entry fee and secured the United States 
patent. Here he found a resting place, and commenced permanent 
improvements, in 1S34. Putting up a large double cabin, and 
fencing in a small patch of ground, he returned to Warren county 
(now Henderson) to winter. In the spring of 1835 he brought his 
family with him, and went to work improving his new farm on a 
larger scale. The nearest neighbor was then eight or ten miles. 
Deer, wolves, and other wild game, were in abundance. Prairie 
chickens were trapped in the door-yard; deer were frequently 
killed in the small fields close to the house. For several years 
after settling on the Camp creek farm, the wolves were very trouble- 
some, and made nightly raids on the pig-pens and sheep-folds. But 
a plan of trapping soon developed, and the old gray wolves were 
made to succumb to the cunning of man. For a term of eight 
3'ears or more Jacob Mendenhall carried on an exterminating war- 
fare against the wolves. 

Jacob Mendenhall was noted for his kind and liberal heart and 
square dealing. On his first settling in the county of Warren, he 
was elected a Justice of the Peace, and many were the angry dis- 
putes he was called on to settle between neighbors. Being reared 
in the staid old Quaker school, he was noted for his urbanity and 
just decisions. When removed to Hancock, he was again and again 
called on to fill the oftice of Esquire. His house was ever open to 
the poor and needy; the stranger and emigrant seeking a home in 
the West, fuund a resting place under his roof. When the Mor- 
mons were driven out of Missouri, and settled at Commerce, they 
would go out through the county begging for the necessaries of 
life; they never went away from the door of Jacob Mendenhall 
without being supplied and getting employment, if desired. This 
kindness was ill repaid by them when they were ordered out of the 
county, as they took a horse, saddle and bridle from him, and killed 
one of his best cows. This was so aggravating, that, Quaker as he 
was, he freely consented to driving them out of the county. 

Prosperity crowned his latter days, and wealth finally came to 
him in the shape of a large farm, with a good brick dwelling, large 
barn, and other substantial improvements. But age was coming 
on, and the days of his pilgrimage were drawing to a close. 
Arranging his earthly aflairs, like a true man, he prepared to pass 
over the river, which he did on the 31st of January, 1857, in the 
72d year of his age. He survived all his children but 3, who are 
still living; 2 near the old homestead, and one in Missouri. 

Dr. Beiij. F. Newloii was born in Louisville, Ky., July 27, 1833, 
and emigrated with his parents, in infancy, to Edgar county, 111., 
who settled near Paris, where he was raised. He was educated at 
the Edgar County Academy; he received his medical education at 
Peoria, 111., under Dr. Shubal York. Dr. Newlon first came to 
Hancock county in ISAS, and in 1847 located at Dallas City, and 
commenced the practice of medicine in partnership with his elder 



944 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

brother, Dr. Jolm F. Newloa, which partnership continued for five 
years. His brother then moving to Kansas, he continued the 
practice alone. He had a large and lucrative practice until 1S62, 
when his health failed him, and he had to give up active busines3 
for a time. He then formed a partnership with a younger brother. 
Dr. Wm. L. Newlon, who relieved him of the laborious part of 
the business; this partnership lasted for five years. Dr. JSTewlon 
has practiced in his present location over 30 years, and has perhaps 
given more medicine in that time than any one physician in the 
county. lie has given medicine to 84 persons in one day of 24 hours. 
In early times it was more sickly than of late years, and there were 
fewer physicians. There is a family now living in this vicinity 
who were all sick at one time, that Dr. Newlon visited, and before 
he left the house, issued 77 doses of medicine. Dr. l^ewlon has. 
been identified with all the enterprises of this city; was present 
wlien the town was first surveyed and laid oft'. He wrote the charter 
of the city, and was sent with Col. Rollosson, in 1859, by the people, 
to Springfield, to lobby it throush the Legislature, and was suc- 
cessful. He penned the present ordinances of the city, that were 
adopted when the city was first chartered. He was the first Mayor 
of the city, which ofiice he held two years. He has held the office 
of Supervisor five terms. 

Dr. Newlon was the founder of Dallas Citv Lodge No. 235, A. 
F. & A. Masons; was its first W. M., and is now and has been for 
many years in that position ; was one of the charter members of Dallas 
Chapter No. Ill, and was its High Priest. He has also been Dis- 
trict Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Illi- 
nois. He has represented his Lodge and Chapter in their grand 
bodies very frequently, and is regarded by those who know as 
^'bright" in Masonic lore. He has also been a close student, not 
only in science, but in tlie literature of the day. He at one time 
edited the Dallas City Democrat, frequently corresponded with the 
publications of the country, and his nom de plume, " Don Osso," is 
well known and appreciated by the reading public. 

Dr. Newlon was married three times, first to Mary Walker, 
■daughter of William Walker, an old citizen of this place. She died 
in less than a year. His second wife was Almira A. Richards. She 
died, leaving 3 girls and one boy. His third and present wife was 
Kate Gassaway, daughter of Jas. Gassaway, of this place, by whom 
he has 2 children, a son and a daughter. Dr. Newlon studied law 
in his youth, and was admitted by the Supreme Court of this State, 
but never practiced. He is a life-long Democrat, was a staunch 
Union man during the war, and is liberal in his religious views, and 
has many friends wherever known. He is one of the three surviv- 
ing first settlers of Dallas City. 

Hon. W. H. Rollosson was born in Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 8, 
1816. He received a classical education at William and Mary Col- 
lege, Yirginia. In 1840 he emigrated to the West, and settled in 
JNauvoo, 111., where he engaged in mercantile business until June, 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 945 

ISl-i, when, owing to the trouble with the Mormons, he moved his 
goods to Appanoose, where they were stored for a short time; and 
in the fall of IS-i-J- he commenced business in Pontoosuc, having 
branch stores in Appanoose and La Harpe. In 1846 he came to 
Dallas Citj and built a large warehouse and store-room, and began 
business, being largely engaged in the grain trade and packing, 
and in the fall of 1847 he built a large flouring-mill and distillery. 
He was one of tlie founders of the city of Dallas ; he platted and 
laid out the original site of the town; drew its cliarter and 
secured its adoption by the State Legislature. He was mar- 
ried in 1855 to Miss Marietta Bostwick, of Fort Madi- 
son, Iowa. Mr. Rollosson continued in business in Dallas City until 
his death, Oct. 9, 18G4, leaving a widow and three sons, and a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his early loss. He was 
a strong adherent to the Democratic party. In 1861 he received 
the nomination of his party, and was elected a Representative in the 
Illinois Legislature. In 1858 he was appointed by Gov. Bissell 
Inspector General of the State troops, with the rank of Colonel. 
During his residence in this county he was actively engaged in 
business pursuits, with the varying fortunes incident to commer- 
cial life, but has ever maintained his character for honor and integ- 
rity, and has done much to advance the material prosperity and 
develop the resources of the country. Col. RoHossdu was no ordinary 
man— a perfect gentleman in his manners; a ripe scholar; a states- 
man; noble, generous and brave; none knew him but to admire 
him. Possessed of all the attributes calculated to adorn society, 
alleviate want, he failed not to make a proper use of them. 
Whilst living he was an honor to his family, the pride of his friends, 
the benefactor of his race. 

0. R. Rm^ell^ the second child of Jonas Galusa Russell, was 
born near Rochester, K. Y., Nov. 25, 1840. In 1848 he moved 
with his parents to Pioneer, Ohio, where he resided until he was 16 
years old, when he entered Hillsdale College, Mich., where he re- 
mained between three and four 3'ears; he then went to Ohio and 
taught school for about 18 months, and returned to Pioneer in 
June, 1861, and read medicine with Dr. J. G. Gordon ; in the fall 
of the same year he attended medical lectures at the University of 
Michigan, where he remained and pursued his medical studies for 
two years. He was married to Miss Rosalia Morrison, of Ann Ar- 
bor, Feb. 17, 1872, and now has one son, James G. In 1863 he lo- 
cated at Amboy, Mich., and commenced the practice of medicine, 
where he remained a little over a year. In the spring of 1865 he 
came to this State and taught school in Fulton county, and after 
traveling tlirough Missouri and Iowa, not being pleased Avith the 
country, concluded to return to New York. At Toledo he met a 
friend who induced him to return to Illinois; he came to Henry 
county, and located near Cambridge. During the spring of 1865 
his father moved to Missouri ; in the fall he visited his father, and 
on his return he stopped at Keokuk, and attended medical lectures 

54 



946 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

at the University of Iowa; then located there, where he remained 
until he graduated in 1866. He then settled in Freedom, this 
State, where he practiced medicine for two years; he tlien moved to 
Gilman, where he remained one year. In the spring of 1869 he 
was again married, to Mrs. Julia L. Gilman, of Galesburg, 111., and 
moved to Northern Missouri, where he lived about a year. He 
then returned to Illinois, and in 18Y2 located at Dallas City, where 
he has since resided and followed his profession, having a large and 
lucrative practice. 

Hon. William Scott is a native of Indiana, having been born in 
Pennsylvania county, Dec. 26, 1827. He was married June 28, 
1849, to Miss Caroline Dickey, and came to this county, locating 
in Fountain Green tp., where he resided three years; then moved 
to Durham tp., where his wife and one child died, N'ov. 3, 1860^ 
leaving him with six children. Dec. 31, 1861, he married Miss La- 
vina Dickey, of this county. Until 1861 Mr. Scott was engaged in 
farming and teaching. In the fall of 1861 he was elected County Su- 
perintendent of Schools, and in the spring of 1862 he removed to 
Carthage and attended to the duties of his office. In the fall of 1862 
he was the unanimous choice of his party for re-election to the office 
he then held, but failed to be elected by about 27 votes. In the 
fall of 1863 he returned to Durham tp., and resumed his former oc- 
cupation. He moved to Henderson county in March, 1868, and 
same year was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he has held 
ever since. He was elected Representative to the State Legislature 
in 1872 from the 24th Senatorial district, and served through two 
sessions of the General Assembly. In 1876 he was elected State 
Senator from this district, which office he now holds, and has served 
through the 30th and 31st General Assemblies. In April, 1877, 
he bought the Central Hotel in Dallas City, which he repaired and 
refurnished, and opened to the public. His wife died October 6, 
1877, leaving him with the care of seven small children. He was 
elected Mayor of Dallas in 1878, and re-elected in 1879. He has 
also held other offices of importance in the county and city. Mr. 
Scott is a self-made man, and one of the prominent men of this Sen- 
atorial district, and is possessed of many social qualities that endear 
him to his many friends and acquaintances. 

Mark Tandy was born in Burton tp., Adams count}'-, in April, 
1848. He remained in Adams county until 1872, working part of 
the time on a farm, and part of the time was a clerk in the city of 
Quincy. He then came to Dallas City and engaged in the mer- 
cantile business, in which he has continued ever since. In 1869 he 
was married to Miss Laura Tibbets, of Payson, 111. In July, 1877, 
he was appointed Postmaster at Dallas City, which office he now 
holds. His father, William H. Tandy, was Sheriff of Adams 
county for several terms, and during the Mormon troubles in this 
county, was called on to assist in expelling them. He was one of 
the first settlers of Adams county, going there from Kentucky in 
1832. He has one of the finest geological collections in this county. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 947 

Id business lie lias a large, and lucrative trade, and is one of the 
leading business men of this city. 

Edward H. Thomas, editor and proprietor of the Dallas City 
JVeios, was born at Pittsburg, Louisa county, Iowa, Sept. 14, 1841. 
Commencing in 1S63, he served an apprenticeship of four years at 
the printing business in the office of the Wapello (Iowa) Intelli- 
gencer. He worked at printing up to the commencement of the 
Rebellion, when he enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry, and served 
until the close of the war. Since the war he has been connected 
with the following papers, as publisher and part owner: Wapello 
(Iowa) Bepuhlican, Keithsburg (111.) Kerana, Nauvoo (111.) Inde- 
pendent, and Burlington (Iowa) Monday Morning News. Mr. 
Thomas issued the lirst number of the Dallas City News April 6, 
1878. Owing to the many failures in the newspaper business in 
the place, he had manj'^ difficulties to contend with in the establish- 
ment of a new paper, but his experience of over 20 years in the 
business, and a determination to succeed, enabled him to overcome 
all obstacles and gain the confidence of the people; and the News 
is now in a prosperous condition, receiving a large advertising 
patronage from the merchants of Dallas City, Fort Madison and 
Burlington. 

Henry Walker. — This gentleman is a native of the Buckeye State, 
and was born in 1808. He lived in Ohio 42 years; he worked nine 
years at the carpenter trade, then engaged in farming until 1850, 
when he emigrated to this State and settled in Pontoosuc, where 
he now resides. He embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he 
followed until 1860, when he sold out and again engaged in asrri- 
culture, and is now one of the best farmers on the Mississippi 
bottom. He was Postmaster at Pontoosuc for nine years, and has 
represented his township on the Board of Supervisors several years. 
He was married Oct. 13, 1835, to Miss Margaret Agnew, of Ohio. 
They have 5 children now living. Mr. Walker has given consider- 
able attention to political affairs, and is considered a leader of his 
party in this township. He is a staunch Democrat. 

Jesf<e Wimp was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the 
year 1803. He moved with his ]>arents to Kentucky in 1813, and came 
and settled in Dallas township in 1830. He was married in 1826 to 
Miss Elizabeth Simmons, and they have had eight children. His 
entire life was spent in agricultural pursuits, and by his careful 
management and industry he acquired a large property. He took 
an active part in tlie Mormon war, and captured and held until 
after the troubles were settled, a brother of the prophet Brigham 
Young. He was a member of Capt. Logan's famous company of 
"Bloody Pontoosucans." Mr. Wimp was one of the first settlers 
of Dallas tp. He died April 24, 1875, leaving a large circle of 
friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss. 

His youngest son, Jesse Wimp, who is now living on the old 
homestead, was born in 1840 in this township, where he has always 
resided. He was married in 1868 to Miss Susan ]^olan, of this 



■948 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

county. They have 4 children. He is one of the leading farmers 
of the county, having a fine prairie farm of 350 acres. He is also 
an extensive dealer in stock. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 
SUPEKVISOES. 

John M. Finch 1861 B. F. Johnson 1868 

John Gibbs 1862 David S. Lionberger 1873 

Benjamin Lionberger 1863 B. F. Newlon 1876 

John M. Finch 1867 J. F. Dietrich 1880 

CLEEKS. 

Jonathan Rice 1861 D. E.Johnson 1873 

S. Gates 1863 John C. Hupfer 1874 

H. C. Johnson 1864 Lawsou S. Bliss 1876 

Walter B. Loring 1869 Wm. A. Felthausen 1877-1880 

H. C.Johnson 1870 

ASSESSORS. 

John Gibbs 1861 Henry Howard 1869 

Benoni Mendenhall 1862 William V. Banks 1870 

William Jolly 1864 J. C. Hupfer 1875 

Theo. Rhea 1866 John H. Rauck 1877 

William V. Banks 1867 Thomas L. Dixon 1879-1880 

COLLECTORS. 

Owen Mendenhall 1861 Thomas Shaw 1873 

Henry Howard 1863 William Ramsey 1874 

B. F. Johnson , 1866 J. M. Carper 1875 

Henry Howard 1867 Thomas L. Dixon 1877 

Walter B. Loring 1868 J. F. Dietrich 1879 

John K. Ruth 1871 Vernon Smith 1880 

J. B. Duffy 1872 



APPANOOSE TOWNSHIP. 

Fractioual townshi]) numbered 7-8 lies above the bend of the 
river at JSfanvoo, and is tlie northwest townsliip in the county. It 
loses about one-third of its dimensions b^' the river; one-third is 
broken timbered blufl' land, and the remainder prairie. The south 
and south-eastern portions of the township are composed mainly of 
beautiful prairie land, embracing some fine farms owned by rich 
and prosperous farmers. Three or four streams enter the river 
from the south, heading out in the open prairie. Chief of these 
are Tyson and Rollosson creeks, which furnisli considerable bodies 
of timber. 

The early settlers were Edward White and Amzi Doolittle. 
Chauncy Kobison was an early settler in the county, though not 
in this township till after the Mormon exodus. The celebrated big 
prairie mound is located in this, township, on section 25, on the 
summit of which the late Amos Davis built his fine residence, and 
where his widow still resides. The portion nearest to Nauvoo is 
partly settled by some German and French foreign immigrants, who 
cameto the county after the Mormons left the city; some of them 
belonged to the Icarian community. They are generally industrious- 
and thrifty citizens. 

This township sports two towns, as yet very small ones. Appa- 
noose, from which the township was named, was laid out by Edward 
White and Amzi Doolittle in 1836, nearly opposite Fort Mad- 
ison, Iowa. 

Niota, a later town, near the mouth of Tyson creek, also on the 
river, two miles below Appanoose. This was laid out by John H. 
Knapp, AVilliam Adams, George P. Eaton and J. P. Harper, 
in 1857. 

Appanoose was named for an Indian cliief of the Sac and Fox 
Indians, well known in those days about Fort Madison. 

This township, lying on the river above tlie rapids, is supposed 
to have been the residence of several of the settlers previous to 
1829, but who left the county at an early day. We know of no one 
in the township who was there previous to the Black Hawk war. 
Many Mormons settled in this township and in Sonora, in the 
vicinity of Nauvoo, and since they left, their places have been sup- 
plied by newer immigrants. 

BIOGRAPHIES, 

. Below are personal sketches of many of the old settlers and 
leading citizens of this township, 

(949) 



950 HISTOET OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

Amos Davis, deceased, was born Dec. 20, 1814, in Yermont, 
where be grew to manbood; was educated in one of theuniv^ersities 
of bis native State; emigrated to this county in IS-ll, settling first 
in Nauvoo; was one of tbe leading mercbants of tbat city at tbat 
time, fie followed tbat business until 1857, wben be moved upon 
bis farm in Appanoose tp. Wben be first came to tbe county be 
bad only $1.50 in monej^, but by industry and economy be accumu- 
lated considerable property, owning at tbe time of bis death 1,300 
acres of very fine land, mostly in this tp. He knew well the 
achievements of self-education and experience. He despised not 
tbe day of small things, and by and by great things were added to 
bis successful efi'orts. He was joined in marriage April 12, 1866, 
to Mary J. Isenberger, and they bad 4- children; viz., Amo,s, Jacob 
W., Mary J. and Guy. Mr. Davis' death occurred March 22, 1872, 
and in that event the community lost one of its most enterprising 
farmers and worthy citizens. 

Samuel T. Egan-, one of the leading farmers of Appanoose tp., 
was born in Franklin county, Ind., Dec. 11:, 1819. His parents, 
James and ISTancy, were both natives of Pennsylvania. His father 
dying when be was but a small boy, and his mother when be was 
16 years old, be was early thrown upon bis own resources for a 
training for tbe vicissitudes of life. Tlie seeds of pure morality, 
however, having been sown in bis youthful heart, be persevered 
through life, and has won a success far beyond that of many who 
have bad better early advantages. He has now a fine farm of 285 
acres, on sec. 34, a good residence, etc., all acquired by his own 
management and industr3^ !Nov. 19, 1846, he married Cordelia 
M. Maynard, and they have had 8 children, 7 of whom are living 
— 4 sons and 3 daughters. His wife died Feb. 24, 1869, a member 
of the Methodist Church. 

Samuel V. Elliott^ farmer and school-teacher, Nauvoo, was born 
in Tioga county. Pa., May 12, 1845; was brought to this county 
by his parents in 1850, where he grew to manhood and enjoyed 
more extended advantages than many others at tbat day, especially 
farmer boys; be received his education at the Fort Madison Acad- 
emy; be now follows farming in the summer and teaching school 
in the winter. March 27, 1873, be mari-ied Alice Cwerden. His 
father died in 1875, aged 65 years; and his grandfather, John Rey- 
nolds, was a soldier in the war of 1812. 

James R. Green, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Appanoose; was born in 
Pennsylvania, Nov. 8, 1820, and is a son of Samuel and Jane Green, 
who also were natives of tbe Keystone State. James E. emigrated 
from his native place to St. Louis, in 1853, and tbe same year came 
to this county, where be has since resided, following farming. 
Dec. 28, 1858, he married Anna Bolton, a native of England; she 
died in 1860, and he again married in 1865, this time Eliza J. 
Keed, and they have had one child. 

John Eaigh, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Appanoose; was born in 
Philadelphia, Pa., July 26, 1821, and is a son of John and Mary 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 951 

Haigh, natives of England; he was reared in his native citj, but 
was deprived of the advantages of an early education; at a very 
early age he was placed in the Tecoma cotton mills, which were 
built by his father. It was among the first in that city. The sub- 
ject of this sketch worked in that establishment for seven years, 
that is, until 1S38, when he went to work in Gambol's morocco 
works, of Philadelphia, and learned the art of dressing morocco; 
he continued in this business until 1853, when he came to this 
county, where he settled and has since resided, engaged in farming. 
He owns a tine farm of 210 acres in this tp. In 1842 he married 
Sarah Falcrod; she died soon afterward, and in 1816 he married 
Sarah E. Sheward. 

James Hammond^ farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Fruitland; was born 
in England Dec. 17, 1842, and was brought to this country by his 
parents, Thomas and Mary A. Hammond, in 1843, first settling in 
!Nauvoo, where they lived until 1844, and then they moved to their 
farm in this tp., where our subject has since resided, except a few 
years. Feb. 4, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 17th Iowa Inf., in which 
he served till 1863, shortly after the surrender of Vicksburg, when 
he was transferred to the Signal Corps, a division of the regular 
army, where he served until April, 1865, when, on the expiration 
of his term, he was discharged. He then returned home and has 
ever since followed farming. In the fall of 1867 he married Mary 
S. Boyle, and they have had 6 children, 2 sons and 4 daughters. 

John Hohhs, deceased, was born Dec. 4, 1801, in Pennsj'lvania; 
he went to Knox count}', O., in 1823, and came to this county in 
1856. Dec. 27, 1825, he married Anna Shipley, who died May 1, 
1863; March 27, 1856, Mr. H. again married, Kebecca S. Zeigler, 
and they have had one child, Alice May, deceased. Mr. Hobbs 
lived near Kauvoo from the time he first settled in this county 
until his death, Jan. 5, 1871. He was a man highly respected by 
all who knew him, for his generosity and good manners. His fu- 
neral was very largely attended. 

L. A. Holjhs was born Oct. 26, 1835, in "Washington county. Pa., 
and is a son of John (deceased) and Nancy Hobbs; he was taken to 
Knox county, O., by his parents, when quite young, where they re- 
mained until 1850, and then they removed to Delaware, O., where 
he received a college education. Ee came West the first time with 
his father in 1854, remaining here about six months, when he re- 
turned to Ohio; during the following winter (1855) he attended and 
graduated at the Cleveland Commercial College; in March, 1855, 
he came to Xauvoo, where he engaged as book-keeper in the store 
of John B. Icking. In May, 1856, he returned to Ohio, and the 
next fall came back to Illinois, and spent two years in traveling 
and other business. Nov. 26,1858, he married Miss Julia A. Henry, 
and they have had 5 sons and 3 daughters. Mr. H.'s father died in 
March, 1871, aged 70 years. 

Hugh Jacknoii was born Sept. 23, 1837, in Fulton county, N. Y., 
and is a son of James and Mary Jackson, farmers by occupation and 



952 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUXTT. 

distinguished for intelligence and piety; tliev were in comfortable 
circumstances and gave their children a good education: they were 
natives of Scotland and came to America in 1S32; at the age of IS 
Husrh left the paternal roof in Albany connty. !N. Y., whither they 
had removed from Fulton county, and came to Illinois, settling in 
Hancock county with but little of this world's goods; he had bnt 
$5.25, bnt by industry and integrity, having during three years 
saved some little money, he joined a party of friends and went to 
Pike's Peak, thence to Xew Mexico and thence to Kew Orleans, 
where he spent the winter; he then returned to Illinois for a short 
time; after traveling some months in Missouri and this State, he 
returned in the spring of 1S61 to this county, where he has since 
remained. In 1S65 he married Mary H. Hammond, a native of 
England. Mr. J. is a Presbyterian. 

liohert Jackson was born in Albany county. X. Y., a brother of 
the preceding; he grew to manhood in his native State, where he 
received a common-school education, and after he came here he at- 
tended school at the Fort Madison Academy. April 13. 1S65, he 
enlisted in Co. E. llSth 111. Tol. Inf.; was discharged at the close 
of the war. having served about six months. 

William Jackson was born in Scotland June 27, 180S, and is a 
son of James and Isabella Jackson, natives also of Scotland; he 
emigrated to the United States in 1S34, and lived in New York 
until the fall of 1S3S, when he came and settled in this tp., where 
he has since resided. During the Mormon troubles he took no part 
on either side. He was here at the first immigration of the Mor- 
mons, and heard Joe Smith make his first speech in Illinois, and 
saw the corner-stone of the temple laid. An anecdote of Joe Smith 
Mr. J. relates as follows: At that time live-stock was running at 
large everywhere, and application was made to the city council to 
adopt a law prohibiting this; they applied to Joe Smith, Mayor, to 
make a proclamation to that effect; Smith refused to do so, but said 
he would come out and make a speech; he did so, and said that if 
any person had any more dogs than he could keep at home and 
feed, he was one of the dog breed himself; and made a similar re- 
mark concerning the people allowing hogs to run at large. In the 
fall of 1814 Mr." J. married AUisa Winning. Mr. J. has for four- 
teen years been township Treasurer, and has also been Supervisor 
and Assessor for awhile. He owns a farm of 120 acres on sec. 29. 

John Kennedy, deceased, was born in 1S15. inlreland, and came 
to this country in 1S30. first settling in Delaware county, Pa. ; in 
1850, while there, he married Eliza Scanlin; in 1853 they came to 
this county, locating in this tp., where they lived until bis death, 
Feb. 15, ISSO. He was a very estimable citizen. 

James Lindsay, Jr., was born Aug. 27, 1853, in this county, and 
is a son of James and Anna Lindsay; was reared on a farm, re- 
ceiving a common-school education; April 24, 1S79, he married 
Ella Ikerd, of this county. His grandfather was a soldier in the 
Kevolutionarv war, servins^also IS months in the war of 1S12. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 953 

James A. OUix, farmer; P. O., Appanoose; was born Sej)t. 8, 
1828, in Montgomery county, Ind., and is a son of Matthias and 
Catharine Ollis, lather a native of England and mother of Oliio. 
James A. was reared on a farm and received a common- school edu- 
cation. March 2, 1854, he married Martha Brown, and they had 5 
children, 4 of whom are living: James A., Mary C, Sarah 0. and 
Elizabeth A. Mrs. Ollis died March 28, 1880, a consistent mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Cliurch, which she had been for 18 years. 
Mr. O. is also a member of the same Church. 

Chauncy Bohisoii was born March 27, 1805, in Oneida county, 
N. Y.; came to this county with his parents, Charles and Jerusha 
Robison, in 1820; here he spent his early life, while the county 
was first settling up. He had one brother, John Iv., who was a 
soldier in the Black Hawk war. Chauncy entered as register in 
the land-office at Quincy, in which position he remained until 
1837, when he went to Carthage, and there engaged in clerking in 
a dry-goods store, which he followed till August, 1839, when he 
was elected County llecordor, in which office he served eight years; 
he then went to Louisiana, where he spent the winters of 1847-'8, 
for the benelit of his wife's health; in the spring of 1847 became to 
Nauvoo, where he lived until 1850; lie then purchased a farm in 
Appanoose tp., where he has since resided. In 1841 he married 
Hannah D. Hughes, of Carthage, and they have had 4 children, only 
one of whom is now living. Ella M., now Mrs. Deusenburg. Mrs. 
E,. died March 27, 1861. Mr. R.'s grandfather on his mother's side 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under Gen. Washington. 

Lewis Sleight^ jieceased, was born March 2, 1819, in New Jersey; 
when sixteen years of age he emigrated to St. Louis, where he 
resided sixteen years, then came to Nauvoo, and was Captain of 
the ferry-boat that ran from that place to Montrose, Iowa, from 
that time, 1851, until his death, June 2, 1872. He was married 
in 1842 to Sarah Frisby, and they had 3 children: Emma L., now 
Mrs. Yiolett; Lulu L. and Ada. Several of Mrs. Sleight's ancestors 
were valiant soldiers in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 
1812. 

James B. Webb^ son of Wra. and Harriet "Webb, who came to 
this county in 1841 with a company of Mormons, was reared here 
and educated in the common school. December 21, 1869, he mar- 
ried Mary E. Tyner, and they have had one child, Hattie U. Mr. 
W. owns 80 acres of land on sec. 27. 

Jolui Zlngree, physician and surgeon, Appanoose, was born in 
Switzerland September 14, 1830, was educated at the Military 
Academy of Berne, was 1st Lieutenant of the 3d Division of the 
Swiss army under Gen. Doriass, one of Napoleon's old generals. 
The Doctor came to this country in 1851, and the next year com- 
menced the study of medicine under Dr. Branton, an eminent 
physician of Cleveland, Ohio. In the spring of 1854 he graduated 
at the Western Missouri Medical College, and soon after came to 
Nauvoo, where he commenced the practice of medicine. He 



954 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTlf. 

Kauvoo, where lie commenced the practice of medicine. He 
remained in Xauvoo till 1856, when he purchased a farm opposite 
Fort Madison and moved upon it, where he has since resided, 
eno-a^ed in farming and practicing medicine. Re married his last 
wife,"Hattie Kuapp, in April 1ST7. Dr. Z. owns about 2,000 acres 
of land in Illinois and Iowa. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS. 

The town Officers that have served or are now serving this town- 
ship are about as follows: 

SrPERVISORS . 

James A. McCance 1850 I. D. Stone 1868 

Fred. R. Prentice 1852 Amzi Doolittle 1869 

William Jackson 1853 I. D. Stone 1871 

Wm. P. Logan 1858 Samuel Elliott 1872 

William Jackson 1860 Hugh Jackson 1873 

Samuel Elliott 1863 John Jackson 1874 

Peter Wilsey 1866 George H. Rudisil 1876 

Amzi Doolittle 1867 Leonard A. Hobbs 1878 

CLERKS. 

George T. Thompson 1858 Charles G.^Fish 1873 

Hugh Jackson 1863 John Trouthart 1874 

L. A. Hobbs 1866 Charles G. Fish 1876 

Hush Jackson 1869 John W. Bertchi 1879 

Samuel Y. Elliott 1870 Alexander Haymart 1880 

ASSESSORS. 

Benjamin Ritter 1858 William Jackson 1863 

Geo. T. Thompson 1859 Charles C Ritter 1867-1880 

COLLECTORS. 

Robert Mackie 1858 James Webb 1871 

Gershom Pope 1863 James Hammond 1872 

Robert Mackie 1864 Wm. G. Webb 1873 

John D. Johnson 1865 Leonard A. Hobbs 1874 

L. A. Hobbs 1866 Georsre H. Rudisil 1875 

Hugh Jackson 1867 Leonard A. Hobbs 1876 

George Elliott 1870 John W. Bertchi 1877-1880 



NAUVOO TOWNSHIP. 

This city of " pleasant land " is a township bv itself. It embraces 
two small fractional townships, lying in the bend of the Mississippi, 
and nnmbered 6 and 7 north, 9 west, the township line dividing 
them striking the river a little north of the extreme point of the 
bend, and dividing the city into two nearly equal parts. It 
embraces within its limits what was once the site of Venus, as 
well as the town of Commerce and the later Commerce City. 
The portion on which the Mansion House and famous Nauvoo 
House stand, is part of the farm originally pre-empted and owned 
by Capt. James White, the first settler; and that on which the 
Temple stood was a portion of the farm of Daniel H. Wells, Esq., 
now Gen. Wells, of Utah. The stone from which the temple 
was built was obtained partly from the great quarry a little below 
the town in the river bluff. 

We cannot learn from the records that there was ever any laid 
out town at Yenus. The name was given to it perhaps by Mr. 
White, and that is the name Uncle Sam used for the postoffice 
there, the first ever established in the county. It contained Alex- 
ander White's store, and the residence of his father, and of 
George Y. Cutler (in the same vicinity), but whether near enough 
together to constitute a village, is unknown. 

Commerce was laid out by Joseph B. Teas and Alexander White, 
in 1S34. Commerce City was laid out in 1837, by Horace R. 
Hotchkiss and John Gillett, two speculators from Connecticut, and 
lies a little above its namesake on the river. These plats seem not 
to have been vacated; so that they are included in, but not a part 
of, the plat of the city. 

Kauvoo was laid out in 1S39, by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, 
Sidney Rigdon and George W. Robinson. Afterward, at inter- 
vals, down to May, 1843, it received as many as fifteen additions 
by Hiram and Ethan Kimball, Hyrum Smith, Daniel H. Wells, 
Davidson Ilibbard, Herringsiiaw and Thompson, Geo. W. Robin- 
son, Joseph Smith, James Robison's heirs, Benjamin Warrington 
and John T. Barnett. 

The situation of Nauvoo is most commanding and beautiful. 
But few, if any, sites on the upper Mississippi can compare with 
it. The Mississippi, which opposite Commerce is over a mile in width, 
gracefully swee])s around its rock-bound shore in a semi-circle, then 
falls off to the first chain of the rapids. Above the city the river 
approaches in a westerly course; i)elow, it glides winding over the 
rapids southward, presenting a long reach of green and wooded bluffs 
on either side, to Keokuk and Hamilton, twelve miles below. 

(955) 



956 HISTORY OF HAKCOCK COrNTT. 

From the immediate bank of the river — some feet above hig-h water 
mark — the ground is nearly level for six or seven blocks, when 
begins a gradual ascent to Temple Block, where, after a rise of 60 
or^^TO feet, it again falls olf level, away back into the prairie. 
There are, however, some bad ravines and broken bluffs within the 
city limits, which break the monotony and give variety to the 
landscape. 

The curve of the river around the city forms a somewhat pointed 
half circle. A straight line back of it, from where it intersects 
the shore above and below, will measure about four miles ; while 
the water-line measurement around its western side is nearly twice 
that distance. Some of the additions lie in Sonora township. 

The towns of Commerce and Commerce City are laid out square 
with the shore opposite them; but the whole of Nauvoo and all of 
its additions are laid out on due east and west lines. The streets 
of the city are named mostly after Mormon dignitaries — as Sidney, 
Parley, Ripley, Kimball, Young, Knight, Hyrum, Carlos, Samuel, 
Eobinson, Wells, Woodruff, Page, etc. ^Major General Bennett, 
Bishop Lee and Orrin P. Rockwell seem to have been slighted. 

How many of the earliest settlers resided within the limits of 
NauTOO, it is hard to tell. Mr. White and his sons were there; 
George Y. Cutler and Davidson Hibbard were there; Daniel Van 
Burkloe is supposed to have been there also (there was a Yan 
Burkloe there when the Mormons earned; but of all the other 
officers and jurymen at organization, none other is now known to 
have resided there, though numbers were in the vicinity. 

The history of this city from 1S40 to 1S47 can be found in 
the chapter on the Mormon period. 

After those people left, an entire new class of citizens appeared, 
from all parts of the country and from Europe. 

THE MORMON TEMPLE 

Was burnt October 9, 1S4S. AVho the vandal was that applied the 
torch has never been known, and it is not believed that good 
grounds exist for suspicion against any one. There was a report, 
some years since, that Mr. Joseph Agnew, late of Pontoosuc, was 
the guilty person and had so confessed on his death-bed. After 
diligent inquiry we tind that there is no foundation whatever for 
the story. Mr'. A.'s friends, while admitting that he was a pro- 
nounced and daring Anti-Mormon, scout at the idea that he was 
capable of such an act. A large reward was offered for the appre- 
hension and conviction of the criminal, by the citizens of Xauvoo, 
but the perpetrator was never found. But whoever it may have 
been, public opinion abroad has lixed the stignu\ upon the Anti- 
Mormons. This has been unreasonable and unjust. Without pre- 
tending to assert that it may not have been done by some reckless 
Anti-Mormon, 2oe do know and ajfinn that the great body of them 
everywhere condemned the act. We heard no other expression 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 957 

amono; them at the time but stern denunciation of the deed. There 
is another theory in regard to its destruction that is quite as likely 
to be the true one. The truth is, that, now that the Mormons 
were leaving the city and State, the temple had become quite a 
large elephant on their hands. It had cost them, as they claimed, 
twelve hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In it the rank and tile 
had invested a large amount of their snrplus earnings for years; 
and however suited it may have been for a Mormon Temple for 
worship, it was evidently lit for nothing- else. It had been spoken 
of for an institution of learning; and it is said had actually been 
contracted for by New York parties, for such a purj)ose. Two 
hundred thousand dollars had been asked for it; but it was 
evident that sum expended on a new building, properly con- 
structed, would be a more economical investment. Yet still it 
was an object of interest and an ornament to the city, and no 
one, except the merest fanatic, could have desired its destruction. 
There was dissention among the brotherhood; two or three parties 
existed among them, all claiming to be the true Church, and the 
others as heretics, and they hated each other. It has been guessed, 
and we think not without reason, that some fanatical and over- 
zealous member of one of these parties may have destroyed it in 
order that the other should not reap the benefit of it. At any rate 
the question so stands: The Mormons and many others believe that 
the deed was committed by the Anti-Mormons; the latter, withont 
being able to establish the contrary, think it just as likely the deed 
was consummated by some of themselves. 

As stated, the temple was burned on the night of Oct. 9, 184S. It 
was a beautiful night, and about two o'clock fire was discovered in 
the cupola. It had made but little headway when first seen, but 
spread rapidly, and in a very short period the lofty spire was a 
mass of flame, shooting high in the air, and illuminating a wide 
extent of country. It was seen for miles awa}-. The citizens 
gathered around, but nothing could be done to save the structure. 
It was entirely of wood except the walls, and nothing could have 
stopped the progress of the flames. In two hours, and before the 
sun dawned upon the earth, the proud structure, reared at so much 
cost — an anomaly in architecture, and a monument of religious 
zeal — stood with four blackened and smoking walls only renuiining. 

If any party or parties had been contemplating the purchase of 
the temple, for any purpose, its destruction, of course, put an end 
to the scheme. 

THE ICARIAN COMMUNITY. 

In the year 1848, M. Etienne Cabet, a distinguished French 
communist, conceived the idea of establishing in America an ex- 
perimental colony of their sect. Accordingly a number of them 
were landed at New Orleans, who proceeded to establish in Texas 
what he termed an Icarian Community. But Texas not being deemed 



K 



958 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

suitable, it was decided to remove and settle at Xaiivoo. In the spring 
of 1849, a company of them, to the nnmber of 75 or 100, settled 
in that city, and during the ten years that followed, con- 
tinued their organization there, under the presidency and manage- 
ment of their eminent leader. During their stay in that city they 
increased by ac essions to between 500 and 600. 

Without undertaking to state correctly the principles of their 
organization, we may say that their chief tenet seemed to be a 
community of property and interests. While their family rela- 
tions were kept up, each maintaining a separate household, all were 
■required to eat at the same table, and to contribute of his and her 
labor to the common fund. The children were regarded rather as 
the wards of the Community than of the parents, and were re- 
quired to be taught in the same school and with the same care and 
attention. 

They purchased the Temple Block and the remains of the struc- 
ture, and were about to repair it. so as to make it habitable, when 
a storm blew it down. Afterward, from its ruins, they constructed 
a long, low stone building, which was used for the school. The 
Community is said to haye been composed mainly of intelligent, 
moral and industrious men and women, and were well esteemed by 
their neighbors. They carried on many branches of business, such 
as farming, the manufacture of flour and lumber, and the yarious 
mechanical trades. They also ran a distillery for a period. 

Soon after establishing, they issued a weekly newspaper called 
the Popular Tribune, under the editorship of M. Cabet. This 
was afterward changed to the Bevue Icarienne, and was printed 
partly in French and partly in English. While President Cabet was 
in Europe, the paper was left in charge of ^. Piquenard, a young 
man who has since been conspicuous as architect of the new State 
House at Springfield. 

But the Community could not liold together; dissatisfaction 
arose; and in or about 1857 a considerable body left. In 1859 the 
concern broke up, most of the members leaving; but a remnant, 
consisting of less than a hundred persons, held together and re-es- 
tablished in Adams county, Iowa, where the colony still exists. 

These people were nearly all French. On leaving the Commu- 
nity a number o^ them settled in the county at various points, and 
are generally regarded as good citizens. 

At the time the Mormons were leaving iXauvoo, a great many 
persons, intiuenced by the hope of obtaining cheap property, 
settled in and around the city. A large portion of those in the 
city soon afterward left, and their places became gradually filled by 
foreigners, most of whom c^me to establish permanent homes, and 
still remain, a class of industrious, frugal and peaceable citizens. 
These people brought their European habits and customs with 
them, and Xanyoo to-day is perhaps more of a German town than 
any in the country. Beer, the national beverage, flows like water; 
and the latter, though pure and good, has gone out of fashion. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 959 

The business of _^rape-growing and wine-making is quite exten- 
sively followed by these people, and the city and suburbs are 
thickly dotted with well-planted and neatly kept vineyards. The 
■ business, however, it may be observed, has 'met with its disappoint- 
ments, and the golden anticipations of many who entered into it 
have not been realized. 

Among the early German settlers about Xauvoo. we mention the 
following : George Bratz, a native of "Wurtemburg, came in 1S47 ; 
John G. Bratz, eldest son of the above, served in the 57th 111. Vol., 
and was afterward Mayor ; Leonard L. Bratz, merchant ; Frederic 
Banm, from Baden ; John Bauer, a Bavarian. Justice of the Peace, 
iN^otary, and Postmaster for many years; John B. Risse, a Prus- 
sian, a lawyer, elected County Judge in 1S69, and still holds the 
position under successive elections ; John Dornseif, Fraukfort-on- 
the-Main. has held several offices, among others that of Supervisor; 
Gustav Eberdt, Max Reinbold, Peter F. Wahl. Albert Person, 
John Engler, F. Mauck, G. H. Henckler, and others. 

Among the native citizens since the Mormon period, we mention 
Christopher E. Yates, Samuel Slocumb, Bryant Whittield. L. C. 
Bidamon. TTm. Clifford, Nathan Prentice, Luke P. Prentice, Adam 
Swartz. Bryant Bartlett, Daniel Brown, P. H. Loorais, Milton M, 
Morrill, "Wm. McLennan, Prentice Pond, S. M. "Wather, George 
Edmunds, Reuben Mason, John Gearhart, D. B. Smith, Thomas 
H. Owen. 

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 

There are four Church organizations in the city — all in posses- 
sion of handsome and substantial church edifices. Of the most of 
them we know but little. The Catholic has for its Pastor Rev. H. 
T. Reinbold, who has served several years. The German Lutheran, 
with Rev, Hertel for Pastor. The Methodist (^German ) Rev. S. 
Saegesser for its Pastor. The date of organization of any of these, 
or their condition, we are unable to state. For the following 
facts concerning the Presbyterian Church, we are indebted to the 
courtesy of Adam Swartz, Esq., its clerk : Organized March IS. 
1S55, at the Seventies' Hall, by Rev. X. W. TVi'lliams. of Keokuk^ 
with the followinor named members : Samuel Chapman, John Rice 
Mrs. H. Elliott. Mrs. Louise Walthus, Mrs. H. A. Carey, Mrs. 
John Rice, Mrs. M. E. Powers, Miss Sarah Dewey, and I. D. 
Stevens: Chapman, Rice and Stevens, ruling Elders. Revs. Mc- 
Cuistion, "Waldenmeyer and Rice served as Pastors occasionallv, or 
by regular eng?gement. Later particulars not stated. Mr. Swartz 
became a member at an early date, and has acted as its Clerk since 
1S6S. 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

Following are sketches of several citizens of Kanvoo township : 
John Bauer, one of Nauvoo's influential citizens, was 



960 HISTOET OF HANCOCK COrXTT. 

born April 14, ISOT, in Rliinish Province of Bavaria. He was the 
vonnirest of three sons of Jacob and Catharine (Deidesheimer) 
Bauer. His father followed through life various businesses, of a mer- 
cantile, mechanical and agricultural nature. He attained eminent 
proficiency as a business man, an able cooper, a successful raiser of 
the vine, and mauulacturer of wine. He died in 1847. mourned 
bv a host of friends and relatives. Our subject received a common- 
school education when young, and has been a close reader through 
life. His memory is very retentive, and his powers of observation 
very discriminating. 

At the age of 20 he began life in agricultural pursuits makiug 
the cultivation of the grape, its proper grafting, training, etc., a 
specialty. 

In lSo3 he came to America and settled in Ohio, where he 
remained for several years, engaged in various pursuits. He was 
also County Recorder in Ohio three years. In 1850 he came to 
Freeport. Stephenson county, Illinois, where he remained one year 
as a successful merchant in the boot and shoe business. He then 
came to Xauvoo, where he has since resided,;engaged in mercantile 
and a2:ricultural pursuits: and he has held many public oflices, 
such as Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Alderman and Super- 
visor, and was also Postmaster of Xauvoo during the administra- 
tions of Pierce and Buchanan. In 1833 he was married to Mar- 
cjarel Ever, a native of Bavaria, by whom he had 13 children. She 
clied in 1858 in Nauvoo. In 18(52 he was again married, this time to 
Elizabeth Fleck, a native of Prussia; she became the mother of 3 
children, two of whom are living. Politically Mr. Bauer is an 
enthusiastic Democrat, of the Jacksonian and Stephen A. Douglas 
school. Although he started in life poor, his situation is now very 
prosperous. 

Mr. Bauer was the first to introduce the making of wine in 
Xauvoo. 

Emil Baxter was born in St. Quentin, France, in the depart- 
ment of the Aisne, and is a son of John and Agnes Baxter. He 
came to America in 1840, and returned the same year. He came 
to Xew York in 1847. where he engaged in importing dry-goods 
until the financial crisis of 1857; in 1858 he came to Xauvoo, where 
he enofacjed in the culture of the grape and the manufacture of 
wine. He tried many experiments, and made many improvements 
in grape culture. 

He has made such improvements in the work that he has in his 
possession 18 silver medals awarded by the Illinois State Board of 
Ai^riculture at difierent times for the best wines from difiereut 
varieties of grapes. He is the most extensive grape and wine pro- 
ducer in the country, and ships his wines to St. Louis and Chicago, 
being unable to supply the demand. Mr. Baxter has premiums and 
diplomas for his wines from societies elsewhere. 

He was married in 1852 to Miss Annett Powel. by whom he has 
6 children, viz.: Emil E. J., Alfred, Annett, Thomas, Cecil J. and 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTT. 961 

Bertha. Mrs. Baxter died in 1S63. lie again married in 186i; 
this time Miry "Wimer, by whom he has one child, Adele. 

Emll E. J. Baxter, son of the preceding, was born in ^'^ewark, 
X. J., May 13, 1853. He was educated in the common school and 
at the Academy of Denmark, Iowa. He was married Jane 21, 
1877, to Miss Eugenia Dadant. He studied law under McKinnie 
one year, in Xauvoo, and one year under John Lyle King, a prom- 
inent lawyer of Chicago. He now is engaged in the culture of the 
Italian bee, having a branch apiary ot Charles Dadant's large 
institution of Montebello township. Mr. B. has 100 stands of 
bees in his care, and is doing a large business. He is at present a 
member of the City Council of Nauvoo, and was Supervisor for this 
township last year (1879). 

John U. Bechtold^ ex-Mayor of Nauvoo, is a native of Switzer- ^ / 
land; was born July 3, 1837; he emigrated to this country in 1855, /\ 
and settled in Xauvoo, where he lias since made it his home. 
While in the old country he learned the business of blacksmithing, 
at which he labored in after years. .In June, ISGl, he enlisted in 
Co. K, 8th Mo. Inf., undef- Col. Morgan L. Smith; this company 
was a division of Gen. Sherman's army. He fought in the battles 
of Yicksburg, Shiloh. Corinth, Fort Donelson, Jackson, Atlanta 
and Chattanooga, and was with Gen. Sherman on his " Meridian 
March.'" He was discharged in August, 1864, and returned home. 
Of late years he has been directing his attention to the culture of 
the vine. The year 1879 he manufactured 1,300 gallons of wine. 
He was married in 1866 to Margaret Wolfi". They have had 4 
children; viz.. Caroline, Angeline, Mary and Johnnie. Mr. Bech- 
told served as School Treasurer for 11 years, and Mayor for 3 
years. 

Moj. Louis C. Bidamon was born in Virginia in 1806; came 
and settled in Fulton count}', and was a resident there during the 
early Mormon troubles in this county; was a Lieutenant Colonel of 
the 32d Regiment of Illinois Infantry. He removed to Xauvoo in 
1846, and theoce took an active part among the new citizens in the 
then existing difficulties; was married to Mrs. Emma Smith, the 

prophet's widow, in 18 — , and joined her in keeping the 

Mansion House; now occupying the new unfinished mansion at 
the Riverside. 

Thomas BlaTc^, agent for the Keokuk and Xorthern Line boats, 
is a native of Dublin, Ireland, and was born in 1835; came to this 
county in 1850, and first settled in Xew York; remained there till 
1859, when he came to this city, and for a time engaged in quarry- 
ing for the Dubuque and Galena custom-house. He worked at that 
till 1862, when he went to Tennessee; was in the P. T. Hughes 
commission house there till 1868, when he returned to Nauvoo and 
engaged in the above-named business. lie was married in 1860 to 
Alice Murphy, by whom he had 9 children — 2 sons and 7 daughters. 

Chax.G. Burmeister was born Dec. 10, 1840, in Germany; was 
brought by his parents to this country in 1848 ; they first settled 

55 



yt)2 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

in St. Louis ; there Charles grew to manhood and received his ed- 
ucation. In 1866 he went to Iowa, and in 1868 back to St. Louis. In 
1871 he came to Nauvoo, where he has since followed wine-mak- 
ing. He was married, in 1866, to Magdalena Beckerle, by whom he 
has had 6 children; 5 of these are living. 

A. W. Buit was born Nov. 28, 1836, in Marion county, 111. He 
was taken by his parents, Benjamin B. and Adaline Burt, to Iowa, 
where he was reared to maturity. He received but an ordinary ed- 
ucation. He came to this city in 18-56. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Co. E, 118th 111. Inf, mounted; was mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. 
He fought in the battle of Yicksbnrg and others, being princi- 
pally in the Gulf Department. He was married, May 2, 1871, to 
N. J. Moffitt. Have had 4 children, 3 of whom are living, 

Hugh D. Burts proprietor of the Knob Mills, Nauvoo, was 
born April 17, 1842, in Marion county. 111. He built the mills in 
October, 1879, at a cost of $7,000 ; they have a 30-horse-power 
engine, and all first-class machinery and latest improvements. Tlie 
capacity of the mills is 20 barrels of " Fancy Merchants," flour per 
12 hours. Mr. Burt followed milling in Kansas nine years. In 
August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 7th Mo. Inf, and participated 
in the battles of Yicksburg, Fort Gibson, Champion Hills and in 
the famous " Peach Orchard Charge," in which all were killed except 
10. He was also with Sherman on his Meridian raid. He was 
discharged in August, 1864, having, served three years for the liberty 
of our country. Mr. B. was married January 9, 1866, to Louisa 
Tepper, and of 5 children born to them, 3 are sons and 2 daughters. 

A. Burton was born in France, Dec. 24, 1816. He came to 
Kew Orleans and St. Louis in 1833. He has been an active busi- 
ness man through life, being engaged in trafficking in different lines. 
He was married in 1853 to Miss Rosanna Dowell, by whom he has 
had 2 children ; of these, 4 are living ; viz., Theodore L., Adda 
L., Vinne and Douglas. Mr. Burton was a sutler in Gen. Taylor's 
army in the Mexican war. He went to California in 1849, and re- 
turned in 1853, and came to this county in the fall of the same year. 
Mr. Burton owns 300 acres of land near Nauvoo, besides lands else- 
where, and property in St. Louis, New Orleans and San Francisco. 
He was formerly the most extensive grape-grower in Nauvoo. 

Joseph M. Datin was born in the town of Bullitsville, Ky., Dec. 
17, 1828, and is a son of Noel and Nancy (McDonald) Datiii, who 
removed with their family to Hannibal, Mo., in 1829, or rather to 
the place where Hannibal now stands, for there was no town 
there then ; but instead, there were catamounts, wild-cats, bears 
and other wild animals. Onr subject had a vivid recollection of 
playing with wild turkeys in 1833. He also saw the " stars" fall 
the same year. He used to catch numerous turkeys bf digging 
a narrow pit in the ground, about six feet in length, and erecting a" 
rail pen over one end of it. Over this pit, on the inside of the pen 
next to the rails, he placed a broad board or oHier material so the 
turkeys could walk over it, leaving the pit open in the middle of the 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 963 

pen. The turkeys would go into the pen tlirough the pit, and rise 
at the other end of the pit, only to find themselves caught ; for 
although they came in through the pit, thej'' knew not how to get 
out ; for a turkey always looks u])ward instead of downward when 
he wants to get out of a confined place. Mr. D. was married in 1848 
to Miss Catharine A. Sparks, by whom he has had 15 children; of 
these, 12 are living. Mr. Datin came to this county in 1849, and 
resides on sec. 10, Sonora tp. lie is engaged in the sale of agri- 
cultural implements, grass seeds and school furniture in Nauvoo, 
and is doing a large business. His sales amount to $20,000 annu- 
ally. His sales on the 22d day of May, 18S0, reached only tlie 
round sura of over $800. 

Henry J)isse, physician and surgeon, Nauvoo, was born in 
Germany, Feb. 22, 1828, and was reared in the "old country" 
and educated in medical department of the Berlin Univ^ersity. Oct, 
8, 1853, Mr. Disse, in company with Dr. Fred Kuithan, started on 
a tour to South America. He visited the places of note, and after 
nearl}' a year spent, he returned to Germany. He came to this 
country in 1854 and first settled in Hamilton, Ohio, where he prac- 
ticed medicine till 1855, when he went to St. Louis; here he con- 
tinued in medical practice till 1872, when became to I^auvoo. In 
1859 he was married to Minnie Opermann, by whom he has had 4 
children; viz., Ida, Anna, Frank and Kichard. The Doctor owns a 
fine vineyard of 6 acres. 

Dr. L. C. Ford was born in Keokuk, Iowa, July 4, 1852, and is 
a son of Dr. E. R. and Margaret Ford, of Keokuk. The Doctor 
received his medical education at the Keokuk College of Physicians 
and Surgeons. He began the practice of medicine in Keokuk, in 
1875, and in 1876 he located in Nauvoo, wher-e he has built up a 
good practice. He was married October 16, 1878, and has one 
child, L. C. The Doctor's father came West in 1834, and laid out 
Ford's Addition to Keokuk, and was City Treasurer, and a promi- 
nent banker of that city. He was also one of tlie incorporators of 
the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, and was a Profes- 
sor in said institution for some time. The Doctor's mother was the 
first white child born in the city of Keokuk. 

John Haas is a native of Black Forest, Germany, where he was 
born December 8,1849; was brought to America and this county 
by his parents in 1859. They first settled in Appanoose tp., 
where our subject staid till 1863, when lie went to Keokuk. 
In 1872 he went to Fort Madison, and in May, 1874, he came to 
Nauvoo. He was married April 8, 1875, to Rosa Ilumbrecht, and 
they had 2 cliildren, John A. and Emma M. Mr. H. is the pro- 
prietor of tlie City Hall saloon. 

Brooks R. Hamilton., M. D., physician and surgeon, Nauvoo, 
was born in Pennsylvania, April 21, 1837, and is a son of William 
and ]\[argaret Hamilton. He was brought by thein to Knox 
county, 111., when eigiit years of age. There he was reared to tnan- 
liood. He received an academic education, and in the spring of 



964 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

1859 he began the study of medicine. He completed his medical 
course in the spring of 1S62, and Sept. 4, the same year, he enlisted 
in the army. He was appointed 2d Lieut, of Co. I, 126th Reg. HI. 
Inf.; in February, 1864, he was promoted Captain of Co. B, of 126th 
Regt. He served in that capacity till the close of the war; he was 
mustered out August 1, 1865; he then returned home, having 
served nearly three years; he fought at Yicksburg, Little Rock, 
and in many other minor engagements. Soon after he retm*ned 
home he attended the medical department of the Iowa University, 
at which he graduated, and soon after came and located in Nauvoo^ 
where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. 
He has an extensive and continued patronage. In July 1859, 
he was married to Margaret O. Periton, by whom he has 
had 3 children, 2 living: Emma H., Wm. W. and Edgar R, 
, (deceased). 

Politically, Mr. H. is a Republican. He served one term as 
Representative in the lower House of the General Assembly of 
Illinois. 

£,rn est ^eck was hovn in Germa.nj, May 19, 1817; his parents 
were Ernest and Louisa (Heftrick) Heck. He was educated in his 
native country, and emigrated to St. Louis, Mo., in 1846, and pur- 
chased a farm afterward within three miles of Herman. He came 
to this county in 1868. He has been married twice, and is the 
father of 7 children, of whom 4 are living; viz., Wilhelmina, 
Emma, Ida and Ernest. He is a sugar refiner and farmer by occu- 
pation; and was also engaged in the culture of grapes, and the 
manufacture of wine to some extent, while in Missouri. Mr. Heck 
returned to his native land in 1865, and in 1867 he attended the 
Exposition at Paris, France. Mr. H. has been a hard worker, and 
bv good management has laid by a goodly share of this world's 
goods, which will make him comfortable in his old days. 

William D. Hihhard, attorney at law, Nauvoo, was born in this 
county, Oct. 22, 1848, and is a son of Wm. T. Hibbard; was 
reared in this county and educated in Notre Dame University. 
He began the studv of law when seventeen years old, and was 
admitted to Bar, in the District Court in Madison, Iowa. He came 
back to Nauvoo, in 1870, where he has since resided, following his 
profession. He is also Police Magistrate and ex-oliicio Justice of 
the Peace. Mr. Hibbard was joined in marriage December 31, 
1868, to Mittie Whitefield, and tlieir three children are: Wade T., 
Emma and Robert I. Mr. H.'s grandfather was among the earli- 
est settlers of this county, settling here in 1829. For a more com- 
plete sketch of that pioneer's life, see Chap. 11. 

Phineas Kihiball is a native of West Fairlee, Orange county, 
Vermont, and was born May 1, 1822. He is the eightli of ten chil- 
dren, whose parents were Phineas and Abigail (Colton) Kimball. 
They were natives of Vermont, and people distinguished for piety 
and intelligence. They were both ardent members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. His father, known as Capt. Phineas Kimball, held 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 966 

the rank of captain in the war of 1812. In 1842, when the sub- 
ject of this sketch was 19 years of age, he left his parental roof in 
Vermont and came to Nauvoo. He first engaged as clerk in the 
mercantile business for his brother Hiram, who had preceded him 
some years, and was one of the earliest settlers in the place. Mr. 
Kimball was here during the Mormon troubles. He delivered the 
cartridges to the cannoneer during the battle, which lasted over 
two hours. And after it was over, and the excitement had sub- 
sided, he and a friend drove over the battle-field in a buggy. 
Clear and vivid are his recollections of tliat noted day. Mr. K. 
continued in the mercantile business until 1849, when he went to 
the gold regions of California to try his fortune. In 1852 he 
returned to Vermont, having bettered his fortune materially. He 
staid in his native State about six months and then returned to 
Nauvoo, where he has since resided. The same year (1852) he 
engaged in the foundry business, and continued at that for several 
years. Of late years he has turned his attention to raising live 
stock. He owns a farm of 700 acres, besides several other large 
tracts. He also owns his homestead in Vermont. He started out 
in life poor and he well understands the value of self-acquired 
experience and property. In 1857 he was united in marriage to 
Louisa Bartholomew, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Erastus 
Bartholomew, a prominent manufacturer and business man of that 
State. His wife departing this life, he was again married, July 
25, 1866, this time to Dina Icking, a native of this State. Mr. 
Kimball is the father of 8 children, 6 of whom are living. Polit- 
ically he is a strong Democrat. He has alwaj^s been temperate. 
Temperance in language, action and social intercourse is with him a 
rule of conduct. His name is intimately identified with the inter- 
ests and early career of Nauvoo. Mr. Kimball was well acquainted 
with the leading men of the Mormons. He had the esteem and 
respect of them all; and refers with pleasure to his visits to Brig- 
ham Young in Utah. Socially, he is pleasant and affable, and is 
fond of company and conversation. He is a man who loves his 
family, and he is very hospitable and friendly. 

He has a business turn of mind. He divides his time between 
his home in Nauvoo and his business interests in New England. 

George A. Lane was born in Pennsylvania, July 13, 1830. He 
is a son of James B. and Jane Lane; the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and the latter of Scotland. Our subject was reared in his 
native State. In 1849 he went to St. Louis and some time after 
came to Nauvoo. He went to Kansas in 1873; staid a short time, 
and then returned to Nauvoo. 

His father and grandfather were both soldiers in the Revolution- 
ary war under Gen. Washington. 

Frank A. Marsh is a native of Quincy, III., and was born Sept. 
14, 1856. He is a son of Augustus C. Marsh (dec), a prominent 
man in Quincy. The father was for several years President of 



966 HKTOKT O? HaXOCK O^ITSTT. 

the First Xational Bank :** :V ^: p ^oe and was in ihat posiiioQ a: 
the time of his death. A : If-t^S. He came to Quincy in 1>J:7. 

Mr. Marsh was rr ^ ^ orincipallv in his native 

city. He was ele: _ ^ -rore for several years in 

Qniney. He is a!s December 25 (Christmas 

days 1>"~. he was .. _f t: ^littie Ward. dano:ht»> of 

Edward and Be rsie " T :s county. Mr. Ward 

is one of the 'ea ^ • _■ - . .i-,:v. 

Mr. and Mrs : EofflanJ; 'emiorated to this 

connrrv in 1545. 2:1:. 21 : Xanvoo in 1S7S. Here 

he lis- s:':i?e resiiei. 

v" T : \ Aiiroo Independent, is ATOMiiYe of 

'S&'i,.. :.__ r :r,:: 1: '.''■.". H^s parents, George and 

Aniia E. kelson, died when . and as soon as he was 

old enongh he went ont iv ^.^^ > i:h. as he had no 

guardian. At the age of 17 years he sr.i ^ his former home 

irith a tbwling piece, a bloo^ irs in money, to 

seek his fortune. He soon ^7 ^T hard labor 

and close attention to business, . "ended an 

academy in Missouri. He :' e _ '".:e. In 

the antimin of 1S74: he : :":e 

Xauvoo Tiid^fendenty on "^ '7 

litde sheet, which has a gOv: 
ried Oct. 3, 1ST9, to Miss C 

Samuel JPalmieTy dealer i : : ^ ti :~ 

musical books, Xauvoo . L^.' 

and is a son of Kev. i! 

Church. Samuel was br: _ _ 

at Lee's Institute, :r ^ - 

sdiool and music t<L 

beino; a decided maicrij^is:, e: . - ^ L ■ . 

locating in Chicagv>: inl-^'ThT ^ is 

county. April 25. 1S61 I :.^and 

served eight months, an-.; ....-.___ v. In 

1S46 he married Phcebe Piokson: ? IS -3. 

Mr. P. married Pbli^^ 

tine J'&wrHaly and - _ 

Charles. 

2^. JS. Jf. P€uier is a native eoonty, ^ . Y 

was bom March 21, ISIS. H^ .ts woe Leooard C 

Betsey Parker, natives of Masss^-. .;;;:.-. The Doctor ws- , 
ted in his native country. He neceived a medical ednea: 
Homeopathic Medici College, •:* ?":■--. X. T. ^: 
Cincinnati in 1S45. whoeheb- ir? prac 

a desire to ** go West," he remc v^m :.: ^ ^ 

he remained in the practice of his prv^ief - ^ 

removed to Xauvoo. He has a large y 

on the increase. He is the ^-"^- -' - l„. -. 

Bessie G. Mrs, Parker die:! !- .>7S. 



His tather. John Keitul>>l.:. ar'ter - - in Eur : 

Asia, held a p«L>si::.:':i for s,^:ne '::ue ".riuerthe Turkish Gove: . f :. 
On remmin^ to his narive eicv. Cologne, he eng-.iire'l sever.. ve-wS 
in the real-estate and lumber onsioess. In lS-t> lie and his brvrlier. 
Dr. Peter Keinibold. together with their l^uuih'es. came to America, 
and after a short stav in Cincinnati, tinallv. within the same year. 
located in Xanvoo. Hancock county, HI. " _ - _• 

dispo<sition. he soon entered quite ester - 
In the autumn of lS49he returned home ^ 

in poor health, having contracted a seri, :. .„ ....._ ..^ 

never recovered : healm continuing to decline, he resigned himself 
to the will of God, and died March 2±. 1S50, at the early age of 
39 jemrsw 

Of an amiable disp>D^iti<« and pleasing address, he ws ? _ - 
eeteemed by all who knew him. HeDry I. Reimbold. the 
Ms 4 btothers. then almost ^ght years old. remained with his mo tn- 
^and brotb^s after the death of his father, until 1S57. w .f. 
he was sent to Xotre Dame University, near South Bend, I ' 
Having devoted tour years to study, and Reeling himself calle»i lo 
the sancd ministry, he was srait in Sept., 1>65, to St. Mary's Sem- 
inaij at Chicago, and after due preparation was ordained priest 
fix* tibe diocese of Chicago, Angus: S, 1S6€, then being appointed 
to the <^See of Vice Rector of St. Mary's Seminary, which position 
be brfd till July 1, 1S<57. he was then appointed Pastor of the 
Ca&olie eongregation at Xauvoo: entering upon his new duties 
July 4. lS<?7rana continuing in the same diaive since. 

Dr. Peter Keimbold, brother of John Heimbold, soon became the 
leading i^ysician of the county, retaining his popularity until 
death, whidi ocenired June 21. 1S4>1. Max Reimbold, one of his 
scms. is now a leading merchant in !Xauvoo. Wm. Reimbold 
St., brother to John and Dr. Petn- Reimbold, came to America and 
located hae in 1S50. He is still living in the spacious residence 
whidi he had erected. 

TTtii^ Sd^sfer was bom in Baden, Germany. June 4. 15:21. 
He emigrated to this country in lS4o. and £rst settled in Marion 
county. III. Here he rranained until 1S51. when became to Xau- 
voo. where he has since resided. enea<jed in harness-making. Mr. 
S^kaeter was married in If 51. to Catharine Steffin. Mr. S.'s father 
was a soldi^' in the Franco- Prussian war. 

Adam Ste-irts. attorney at law. Xanvoo. IlL was bom in 
Adams county. Pa., in ISli. and is a son of Adam S^wirrz tdec.) 
Mr. Swartz was left an orphan at the age of eight years, and had 
to banle with the world alone. He resided with a Mr. Marshall a 
few years, and then went to live with Peter Eyster. a farmer and 
tanner, who redded within 11 miles of Gettysburg: here he re- 
mained for the period of five years. At the age of 15, he served 
a three years' apprenticeship to the shticmaker s trade. He then 
worked as a journeyman at his profession for five or six years. 



968 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

mostly in diflerent towns of Peunsjlvania, but a portion of the 
time in Baltimore, Md. He then formed a partnership with a Mr. 
Dilliou, in Carlisle, which partnership was dissolved after three 
years. In 1S3S he engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe busi- 
ness in Carlisle, and in 1S43 he removed to Macomb, 111., bringing 
a stock of boots and shoes with him. He remained in this place 
for three years, when, in 1S46, he came to Xauvoo. Mr. Swartz is 
a self-educated man. In the year 1S5T he was admitted to the Bar 
as an attorney at law, and has since been engaged in the practice 
of this profession. He was married, March 12, 1S40, to Miss 
Emily B. S. Denys, by whom he had one daughter, Mary Y. (^dec). 
Mr. S. again married, Dec. 26, 1S4J:, this time Mary E. Prentice, 
by whom he had 2 children, ^Villiam and Josephine (dec). Mr. 
Swartz is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

jS. J/. Wahher, dealer in hardware, furnishing goods, etc., Nau- 
voo. 111., was born in 1S21, in Bavaria, Europe. Came to America 
in 1S38, settling in Missouri; afterward went to Louisville, Ky., 
and in 184:0, came to Nauvoo. He has ever since then been en- 
gaged in his afore-named business. Mr. Walther was Urst mar- 
ried, in 1842, to Elizabeth Garner. She departing this life, he 
married Frances Leach. 

Julius C. Wright^ Jr., is a native of Scott county, Illinois, and 
was born Sept. 14, 1836. He is the son of Julius C, Sr., and 
Louise "Wright. His father was a native of Germany, and his 
mother of Ohio. When our subject was 16 years of age he 
attended the Denmark (Iowa) Musical Institute. He attended 
school at the above-named place for four years. He was leader of 
the Montrose Brass Band for four years. July 30. 1861, he 
recruited a music band for the 6th Reg. Iowa Infantry. Of this 
he was leader. He was in the service for one year; was mustered 
out Aug. 27, 1862. He returned and resumed his former business, 
teachijig and training bands. He traveled "for four years as leader 
of the band of the Champion Circus Show. He then stopped at 
Bloomtield, Iowa, for one year. Then went as leader of the band 
one summer for the Forest Dramatic Company. He then joined a 
concert troup called the Davis Family; traveled with them all over 
the western country during the space of three years. While at 
Topeka, Kansas, he instructed the city band and also took the first 
premium at the State Fair, which they were competing for. He 
instructed bands in Chicago, St. Louis, and many other places: 
also traveled with a troup from St. Louis over the Southern States. 
May 16, 1876, he was married to Martha "Wessenbourn, to whom 
were born 2 children: Clarence L. and Thad C. (dec.) Mr. W. still 
pursues music as his business, instructing the bands of the neigh- 
borins: cities. 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK CUUNTV, 



969 



TOWNSllll' OKKKUALS. 

Nauvoo township has had the I'ollowiiii^ otiicers: 



SUPERVISORS. 



James Irvinsj 1850 

J. W. Phillips 1853 

Georyje Kraiiiu 1856 

JohirB. Icking 1858 

John Bauer , . 18(i3 

Adam Swartz 18G3 



August Be.a;ar 1864 

Milton M. iMoiTill 18G5 

John Dornseif 18G9 

Alonzo W. Burt 1874 

Gustav Eberdt 1875 

John Bauer 1880 



CLERKS. 



Ed. FaiTcll 1856 

John A. Hammond 1863 

John P. Thomas 1864 



Georpjc Bratz 1873 

Wm. D. Hibbard 1879-1880 



ASSESSORS. 



Warrick M. Cosgrove 1856 

John F. Neibhour 1858 

J. B. Risse 1860 

J. J. Hefflcman 1865 

John B. Risse 1866 



John P. Thomas 1870 

Anton Fischer 1873 

Andrew Ileberger 1876 

Albert Person 1878-1880 



COLLECTORS. 



Edward Farrell 1850 

August Begar 1858 

George Bratz 1863 

Anton Fischer 1866 



Gustav Eberdt 1870 

John Machenhcimer 1875 

Michael Buumert 1876 

Jacob Kcmlcr 1879-1880 




ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 570. 
WALKER TOWNSHIP. 

Charles Garter was born in Massachusetts Nov. 6, 1846, and is 
a son of Philip and Martha E. Carter, natives of the same State. 
Dec. 22, 1878, Charles married Miss Marietta Archer, and they 
have only one child, Mabel. Mr. C. came to this county in 1850, 
settling in Walker tp., on the farm where Morley town stood, which 
numbered 100 houses, and where he yet lives, engaged in agricul- 
ture and stock-raising. His farm comprises 270 acres, and is on 
sees. 31 and 33. 

A. J. Ewing^ Tioga, 111., carries a stock of about $4,000 in dry 
goods, groceries, hardware, medicines, ready-made clothing, hats, 
caps, boots, shoes, etc., etc., and his annual cash sales amount to 
about $7,000, besides credit accounts. He was born in Brown 
county, O., Oct. 28, 1838, the son of Jackson and Catherine Ewing, 
who moved to Kentucky in 1841, and to this county in 1846, where 
the subject of this sketch followed the farm until 1870, when he 
began mercantile business in his present place. He has distin- 
guished himself as an enterprising citizen. Feb. 8, 1863, he mar- 
ried Miss Minerva Gray, and they have had 2 children, of whom 
only one is living. Pink Ionia. 

Dr. D. M. Harris, dealer in drugs, medicines,, paints, oils, wines, 
liquors (for medicinal purposes), etc., Tioga, 111., was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1827; began the study of medicine in 1847, and in 1850 
graduated with honors in the St. Louis Medical College; soon after- 
ward he commenced the practice of medicine in Kentucky. In 
1853 he came to Basco, then called Somerset. He changed the name 
of the place to Basco. In 1859 he removed to Tioga, where he has 
since followed his profession with unequaled" success, both as phy- 
sician and surgeon. In 1851 he married Miss Mary E. Thornton, 
who died in 1863; they had 4 children — J. N., Crete, Arlie and 
Effie. The Doctor owns a farm of 200 acres, on sees. 29 and 32, 
besides 73 town lots. 

George W. Kinkade, dealer in di-ugs, medicines, paints, oils, 
toilet and fancy articles, etc., Breckenridge, 111., was born in Adams 
county, this State, Sept. 21, 1847, the son of L. D. Kinkade; came 
to this county in 1855, and followed farming until the commence- 
ment of the war, when he enlisted in Co. B, 34th 111. Vol. Inf., 
under Col. Kirk, in a division of Gen. Sherman's array; was taken 
with small- pox, and placed in the hospital at Cleveland, O.; recov- 
ering his health he returned home and resumed farming and raising 
stock until October, 1879, when he purchased the drug store which 

(970) 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTT. 971 

he now conducts. In 1870 lie married Miss Nancy A. Lockwood, 
and of their 3 children, Oklena E. and Belle are living. 

Hev. Frederick I^ippc, Presbyterian minister, was born in 
Breslau, Prussia, Sept. 11, 1835; educated in Elizabeth College in 
his native place; came to America in 1852; began studying for the 
ministry in 1863, finishing the regular course in 1867, soon after 
which he entered the ministerial work, in Os:ige county. Mo., where 
he labored acceptably for nine successive years. He then removed 
to New Frankfort, Saline Co., Mo., where he remained two years, 
and then came to Hancock county, where he has since resided, 
following the gospel ministry. He organized the Salem congrega- 
tion, a Presbyterian Church of 36 members. He is a very efficient 
Pastor. In 1867 he married Miss Sophia Nullmeyer, and they have 
had 6 children, of whom 5 are living — Godfred, Clara, Calvin, 
Gabriel and Martha. 

Dr. 3£. C. Pocock, physician, Breckenridge, was born in Jeffer- 
son county, O., Nov. 1, 1817, son of Lloyd and Nancy Pocock; came 
to Adams county. 111., in Oct,, 1837, entering medical practice. 
He commenced his medical studies in 1832, and graduated with 
hiffh honors at both the Cincinnati and New Orleans reg^ular med- 
ical colleges. He now enjoys a very good run of practice. In 
October, 1839, he married Miss Mary C. "^-^anderveer, and they have 
had 5 children, namely: Nancy A., now Mrs. Baxter; Lloyd A., 
who married Susan I. Ewlallen; Mary E., now Mrs. Reemtsen; 
Amy J., now Mrs. Adair, and Elizabeth J., now Mrs. Paydon. The 
Doctor was again married, in August, 1857, to Margaret E. Mahon, 
and they have had 3 children, as follows: Sarah C, George H. K., 
and Waldo B. 

James Rampley, Jr.^ was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, Oct. 
22, 1844, son of James Rampley, Sr., who emigrated with his family 
to Adams county, Illinois, in 1847, and in 1849 to this count3\ In 
the last war he served nine months in Co. G, 58th 111. Yol. Inf. Dec. 
8, 1872, he married Miss Nancy E., daughter of Edward E. Newman 
of St. Alban's tp., b}' whom he had 2 children, namely; Sarah E. 
and James E. Mr. Rampley owns a farm of 120 acres on sec. 27, 
this tp. 

George Walker was one of the oldest and most respected citi- 
zens of this county who have departed this life. We give his 
portrait on page 351 of this volume. He was born in Maryland 
in 1804, his parents being John and Mary Walker, both natives of 
Maryland and of German ancestry. They moved to Campbell county, 
Kentucky, when George was four or five years old; he remained at 
this place until 1833, when he first came to Hancock county. Pre- 
vious to tliis, when he was 21 or 22 years of age he married Rachel 
Clark, in Campbell county, Kentucky, who was born in Greene 
county, PonnsjMvania, June 27, 1808. In removing to this county 
he brought with him his wife and four children: Henry M., born 
March 21, 1827; John E., born February 12, 1820; Mary Jane, 
born in 1831; and Rebecca, born in 1833; all within ten miles of 



972 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUXTT. 

Cincinnati, in Campbell county, Kentucky. On arriving in this 
county he located on sec. S. Walker tp.. being the third family who 
settled. He lirst bought the southwest J of sec. s! but 
the first year he lived on rented land, the northeast J of sec. S. In 
the fall of ISoi he built a hewn-log house IS by 24, in which he 
dwelt until 1849. and where 3 of his children were born, namely; 
James Eli, who died at the age of eight or nine years: George P. 
and Susan. In 1S49 he erected a brick house near the old cabin, 
where two more children were born. Henrietta and Charles P. 

George "Walker «'as a very large land-holder in this county, own- 
ing at times during his life as much as 2.000 acres of land. He gave 
to each of his children about a quarter section; and at the time of his 
death he had about 1,000 acres in this county and 500 or 600 acres 
in Florida, where he had a large oran;j:e grove of 1.500 trees, to which 
he devoted his time every winter for ten years previous to his death. 
October 9, IS 79. During the last five years of his life he made 
several trips to California, visiting two daughters, Alary Jane, the 
wife ot' James Caples, and Rebecca, the wife of Joseph W. Her, who 
live in Sacramento county. 

At the age of 35 Mr. Walker was ordained a Baptist minister, 
and he served the society in that capacity in this county until he 
was about 65 years of age. He erected on his own place a log 
church building about 24 by 30 feet, principally at his own expense, 
and by his own labor, except a very little assistance from neighbors. 
This building was afterward used as a school-house; it is now torn 
down. 

In politics Mr. W. was a Democrat, and he took a prominent 
part in public affairs; indeed, he was a leader in his township, 
although not an office-seeker. He was elected to the Legislature 
twice, the first time in ISiS and the second time in 1S54. "He was 
for many years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor, Commissioner, 
etc. He may be classed as one of the fathers of the county, par- 
ticularly of the settlement of his part of the county. He was 
a man of deep religious convictions, of sterling integrity and 
well calculated to leave an impressive mark in the world in favor of 
justice and humanity. His widow still resides at the old home- 
stead in Walker tp, ' 

J/rs. Elizabeth Woodicorfh, wife of Charles Woodworth, deceased, 
was born in Virginia in IS 12. married Xovember 24. 1S29. and 
had 7 children, of whom these 6 are still living: Ann G.. Edwin. 
John W.. James. K. P., and George. The last named married 
Rebecca Shipe, and had two children. Mary Alice and Anna. Mr. 
Charles Woodworth was a hatter by occupation, and died December 
3, 1S41. The family moved to this county in early days when the 
country was quite wild, and Mrs. W. has seen the many and wonder- 
ful changes that have converged to make this land a land of plenty 
and refinement. She has had but six months' schooling in her life. 
but she now ow-ns and enjoys a quiet home near where once stood 



HISTOKT OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 973 

the Mormon village of 100 bouses, and where she has heard Jo 
Smith and other Alormons preach their peculiar doctrines. 

FOUNTAIN GREEN TOWNSHIP. 

Gibson H. Dorothy is the son of Robert Dorothy, an old settler 
of McDonough county who died in 1S7S, aged S2; was of English 
descent and born in Fairfax county, Ta. The two sons, Gibson and 
Xathan, now reside in this tp., are well-to-do citizens, engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. Their mother, whose maiden name 
was Ehoda Stenate. was a native of Kentucky, and died at the old 
homestead, aged 'd<o. Gibson remained with his father until 20 
years of age. when he was married to Miss Elizabeth "Wright, 
daughter of Basil Wright, an early settler of this tp. In 1S56 
Mr. D. purchased a farm of SO acres on sec. S, afterward 4S acres 
on sec. 17. Mr. D. has a family of .3 children, whose names are: 
Charles B., John M. and Rachel; the latter is the wife of Samuel 
McPherson. a farmer of this tp. Mr. D. is now on the decline of 
life, but still is found plodding away on his farm preparing to make 
life less burdensome in the future. His liberal Church and politi- 
cal views make his social life a pleasure both to himself and those 
with whom he comes in contact. He has been extensively engaged 
in shipping stock for nearly 20 years. John M., now the only son 
at home, is still carrying on the business. Mrs. D. can tell of 
many severe and trying privations through which the early settler 
had to pass when she was quite young. 

Alexander Walker, now deceased, was born in Franklin county. 
Pa., Aug. 19, 1S14, and came to Illinois, in Xov., 1S3S, settling in 
this tp., where he had friends and relatives. In ISil he went, in 
company with Robert Geddes. to Xew Orleans, where they were 
enffaored in business for eight years. Returning to this county in 
15497 Mr. Walker began iniproving the farm on sec. 20, where he 
died Dec. 2"^. 1579. The Walker family is of Scotch-Irish descent 
and of the Presbvterian faith. Mr. W. was married in 1543, to 
Miss Martha McConnell, whose parents had emigrated to this 
county a short time after he came. Mrs. Walker is still living, 
on the old homestead, with her youngest son. John M. She is the 
mother of 5 children. Samuel received a severe kick from a 
vicious horse and died from the effects of the injuries. Maggie 
died when quite young. Alice is the wife of Dr. R. I, Law. a 
practicing physician in Fountain Green. James is a farmer of 
this tp.. was married Xov. 2S, 1S72. to Miss Mary E. Young; 
resides on a farm on sec. 32 : has a family of 3 children — Martha 
R., Maggie M. and Ambrose O. John M., the youngest son, is now 
residing on the homestead farm; was married Mar. 21, 157S. to Miss 
Eva AHton, daughter of Miles Allton, of Fountain Green. The 
favored pet of his little family is the little boy, Clarence, a year 
and a half old. John has that peculiar quality of dispelling the 
'• blues "' from those he meets and never permits any one to pass 



974 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

throuo-h his door with out sharing his hospitality. He is a farmer 
by occupation and a Republican in political principles. 

ST. mary's township. 

Thomas B. Brumback. — Daniel Brumback, by descent a Ger- 
man, the great-grandfather of Thomas B. Brumback, came from 
Pennsylvania in an early day, to Virginia, and settled near New 
market; was a Baptist preacher ; had several children, but there 
are only two that we know anything about, John and Henry. 
John settled in Page county, Ya.; afterward moved to Ohio. He 
was the grandfather of David and Henry Hanson, who are now liv- 
ing near Oakwood, Hancock Co., HI. Henry Brumback, the 
vouuo-er brother of John, improved a farm on the Shenandoah 
river; he married Mary Grove, and their children were 11 in nutn- 
■^er, — John, Susan, Barbara, Anna, Samuel, Elizabeth, Jacob, Jo- 
seph, Mary, Frances and Henry; all remained in Virginia except 
Barbara, who married William Wood and settled in Atchison 
county. Mo., and Jacob, who married Nancy Grove in Virginia, 
Feb. 5, 1835, and settled on sec. 30, St. Mary's tp. Kancy Grove 
was the daughter of Samuel Grove, of Virginia, who married Mary 
Lionberger, the sister of Abraham, Joseph and Jacob Lionberger, 
who moved to Hancock Co. in 1835. Samuel Grove was the father 
of 9 children: Susan, John, David, Nancy, Barbara, Samuel, Mar- 
tin, Mary and Isabella. He, with all of his children, except John, 
moved to Hancock county in 1835, in company with his son-in-law, 
Jacob Brumback. Both bought farms in St. Mary's and improved 
the same. Jacob B. bought on sec. 30, 240 acres, and was at his 
death the owner of 1,100 acres. He was noted as a man of great 
industry, a good financier; never united with any Church, but had a 
decided prelerence for the Old-School Baptist ; was a Democrat; 
held no oflSces. He died Jan. 5, 1853, aged 43 years. His chil- 
dren were 8 in number, — Joseph S., Thomas B., Henry P., Mary E., 
Susan F., Emily E., John H. and Laura A.; 3 of whom died in 
childhood. 

Thomas B. Brumback was married Feb. 10, 1861, to a very esti- 
mable and accomplished young lady. Miss Abbie D. South wick, 
who was born in Massachusetts, and is a daughter of Baruch and 
Mary (Fowler) Southwick, also natives of that State. The latter 
came to this county in 1856, with 3 children, locating in St. Mary's 
tp., where Mr. S. resided until his death, July 16, 1871. His widow 
is still living, and resides w^ith her daugliter, Ruth, who is now the 
wife of George Shingle, of Harmony tp. Mary F., another daughter 
of Mrs. Southwick's, is now the wife of John Walton and resides in 
Augusta tp. These three are the children brought in immigration 
to the West. The Southwicks are of English origin, and were very 
early settlers in America, coming here only 10 or 11 years after the 
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. The first settler's name was 
Lawrence Southwick, and he located at Salem, Mass. In religious 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 975 

belief they were Friends, and they suffered many persecutions in 
common with many of their brethren, banishment being- one of the 
penalties. Mrs. Brumback's grandfather was George Southwick, 
also a native of the Bay State. 

Henry P. Brumback married Susan Kendall, and lives in St. 
Mary's tp; has 2 daughters and one son. Mary E. Brumback mar- 
ried Roland B. Cannon ; lives in St. Mary's ; has 6 daughters and 
one son. Emily E. Brumback married John W. Lewis, of Lafayette 
county, Mo., and settled there; has 3 sons and 3 daughters. Laura 
A. Brumback married John W. Grove, of Virginia, and is living 
there at this time. 

T. B. Brumback, the subject of this biography, was born in St. 
Mary's, Hancock Co., 111., March 4, 1838, on the farm where lie now 
lives; at the age of 14 his father died, leaving him, with his mother, 
in charge of the farm. His advantages for an education were but few. 
The first summer after marriage he lived in a log cabin on a part 
of his mother's place; in the following fall moved back to the 
homestead where he now resides. Was Supervisor of his township 
in 1864; Assessor in 1868-'9; was again elected Supervisor in 1875, 
and served two years; was elected to the Legislature in 1878. 

His business is farming and stock-raising; owns 600 acres of 
land. He has but one child now living, Arthur H., the eldest, born 
March 31, 1862; the others, 4 in number, one daughter and 3 sons, 
died in childhood. "We give Mr. Brumback's portrait on page 
297 of this volume. 

DURHAM TOWNSHIP. 

James Rhea-, of whom a sketch is given on page 925, furnishes 
the following items additional. His great-grandfather on his 
father's side was a native of Ireland, and his mother's grandfather a 
native of Germany. On emigration to this country they first set- 
tled in Old Virginia ; thence Wm. Ray (so spelled then), the father 
of James, emigrated to Jefferson, Ky., 16 miles from Louisville. In 
this new country he was offered two acres of land for riving 2,000 
boards, in the heart of what is now the city. In this neighbor- 
hood were four families spelling their name Ray, and in each family 
a John; they therefore concluded to distinguish each from the 
other by orthography, if not in pronunciation; namely, Ray, Rea, 
Rhea and Reaugh. Before this the Johns were distinguished bv 
epithets, — Long John, Short John, Tobacco John and Whisky John. 

James Rhea was but one j^ear old when his father died, and but 
seven when he left his mother, and he, the youngest of 8 children, 
was thus left an orphan. At the age of 16 he left Kentucky and 
came to Adams county, 111., where until 21 he worked by the 
month, at $7 to $12 a month; at this age he married and removed 
to this county. His tather-in-law, Philip K. Smith, is a native of 
Kentucky, who married Rachel Gilliland, also a native of that 
State. Dates of his children's birth : Thomas J., Jan. 16, 1858; 



976 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Theodore F., Dec. 7, I860; George W., May 1, 1864; John H., Oct. 
17, 1866; and Adaline C, Aug. 2, 1875. 

In politics Mr. K. is a Kepublican, and in religion he makes no 
profession. He belongs to no society of any kind. 

When Mr. Rhea came to his present place in 1855, he hauled the 
hewed frame timbers with him from Adams county, and on arrival 
here he had to get a neighbor to tell him where his land was, and 
he unloaded his timbers in prairie grass as tall as the horses. For 
lumber and shingles he had to go to Fort Madison. 




CHAPTER XXYI. 

THE CRIMINAL RECORD 

In this work must be brief, — uot because there have been no 
crimes to record, but partlj' for reason of the difficulty in procur- 
ing the proper data to make an intelligent report in each case. The 
criminal records show, of course, that John Doe or Richard Roe 
was indicted on such a day for murder, or burglary, or arson, as 
the case may be, and on such a day was tried, convicted and sen- 
tenced to the penitentiary; but they do not show who was the 
sufferer, or where, when or how, the deed was committed. The 
bare mention of a scamp^s trial and conviction, we take to be not a 
matter worthy of a place in history, in these days when human 
life has become so cheap. Besides, we have a strong conviction 
that the frequency with which these things are brought to the pub- 
lic gaze, has a tendency to increase the evil. 

Since the organization of the county in 1829, we judge that not 
less than a quarter of a hundred indictments for murder have been 
recorded. Of the defendants in all these cases, only one has been 
hung; and we take a special pleasure in recording the fact, that 
only once in our history has that relic of barbarism, the gallows, 
been seen on our prairies. A dozen others, perhaps far more guilty, 
have escaped punishment altogether, through inefficiency of prose- 
cutors, finely drawn scruples of jurymen, or insecurity of jails. 
Not a few have shown themselves more fleet of foot than the 
sheriff. 

There have been a few cases, however, that from the enormity of 
the offense, or for some other reason, have attracted unusual public 
attention. Some of these we shall endeavor to notice. 

In a preceding chapter the case of the first murderer — Hankins 
— has been reported. He escaped from the log-cabin jail, at Quincy ; 
though one might conclude that log-cabin jails would be quite as 
secure as are the jails uow-a-days, built of iron and stone. 

Fielding Frame. 

The next is the case of him that was hung. The crime was 
committed in Schuyler county, in a saloon, at the village of Fred- 
eric, on the Illinois river. The indictment read: ''The People vs. 
William Fraim," but he gave his name as Fielding Frame; was 
a deck hand on the steamer " Hero," plying on the Illinois. The 
indictment was found at the June term, 1838, in Schuyler county, 
and was tried here on a change of venue. The murdered man was 

56 (977) 



978 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 

William Neathaumer. Henry L. Bryant, of Fulton, was prosecut- 
ing attorney; Ralston, Judge; Dickey, attorney for defense, assisted 
by Abraham Lincoln. The latter moved an arrest of judgment for 
several causes, the paper being now on file among the others in the 
case at Carthage, in Mr. Lincoln's own handwriting. 

Frame was found guilty on the 24th, after trial, at the April 
term, 1839, and sentenced on the 25th by Judge Ralston, to be 
hanged on Saturday, May 18, between the hours of 12 (noon) and 
two o'clock in the afternoon, on a gallows to be erected within one 
mile of Carthage. And it was done; the site selected was in or 
near the ravine running southeasterly from town, the spectators 
lining the sides. 

The Mormon difficulty trials are reported at length in other 
chapters. 

Joshua Vance. 

The next case we report is that of " The People vs. 
Joshua Yance," for murder ; on change of venue from Adams 
county; verdict rendered at the April term, 1849. In a drunken 
brawl at Liina, Vance had killed a young man named Harness. The 
verdict read — ^" The jury find the defendant, Joshua Vance, guilty 
of feloniously slaying Jackson Harness, in manner and form as 
charged in the aforesaid indictment, and affix the term of his im- 
prisonment in the penitentiary at eight years." Sentenced for eight 
years — one month solitary confinement — the i-emainder hard labor. 

This case is more worthy of mention from the fact that it was so 
ably prosecuted and defended. Robert I. Blackwell was prosecutor, 
and he was assisted by Col. Edward D. Baker. The defense was 
conducted by O. H. Browning, assisted, we believe, by Cyrus 
Walker and Calvin A. Warren. Perhaps no three or four more el- 
oquent and logical speeches were ever made in that court-house than 
were made on that occasion. 

Alfred Logan. 

At a singing-school one night in Sonora township, Alfred 
Logan stabbed and killed Charles Yates. They were both boys 
and associates at school ; quarreled about some trivial matter, and 
the result was tlie death of the latter. At the June term of Court, 
1871, Logan was put upon his trial ; prosecuted by Wm. G. Ewing, 
public prosecutor, assisted by B. F. Scofield and George Edmunds; 
and defended by Nehemiah Bushnell and R. W. McKinney. The 
jury rendered a verdict of guilty, and fixed the punishment at 25 
years in the penitentiary. We believe that after several years' ser- 
vice Logan was reprieved by the Governor. 

John Rose. 

The next case we shall report is that of the murder of Jesse Rose, 
of Carthage tp., by his son, John, aged 18, on Oct. 4, 1866. The 



HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 979 

murdered man was what was called a '" shiftless" man — not a good 
provider ; passionate and sometimes abusive to his wife and chil- 
dren ; and was at times given to liquor. The father and sons seem 
to have been possessed of a rather low order of intellect, of but lit- 
tle education and moral sense. The murder was committed in the 
night, as the father was returning home, with an ax, and the body 
left lying in the road till morning, where it was found by a younger 
son. In his confession, the young man said he did it because nis 
father abused his mother; and that seems to have been the only 
impelling motive. The young culprit was immediately arrested 
and placed in jail. On Monday following, the 8th, the Circuit Court 
being in session, a special grand jury was summoned, who on the 
same day found a bill against him for murder. He plead guilty, 
but was assigned counsel (Messrs. John D. Miller and Henry W. 
Draper) and afterward placed on trial, pleading not guilty. The 
testimony adduced was that the culprit lacked ordinary sense or 
knowledge of human responsibility; and therefore counsel agreed 
to enter the plea of manslaughter. This was done, and the Court 
sentenced John Rose to the penitentiary for life. 

Zach Wilson. 

The murder of Thomas McDonald, at Plymouth, by ZachariahT. 
Wilson, on Aug. 14, 1876, was a peculiarly atrocious one. It was 
the result of a quarrel between the two, growing out of a grievous 
wrong done the daughter of the former by Wilson. They had quar- 
reled a few days before and on this fatal day again met, when the 
quarrel was renewed. James Wilson, a brother of the murderer, 
participated, and advised the shooting of McDonald, afterward 
procuring a double-barreled shot-gun and loading it for the pur 
pose. The parties separated, and all had become quiet, when Zach 
took the gun and, passing to the door of Dr. Wade's drug store, on 
the counter of which McDonald was sitting, snapped a cap at him. 
McDonald slipped from the counter and drew his pistol. Wilson 
again fired, killing McDonald instantly. The pistol was discharged 
almost at the same moment, the ball penetrating the counter. 
Zach immediately fled, and soon met Newton McDonald, the mur- 
dered man's brother, at whom he snapped the gun again, struck 
him with it, and again fled. McDonald pursued, discharging 
three shots at the fugitive, but without effect. 

Zach escaped, and was not afterward heard of until the loth of 
October of the same year, when he was delivered to the Carthage 
jail by a detective who had been on his track. He was arrested 
near White river, in Arkansas. Arraigned for trial, he obtained a 
change of venue to McDonough county, and while there escaped, 
and is still at large. 

The brother, James, was taken and brought to Carthage jail. 
At the March term, 1877, he was tried, convicted and sentenced to 
the penitentiary for 14 years. He, too,, escaped after conviction, 



980 Hiii-T 7 z^ :: :z rirrr. 

and was at large imtil Mav, IS 79. when he was arrested near h& 
home, delivered to the Sheriffl and safely deposited at Joliet 



Ednsird Fergi .^IS -. 1 . r'. 

But perhaps the most :::::- _ - -- 

ever p-erp^tratei in Hancock county or the State, was that of Dr. 
Daniel Pierson, of Angus-;, ::: ^ - — -— - -r-. > v. 22. 1S7S. 
Dr. P. was a well-known. - -r ; t t: and peace- 

able dtusen, and had re*: '7 enjoy- 

ment of a good practice. 7 I'm the 

Angnsta ^«?raW of the 2 .? :_ ~t -.^- : _ z re- 

gard to the murder: 

Between 9 and 10 o'clock at _ 
street, and represented himself - : : _ : - . 

Grarwood. residing two or three : ~ 5- : : 

that she was sick, and desirec 
informed his family of the ca. 

of mercy, firom which he neve j^e - 

his head dreadfully bruised az 1 1 _ . r 

an hour after leaving home, stiil livin^-. ::; zre 

than a few incoherent err~e ??::::- ^er ^^._ v„ ; z .:. 

with which the horrid dee;. _ . t :: t j^e ^^ - _^T~e . 

a drug-store in town, whe: _r - Zt ^z;- 

pecting who the man 'i^ai : 

This murder proc e . ttl^t t -^ _ 

throughout the whole 7. ^; .. . r ~- 

cient to turn suspicio:: vny one. 2S t : : r 

the commission of the ..e^r'^. Th"= rr-" - - -i-i. 

everybody watching everybody el; T -^ 

word or deed that loc>kTl -ize _ - : _ "e*! 

that the man who hac e ^ _ ^ -'^y 

horse was the one wl. 
the man. and whose "^ ~ . - 

horse had been seen. :. : v _ _ e 

doctor had taken, was :^i;::v__ - „. t 

fisict was, the d«?etor s ^as miss _ 

In the mea:::: 'e ^ : :t^:- '-7 

working togtT-r r -e 7^ : - -' 

mttention had oeen drawn ro^ 
Ferguson. In January. Ferg::i:z _-^. 

nesota. The suspicion became so str _ _ >: ^^ 

deterrained to bring him back. Gecr^ ^ '"^ 

that purp«>se, and in a pawn-brokers ; 
and soon afterward arrested the n^rc. 
the return, Ferguson made confessioc. 
men, Marion Hetrick (one of the men wii z -: '--.- 



HWIOBT Cr HABCOCE oorsTY. 961 

murdacd man mud hdped oonvej him to town). John Aver and 
LeJSoj ir<Hkuig. Tbc&e woe at cMieesneBted, the former mt home, 
and the othst two in Iowa. Thej va« immfsdiatelj rananded to 
jail at OardiageL 

At die June torn. 1S79. H^rick. Atct and Wwldng obtained 
a diange ci venae to Adams eonntr. At the S^tonber term thev 
woe plaeed nwHi trial at QoincT. prosecnted by State's Atiomev 
Mastm, afristpin by W. H. Manier, of C&rthaire, and W. H. Gorert, 
of Aduns. They were defended by H. W. ^Draper and C. J. Sco- 
fidd. of Carthage. The jury aoqnitted aD three. 

Fergnam obteined a oonti'nnanfie March. 1^^0, he was Ivonght 
to teial, found guilty and sentoioed for 24 years in the penitoi- 
tiaiT. 

Theee two trials fmnish a corions chapter in criminal proceed- 
ings. Fexgoson's testimimy was nsed as against his accomplices, 
and his ecnfessicm against mmsell In the lattor case it was taken 
fu- tmdt; in the former it was rejected. If true, it e»tainly was 
eondnsbre against himself; bnt would only conrict him of being 
an npeeeeonr — eqnalty guilty, p»h^>s. with the others. Yet there 
eould be no acoesecMy withont a principaL He was not proTen to 
hare participated in the actoal kiUing; then the question is. If 
Hetrick. Avey and Working didn't kai Daniel Piason. who did t 
If the Todict of ^e Adams jury was a correct one, then it is clear 
that Ae muid^os of Daniel Fi««<m are jet at large. Bnt snp- 
poeing the ¥crdi^ to have been wrraig, it would not excuse a Han- 
cock jury frmn the pexformanoe of a solemn duty, because an 
Adams inrv had &iled to do didrs. 




CHAPTER XXVII. 

HAXCOCK RAILWAYS. 

The county of Hancock contains witiiin its limits one hnndred 
and eleven miles, and tliree thousand seven hundred and eightr- 
nine feet of railway line, supplying convenient transportation for 
most of its citizens. The townships least favored with regard to 
them are Hancock on the east; Xauvoo. Appanoose and Sonora on 
the north-west: and Eocky Run, TTalker and 'VVythe on the south- 
west. Yet there is no township but has some portion of it within 
five miles of one of these roads. Prairie contains more miles of 
road than any other — all the roads in the county, excepting the 
Chicago and Quincy running through it. The Toledo. Peoria «fc 
"Warsaw, including the Burlington branch, has a length of 47 miles 
and o.SiS feet within the county, through the townshios of Wil- 
cox. Montebello. Prairie, Rock Creek. Pilot Grove. Fountain Green 
and La Harpe. and touching Durham. The Wabash has '22 miles 
and 909 feet from Elvaston through Prairie, Carthage. Harmonv and 
Chili. The C. B. e\: Q.. including both lines, has il miles and 
1.576 feet, from Dallas City through Dallas, Rock Creek. Prairie, 
Bear Creek and St. Alban's. The bridge road line measures 2.736 
feet. 

These roads are assessed for taxation purposes at valuations as 
follows, viz.: 

The C. B. »S: Q.^at $229,^:14. and a total— other values included— 
of ^S 7. 730. 

The T.. P. c\: W. at #123.735— total, ftl 69.091. 

The T.. P. it W. branch at a total of #13.0Si. 

The T.. W. vS: W. at 77,603— total. si27.945. 

The Bridge road at a total of $1,046. 

Making a grand total of #69S.S96. 

It would be nearly or quite as impossible to state what these 
roads have cost the people of the county, as to estimate their bene- 
fits. The former has been much more than has generally been 
supposed : while the latter can be hardly overstated." 

To give a brief outline of their history, we must go back to the 
winter of 1S36-'T. Cnder the Internal Improvement Act, passed 
by the crazy Legislature at that session, the State undertook the 
construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, together with a 
score or so of milroads. One of these, as part and parcel of the 
vast scheme, was to be the Warsaw it Peoria railroad — 119 miles 
in length. Surveyors were set at work all over tlie State, running 
routes and planting stakes, and many of them were put partly 
under contract and work begun as early as 1S3S. In that year this 
W. iS: P. road was surveyed and sections at both ends put under 
contract. In a year or two thereafter, when the State became 




I fc-^/ 



~ f 



Ecr- 





«] 



•^^-7 




HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 985 

bankrupt, it was graded at the Warsaw end and some culverts 
made as far as Carthage, with intervening portions unfinished. 

This looked like being the end of railroad building in Illinois for 
many years to come. Gradually the work of building them by 
chartered companies gained ground, and charters were as liberally 
granted as before had been the legislation to build them at State 
cost and with State effort. 

The necessity for a railroad or other improvement around the 
rapids was early felt on both sides of the river; and we believe the 
first charter obtained after the great collapse, for any road in Han- 
cock, was one granted in 1S39 for the Des Moines Rapids railroad 
Company. Under this books were opened at points along the 
river for subscriptions to the stock. How much was subscribed we 
do not know, but not enough to ensure success, and the project was 
abandoned. A few years afterward, 1S4T or thereabouts, the War- 
saw and Nauvoo project was revived and a charter obtained, or the 
old one modified ; and subsequently, in 1851, the plan was enlarged 
so as to include both rapids, and the Warsaw & Rockford railroad 
company was chartered. About the same time, or later, the Mis- 
sissippi & Wabash company was chartered. Subsequentl}^ it was 
divided into sections, to be independent of each other, and com- 
missioners appointed to each; the first section to embrace the line 
between Warsaw and the Northern Cross railroad. In the mean 
time, on petition, the County Board had ordered a vote on the 
question of subscription of $100,000 to each road, which was 
carried (see Elections Chapter); and in 1859 an act was passed, 
among other provisions, legalizing this vote and subscription. 

But the matter dragged ; and to this day the Warsaw & Rock- 
ford railroad and the Warsaw & Nauvoo railroad are things ot 
the future, if ever to be realized. The subscription of $100,000 has 
gone " where the woodbine twineth;" but the bonds based thereon, 
like Banquo's ghost, continue to rise up to vex the tax-payers. 

The M. &: W. was more successful. Other charters were obtained, 
and repeals and amendments, too numerous to follow. One of these 
charters was the Springfield, Keokuk & Warsaw; another the 
Illinois & Southern Iowa, and through and by these, or a combi- 
nation of them all, the original route was changed in the direction 
of Springfield. 

B}' the spring of 1858, the work had so far progressed as to 
begin the laying of ties in April; and that summer construction 
trains were running upon the prairie, we believe as^far as Carthage. 

The Peoria route had not been abandoned, and in 1864, that road 
was built througji the county, and subsequently the branch from 
La Harpe to Burlington added. Following, in lS68-'70, the 
Quincy <fe Burlington branch was built, under the auspices of 
the C, B. & Q. This road (the old road, from Quincy to Gales- 
burg), had been in progress, we believe, before work had been 
begun on any of the other routes; and in 1855 the first car was 
run in Hancock county on that road, through Augusta and Ply- 
mouth. 



HANCOCK CENSUS 1870—1880. 



Townships. 1870—1880. 

Auffusta 1992—1894 

St. 'Mary's 1650—1538 

Hancock 926—1130 

Fountain Green , 1475—1254 

La Harpe 1741—1898 

Chili 1601—1418 

Harmony 1457—1246 

Carthage 2448—2686 

Pilot Grove 1217—1229 

Durham 1019—1098 

St. Alban's 1147—1280 

Bear Creek 1117—1189 

Prairie 1380—1229 

Eock Creek 1201-1444 

Pontoosuc and Dallas 1949 — 

Pontoosuc — 789 

Dallas —1144 

Walker 1474—1612 

Wjthe 1219—1135 

Montebello 2130—1977 

Sonora 1485—1399 

Appanoose 1018 — 846 

Rocky Run 655 — 855 

Wilcox 475— 588 

Warsaw 3583—3105 

Nauvoo 1578—1399 

35,935—35376 
Loss 559 

(986) 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 



LAWS. 

The courts recognize two kinds of law, Statute and Common. 
Statute law is that which is enacted by the Legislature. Common 
law consists of all the law of England, — whether Statute, or Com- 
mon, which was in force in that country at the time of our inde- 
pendence, and recognized by our courts, and which has not since 
been repealed or disused. 

We have what is called established law. For this branch of 
common law there is no authority excepting the decisions of the 
courts; hence the value of the reported decisions which are pub- 
lished by official reporters. The law presumes that every body is 
acquainted with it. Mistakes of fact can be corrected by the courts, 
but not mistakes of law; no man being permitted to take advantage 
of a mistake of the law, either to enforce a right, or avoid an obli- 
gation; for it would be dangerous and unwise to encourage igno- 
rance of the law, by permitting a party to profit, or to escape, by his 
ignorance. One is required at his peril to know the law of his own 
country. 

JURISDICTION OF COURTS. 

Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the 
recovery of moneys for damages, for injury to real property, or tak- 
ing, detaining, or injuring personal property; for rent; for all cases 
to recover damages done to real or personal property, by railroad 
companies; in actions of replevin; of actions for damages for fraud; 
in the sale, purchase, or exchange of personal property, when the 
amount claimed as due is not over $200. They have also jurisdic- 
tion in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, towns, or 
villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a 
private person, to arrest any one committing, or attempting to com- 
mit a criminal offense. lie also, npon complaint, can issue his 
warrant for the arrest of any person accused of having committed a 
crime, and have him brought before him for examination. 



990 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

COUNTY COURTS 

Have jarisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties 
having a population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement 
of estates of deceased persons, appointment of guardians and con- 
servators, and settlements of their accounts; all matters relating to 
apprentices; proceedings for the collection of taxes and assesments, 
and in proceedings of executors, administrators, guardians, and 
conservators, for the sale of real estate. In law cases, thev have 
concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all cases where jus- 
tices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, jurisdiction 
when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000; and in all crim- 
inal offenses, where the punishment is not imprisonment in the pen- 
itentiary or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of peace 
and police magistrates, except when the county judge is sitting as 
a justice of the peace. 

Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction. 

COXMISSIO>ERS OF HIGHWAYS. 

The commissioners of highways in the different towns, have 
the care and superintendence of highways, and bridges therein. 
They have the power to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads, 
build and repair bridges, and divide their respective towns into as 
many road districts as they shall think convenient. This is to be 
done annually, and ten days before the annual town meeting. In 
addition to the above, it is their duty to erect and keep in repairs 
at the forks or crossing-place of the most important roads, post and 
guide-boards, with plain inscriptions, giving directions and dis- 
tances to the most noted places to which such roads may lead; also 
to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, cockle-burs, mus- 
tard, yellow dock, Indian mallow, and jimson wee^ from seeding, 
and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent all 
rank growth of vegetation on the public highways, so far as the 
same may obstruct public travel; and it is in their discretion to 
erect watering places for public use, for watering teams at such 
points as may be deemed advisable. Every able-bodied male inhab- 
itant, being above the age of twenty-one years, and under fifty, ex- 
cepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, trustees of schools and school di- 
rectors, and such others as are exempt by law, are required to labor 
on highways in their respective road districts, not less thar. one, 



DIGEST UF STATE LAWS. 991 

nor more than three days in each year. Three days' notice must 
be given by the overseer, of the time and place he requires such 
road labor to be done. The labor must be performed in the road 
district in which the person resides. Any person may commute 
for such labor by paying the equivalent in money. Any person 
liable for work on highways, who has been assessed two days or 
more, and has not commuted, may be required to furnish team, or 
a cart, wagon or plow, with a pair of horses or oxen aud a man to 
manage them, for which he will be entitled to two days' work. 
Eight hour'? is a days' work on the roads and there is a penalty of 
twenty-five cents an hour against any person or substitute who 
shall neglect or refuse to perform. Any person remaining idle, or 
does not work faithfully, or hinders others from doing so, forfeits 
to the town $2. Every person assessed and duly notified, who has 
not commuted, and refuses or neglects to appear, shall forfeit to the 
town for every day's refusal or neglect, the sum of $2; if he was 
required to furnish a team, carriage, man or implements, and neg- 
lects or refuses to comply, he is liable to the following fines: 1st, 
For wholly failing to comply, $4 each day; 2d, For omitting to 
furnish a man to manage team, $2 each dav; 3d, For omittingr to 
furnish a pair of horses or oxen, $1.50 each day; -Ith, For omitting 
to furnish a wagon, cart or plow, ~o cents each day. The commis- 
sioners estimate and assess the highway labor and road tax. The 
road tax on real and personal property can not exceed forty cents 
on each hundred dollars' worth. The labor or road tax in villages, 
towns or cities, is paid over to the corporate authorities of such, 
for the improvement of streets, roads and bridges within their lim- 
its. 

The legal voters of townships, in counties under township organ- 
ization may, by a majority vote, at their annual town meeting, 
order that the road tax may be collected in money only. 

Overseers. — Their duties are to repair and keep in order the high- 
ways in their districts; to warn persons to work out their road tax 
at such time and place as they think proper; to collect fines and 
commutation money, and execute all lawful orders of the commis- 
sioners of highways; also make list, within sixteen days after their 
election, of the names of all inhabitants in his road district, liable 
to work on hisrhways. For refusal to perform any of his duties he 
is liable to a tine of $10. 



992 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

As :ill township and county officers are familiar with their duties, 
it is here intended only to i^ive the ]H)ints of law with which the 
public should bo familiar. The numner of bivini^ out, altering, or 
vacating roads, etc., will not be here stated, as it would require 
more space than can be sjjared in a work like this. It is suliicient 
to state that the llrst step is by petition, addressed to the commis- 
sioners, settiui^ out what is prayed for, i^jiving the names of the 
owners of the laiuls,if known (if not known, so state), over which the 
road is to pass, giving the general course, its place of beginning, 
and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve freehold- 
ers residing within three miles of the road, who shall sign the peti- 
tion. Public roads must not be less than lifty, nor more than sixty 
feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if petitioned 
for, may be laid out not less than forty feet M-ide, Private roads 
for private and public use may be laid out three rods wide, on peti- 
tion of the person directly interested; the damage occasioned there- 
by shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the 
road is opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be con- 
sidered recinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit 
persons who live on or have private roads, to work out their road 
tax thereon. Public roads must be opened in five years from date 
of tiling order of location, or be deemed vacated. 

FENCES. 

The town assessor and commissioners of highways shall be fence 
viewers in their respective towns in counties under township organ- 
ization. In other counties, the county board ajipoints three in each 
precinct, annually. 

A lawful fence is four and one-half feet high and in good-repair, 
consisting of rails, timbers, boards, stones, hedges, or any other 
material the fence viewers may deem sufficient. The electors at 
any annual town meeting may determine what shall constitute a 
legal fence in the town. 

Division fences shall be made and maintained in just proportion 
by the adjoining owners, except where the owner shall choose to let 
his land lie open; but after a division fence has been built by mu- 
tual agreement or otherwise, it shall not be lawful for either party 
to remove his part of said fence, so long as he may crop or use such 
lands for farm purposes, or without giving the other i)arty one 
year's notice in writing, of his intention to move his portion of the 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 993 

fence. Adjoining owners sliould endeavor, if possible, mutually to 
agree as to the proportion that each shall maintain of the division 
fence between their adjoining lands; and the agreement should be 
reduced to writing, each party taking a copy. When any ])ersc)n 
shall enclose his land u})on the enclosure of another, he shall refund 
the owner of the adjoining lands a just proportion of the value at 
that time of such fence. The value of such fence, and the propor- 
tion thereof to bo paid by such person, and the proportion of the 
division fence to be made and maintained by liim,. in case of his 
inclosing his land, shall be determined by two fence viewers of the 
town. Such fence viewers have power to settle all disputes between 
owners as to fences built or to be built, as well as concerning repairs 
to be nuide. Each party chooses one of the viewers, but if the 
other party neglects, after eight days' notice in writing, to make 
his choice, then the other party may select both. It is sufficient to 
notify the tenant, or ]>arty in possession, when the owner is not a 
resident of the town in v/liich such fences are situated. The two 
fence viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the 
statements of the parties. In case they can't agree, they shall se- 
lect another fence viewer to act with them, and the decision of any 
two of them shall be final. The decision must be reduced to writ- 
ing, and should plainly set out a description of the fence and all 
matters settled by them, and must be filed in the ofiice of the town 
clerk. 

If any person who is liable to contribute to the erection or repa- 
ration of a division fence, shall neglect or refuse to make or repair 
his proportion of such fence, the party injured, after giving sixty days' 
notice, in writing, that a new fence should be erected, or ten days' 
notice, in writing, that the repair of such fence is necessary, may 
make or repair the same at the expense of the party so neglecting 
or refusing, to be recovered from him with costs of suit; and the 
party so neglecting or refusing, after notice in writing, shall be lia- 
ble to the party injured for all damages which shall thereby accrue, 
to be determined by any two fence viewers. AVhen a person shall 
conclude to remove his part of the division fence and let his land 
lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the adjoining 
owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by fence 
viewers as before provided ; and on ])ayment or tender of the 
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal. 



994 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

A party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the 
damages accruing thereby. 

"Where a fence has been built on the land of another through 
mistake, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his 
fence and material within six months after the division line has 
been ascertained. Where the material to build such a fence has 
been taken from the land on which it was built, then before it can 
be removed, the person claiming must first pay for such material, 
to the owner of the land from which it was taken; nor shall such a 
fence be removed at a time when the removal will throw open or 
expose the crops of the other party; a reasonable time must be 
given beyond the six months to remove crops. 

The compensation of fence viewers is one dollar and fifty cents 
a day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them; 
but in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence 
viewers, must be paid equally by the parties, except in cases where 
a part}" neglects or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of 
a division fence, when the party in default shall pay them. 

DBAIXAGE. 

"Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to con- 
struct a drain or ditch, through another man's land, the right can 
be had only under legislative authority, or is granted or exists by 
prescription or by consent of the owner. 

Dripping water from one house upon another can be allowed only 
where the owner has acquired the right by grant or prescription; 
and no one has a right to construct his house so as to let the water 
drip over his neighbor's land. 

TRESPASS OF STOCK. 

Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's inclosure, the 
fence being good and suflicient, the owner is liable for the damage 
done; but where the damage is done by stock running at large, con- 
trary to law, the owner is liable where there is not such a fence. 
"Where stock is found trespassing on the inclosure of another as 
aforesaid, the owner or occupier of the premises may take posses- 
sion of such stock and keep the same until damages, with reasonable 
charges for keeping and feeding, and all costs of suit, are paid. 
Any person taking or rescuing such stock so held, without his con- 
sent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three nor more than 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 095 

five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by suit before 
a justice of the peace, for the use of the school fund. "Within twen- 
tj-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- 
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known ; 
or if unknown, notice must be posted in some public place near the 
premises. 

ESTRAYS. 

Stray animals are those whose owner is unknown, any beasts, not 
wild, found on one's premises, and not owned by the occupant. Any 
animals found straying at any time during the year, in counties 
where such animals are not allowed to run at large, or between the 
last day of October and the 15th day of April in other counties, the 
owner being unknown, may be taken up as estrays. A party who 
wishes to detain property as an estray, must show an exact compli- 
ance with the law. In order to vest the property of the stray in 
him, such acts must appear in detail on the record. 

No person not a householder in the county where the estray is 
found can lawfully take up an estray, and then only upon or about 
his farm or place of residence. Estrays should not be used before 
advertised, except animals giving milk, which may be milked for 
their benefit. !N6tices must be posted up within five days in three, 
of the most public places in the town or precinct in which the es- 
tray was found, giving the residence of the taker-up, and a partic- 
ular description of the estray, its age, color, and marks natural and 
artificial, and stating before what justice of the peace in such town 
or precinct, and at what time, not less than ten nor more than fif- 
teen days from the time of posting such notices, he will apply to 
have the estray apprised. If rlie owner of an estray shall not have 
appeared and proved ownership and taken the same away, first 
paying the taker-up his reasonable charges for taking up, keeping, 
and advertising the same, the taker-up shall appear before the justice 
mentioned in above notice, and make an affidavit as required by 
law. All subsequent proceedings are before the justice who is fa- 
miliar therewith; therefore we omit them here. 

Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or 
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall 
forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. Ordinary diligence 
is required in taking care of estrays, but in case they die or get 
away, the taker-up is not liable for the same. 



996 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

If a man finds estrays in his field be is not bound to retain them 
for the owner, but may drive them ofi" into the highway without 
being liable to an action. But a person who chases a horse out of 
his field with a large fierce dog, commits an unlawful act, and is 
liable for any injury which the act occasions. A person who takes 
anestray to keep for the owner, but does not pursue the course pre- 
scribed by statute, is not liable to an action unless he uses the same 
or refuses to deliver it on demand. Hiding a horse to discover the 
owner is not " use." 

HORSES 

Are animals of a domestic nature. Under the age of four years 
they are called colts. A borrower of ahorse is liable for negligence, 
misuse, or gross want of skill in use. The lender is liable in case 
the animal lent is unfit or dangerous, as he thus may occasion 
injury. The animal should be used only for the purpose and to the 
extent stipulated, and not by a servant. 

If he dies from disease, or is killed by inevitable accident, the bor- 
rower is not liable. Defects which are manifest, open and plain to an 
ordinary observer, and those also which are known to the buyer, are 
not usually covered by a general warranty. The former requires 
no skill to discover them, and the latter may be objected to or 
acquiesced in at the time of the purchase. In the case of latent 
defects existino: in such a condition that thev could not be detected 
by the buyer, and are known to the seller, who fails to disclose them 
to the buyer, the latter practices a constructive fraud, unless the 
animal is sold '• with all faults." By consenting to purchase the 
horse " with all faults," the purchaser takes upon himself the risk 
of latent or secret defects, and calculates the price accordingly. 
But even this kind of a purchase would be voidable if the seller 
had purposely, and to deceive the purchaser, covered, filled up, 
patched, plastered, or otherwise practiced fraud to conceal any 
defects, and he would be liable. 

Hiring out a horse and carriage to perform a particular journey, 
carries with it the warranty of the person letting the horse and 
carriage, that each of them is fit and competent for such journey; 
but, if a horse is hired for one purpose, and is used for another and 
is injured, the hirer is liable for the damage sustained. The hirer 
is in all cases answerable for ordinary neglect. If he uses the 
hired horse as a prudent man would his own, he is not liable for 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 997 

any dainagt; which the horse may receive. If, however, he keeps 
the hired horse after a stipuhited time, or uses it differently from 
his agreement, he is in any event liable. If the hirer sells the horse, 
the owner may recover its value of the purchaser, though the pur- 
chaser had in good faith given the hirer full value for it, as the 
hirer could give no better title than he had himself. 

Mischievous animals render their owners liable when known to 
them to be so, and they are responsible for the damage they may do 
when they permit them to go at large. Any person mayjustity 
the killing of ferocious animals. 

MARES ANL BRANDS. 

Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats, may have one ear- 
mark and one brand, which shall be different from his neighbors', 
and may be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which 
such property is kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The 
record of such shall be open to examination free of charge. In 
cases of disputes as to marks or brands, such record is 'pHma facie 
evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats, that may 
have been branded by former owners, may be rebranded in presence 
of one or more of his neighbors, who shall certify to the facts of 
the marking or branding being done, when done, and in what brand 
or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which certificate may 
also be recorded as before stated. 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. 

An agreement is virtually a contract by which a certain person 
(or persons) agrees or contracts to perform certain duties within a 
specified time. Good business men always reduce an agreement to 
writing, which nearly always saves misunderstandings and long 
and expensive lawsuits. Iso particular form is necessary, but the 
facts must be clearly and explicitly stated; and there must be a 
reasonable consideration, else the agreement is void. 

Unless it is expressly stipulated that the agreement is binding for 
a longer time, tlie contract expires at the end of one year. Every 
agreement should state most distinctly the time within which its 
conditions are to be complied with. A discovery of fraud, or mis- 
representation by one i^arty to the agreement, or changing of the 
date, renders the contract void. Each party should retain a copy of 
the asreement. 



99S DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 



GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. 



This Agreement, made the third day of November, 1878, between 
Damon Clarke of Macomb, county of McDonough, State of Illinois, 
of the first part, and William Hays, of the same place, of the 
second part. 

WITNESSETH, That the said Damon Clarke, in consideration of 
the agreement of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, 
contracts, and agrees to, and with the said William Hays, that he 
will deliver in good and marketable condition, at the city of Gales- 
burg, 111., daring the month of December of this year, nine hun- 
dred bushels of corn, in the following lots, and at the following 
specified times, namely: one hundred bushels by the fifth of Decem- 
ber, three hundred bushels by the fifteenth of December, and the 
balance by the thirtieth of December. 

And the said William Hays in consideration of the prompt ful- 
fillment of this contract on the part of the party of the second 
part, contracts to, and agrees with the said Damon Clarke, to pay 
for said corn fifty cents ])er bushel as soon as delivered. 

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it 
is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay 
to the other, one hundred dollars, as fixed and settled damages. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the day and 
year first above written : Damon Clarke, 

William Hats. 

NOTES. 

A note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount 
and time of payment are mentioned. The following is a good form: 
$100 Chicago, III., May 1, 1S79. 

Thirty days after date I promise to pay F. M. Chapmauj 
or order, one hundred dollars, for value received. 

S. T. Lewis. 

To make a note payable in anything else than money, insert the 
facts instead of the sum of money alone; unless paid when due, it 
is payable in money. To hold an indorser of a note, due diligence 
must be used by suit in collecting of the maker, unless suit would 
have been unavailing. Notes payable to person named or to order, 
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payer. 
Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when 
so payable, every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of pay- 
ment unless otherwise expressed. 

The limit of time in which action may be brought on a note is 
10 years. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 999 

If the note is payable to a person or order, or to a person or 
bearer, to a person or his assigns, or to a cashier of an incorporated 
company, such notes are negotiable. 

When transferring a note, the indorser frees himself from respon- 
sibility, so far as the payment is concerned, by writiDg on the back, 
above his signature, without recourse to me in any event. 

A note is void when founded upon fraud. Thus a note obtained 
from a person when intoxicated, or obtained for any reason which 
is illegal, cannot be collected. A note given on Sunday is also void, 

1^0 defense can be made against negotiable paper purchased 
before maturity for good consideration in the usual course of busi- 
ness, without knowledge of facts impeaching its validity, except 
fraud was used in obtainincr the same. Thus if A gives his note 
to B for Si 50, receives in consideration a shawl and five pieces of 
cloth. The former was represented to be worth 8T5, and the cloth 
the best imported English goods. "When, in fact, the shawl was 
only worth $8, and suits made of the cloth wore out in less than 
six weeks, long before the note was due. B, however, had sold the 
note to C, who did not know the circumstances, and before it was 
due — A would be obliged to pay it. 

JUDGMENT NOTE. 

For value received I promise to pay Ewing Summers, of Gales- 
burg, or order, two hundred dollars, with interest, on the first day 
of January next. And, further, I do hereby empower any attorney 
of any court of record in Illinois, or elsewhere, to appear for me, 
and after a declaration filed therefor, to confess a judgment against 
me in the above sum, as of last, next, or any subsequent terra, with 
cost of suit, release of error, etc., with stay of execution until said 
first day of January. 

Witness my hand and seal at Galesburg, 111,, this sixth day of 
March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. 
[seal] Joun Jones. ' 

INTEREST. 

Interest is the compensation which is paid by the borrower of 
money to the lender for its use. When the debtor expressly under- 
takes to pay interest, he is bound to pay it; but if a party has 
accepted the principal, he cannot recover interest in a separate 
action. During the course of dealings between parties, a promise 
to pay is implied, and the debtor is bound to pay. So also on an 



1000 • DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

account stated, whenever the debtor knows precisely what he is to 
pay, and when he is to pay it, after a demand of payment; but 
interest is not due on a running account, even when the items are 
all on one side, unless otherwise agreed upon. Where the terms of 
a promissory note are that it shall be paid by installments, and on 
the failure of any installment the whole is to become due, interest 
on the whole becomes payable from the first default. "Where, by 
the terra of a bond or promissory note, interest is to be paid annu- 
ally, and the principal at a distant day, the interest may be recov- 
ered before the principal is due. 

Interest is collectible in the following cases: For goods sold and 
delivered after the stipulated term of credit has expired; if there be 
no credit, then from the time of sale; on judgment debts, from the 
rendition of judgment; on money obtained by fraud, or where ii 
has been wrongfully detained (for whoever receives money not his 
own, and detains it from the owner unlawfully, must jmy interest 
therefor: hence a public officer retaining money wrongfully is lia- 
ble for the interest); on money paid by mistake, or recovered on a 
void execution; on money lent or laid out for another's use; and 
rent, from the time that it is due. 

When the rate of interest is specified in any contract, that rate 
continues until fall payment is made. A debt barred by the 
statute of limitations and revived by an acknowledgment bears 
interest for the whole time. 

Computing Interest. — In casting interest on notes, bonds, etc., 
upon which partial payments have been made, every payment is to 
be first applied to discharge the interest; but the interest is never 
allowed to form a part of the principal, so as to carry interest. 
When a partial payment is made before the debt is due, it cannot 
be apportioned part to the debt and part to the interest, but at the 
end interest shall be charged on the whole sum, and the obligor 
shall receive credit for the interest on the amount paid until the 
interest becomes due. 

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in 
writing on a rate not exceeding eight per cent. If a rate of interest 
greater than eight per cent, is contracted for, the penalty is a for- 
feiture of the entire interest, and only the principal can be 
recovered. 

In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1001 

month shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, 
and for less than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of 
a month. Notes bear interest only when so expressed; but after 
due they draw the legal interest, six per cent., even if not stated. 
Notes payable on demand or at sight draw no interest until after 
presentation or demand of the same has been made, unless they 
provide for interest from date on their face. If "with interest" is 
included in the note, it draws the legal rate from the time it is 
made. If the note is to draw a special rate of interest, higher than 
the legal, but not higher than the law allows, the rate must be 
specified. 

WILLS. 

The legal declaration of a person's mind, determining the man- 
ner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after 
his death, is termed a will. No exact form of words is necessary 
in order to make a will good at law, though much care should be 
exercised to state the provisions of the will so plainly that its lan- 
guage may not be misunderstood. 

Every male person of the age of twerfty-one years, and every 
female of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind, can make a 
valid will. It must be in writing, signed by the testator, or by 
some one in his or her presence, and by his or her direction, and 
attested by two or more credible witnesses. Care should be taken 
that the witnesses are not interested in the will. 

The person making the will may appoint his or her executors; 
but no person can serve as such executor if he or she be an alien at 
the time of proving the will, if he be under twenty-one years ot 
age, a convict, a drunkard, a lunatic, or an imbecile. ^ 

Persons knowing themselves to have been appointed executors, 
must, within thirty days after the death of deceased, cause the will 
to be proved and recorded in the proper county, or present it and 
refuse to accei)t. In case of failure to do so, they are liable to for- 
feit the sum of twenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made 
by executor or administrator within three months from date of let- 
ters testamentary or administration. 

The person making a will is termed the " testator " (if a female, 
the "testatrix"). 

A will is of no force and effect until the death of the testator. 



IQQO DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

and can be cancelled or modified at any date by the maker. The 
last will made annuls the force of all preceding wills. 

A will made by an unmarried woman is legally revoked by mar- 
viat^e; but she can take such legal steps in the settlement of her 
property before marriage as will empower her to dispose of the 
same as she may choose after marriage. No husband can make a 
will that will deprive the wife of her right of dower in the prop- 
erty; but the husband can will the wife a certain amount in lieu of 
her dower, stating it to be in lieu thereof. Such bequest, however, 
will not exclude her from her dower, provided she prefers it to the 
bequest made in the will. Unless the husband states distinctly 
that the bequest is in lieu of dower, she is entitled to both. 

In case a married woman possesses property and dies without a 
will, her husband is entitled to administer upon such property in 
preference to any one else, provided he be of sound mind. 

Notice requiring all claims to be presented against tlie estate 
shall be given by the administrator within six months after being 
qualified. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the 
time fixed by said notice, is required to have summons issued noti- 
fving the executor of having filed his claim in court. Claims 
should be filed within two years from the time administration is 
granted on an estate, as after that time they are forever barred, 
unless other estate be found that was not inventoried. Married 
women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned, or without the United 
States, in the employment of the United States, or of this State, 
have two years after their disabilities are removed to file 
claims. Claims are classified and paid out of the estate in the fol- 
lowing manner: 

1st. Funeral expenses. 

2d. The widow's award, if there is a widow; or children, if there 
are children and no widow. 

3d. Expenses attending the last illness, not including the phvsi- 
cian's bill. 

4th. Debts due the common school or township fund. 

5th. All expenses of proving the will and taking out letters 
testamentary or of administration, and settlement of the estate, and 
the physician's bill in the last illness of the deceased. 

6th. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any 
purpose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate 
the amount received and not accounted for. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1003 

7th. All other debts and demands of wliatsoever kind, without 
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court 
within two years from the granting of letters. 

Award to the widow and children, exclusive of debts and legacies 
or bequests, except funeral expenses: 

1st. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and orna- 
ments of herself and minor children. 

2d. School books and the family library to the value of $100. 

3d. One sewing-machine. 

4th. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and 
family. 

5th. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary 
cooking utensils; or, in case they have none, $50 in money. 

6th. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100. 

7th. One milch cow and calf for every four members of her 
family. 

8th. Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleeces 
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle. 

9th. Provisions for herself and family for one year. 

lOtli. Food for the stock above specified for six months. 

11th. Fuel for herself and family for three months. 

12th. One hundred dollars' worth of other property suited to her 
condition in life, to be selected by the widow. 

The widow, if she elects, may have in lieu of the said award, the 
same personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be 
exempt from execution or attachment against the head of a family. 

GENERAL FOKM OF WILL FOK REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

I, Samuel T, Lewis, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, 
State of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in 
failing health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declai'e 
this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, to-wit: 

First. I give, devise and bequeath to my oldest son, Franklin 
M. Lewis, the sum of Four Thousand dollars of bank stock, now 
in the First National Bank, Chicago, Illinois, and the farm owned 
by myself, in Ontario township, Knox county, Illinois, consisting 
of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the liouses, tenements, and 
improvements thereunto belonging; to have and to hold unto my 
said son, his heirs and assigns, forever. 

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, 
Lida Louan Lewis, and Fannie Antionette Lewis, each two thousand 



1004 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

dollars in bank stock, in the First ITational Bank of Chicago, Illinois, 
and also each one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situ- 
ated in the town of Delavan, Tazewell county, Illinois, and recorded 
in my name in the Recorder's office of said county. The north one 
hundred and sixty acres of said half section is devised to my elder 
daughter Lida Louan. 

Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Fi'ed Davis 
Lewis, five shares of railroad stock, in the C, B. & Q. Railroad, 
and my own one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw-mill 
thereon, situated in Astoria, Illinois, with all the improvements and 
appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is re- 
corded in my name, in the county where situated. 

Fourth. I give to my wife, Tryphena Lewis, all my household 
furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my house, 
not hitherto disposed of, including ten thousand dollars in bank 
stock, in the First National Bank of Chicago, Illinois, fifteen shares 
in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Raih'oad, and the free and 
unrestricted use, possession and benefits of the home farm, so long 
as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law; 
said farm being my present place of residence. 

Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Samuel T. Lewis, Sr., 
the income from the rents of my store building, at Canton, Illinois, 
during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- 
with revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportions, 
upon the demise of my said father. 

Sixth. It is also my will and desire, that at the death of my 
wife, Tryphena Lewis, or at any time she may arrange to relinquish 
her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may 
revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. 

Ayid., Lastly. I appoint as executors of this, my last will and 
testament, my wife Tryphena Lewis, and my eldest son, Franklin 
M. Lewis. 

I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses 
shall be paid from moneys now on deposit in the First National 
Bank, Pekin, Illinois, the residue of such moneys to revert to my 
wife, Tryphena Lewis, for her use forever. 

In witness thereof, I, Samuel T. Lewis, to this, my last will and 
testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this third day of 
March, eighteen hundred and seventy. 

[L. S.] Samuel T. Lewis. 

Signed, sealed and delivered by Samuel T. Lewis, as and for his 
last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, 
and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names hereunto as witnesses thereof. 

Fred D. Selleck, Chicago, Illinois. 

Erastus Child, Oneida, Illinois. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1005 

CODICIL. 

"Whereas, I, Samuel T. Lewis, did, on the third day of March, 
one thousand eight hundred and seventy, make my last will and 
testament, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said 
will, to be taken as a part thereof. 

Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter Lida 
Louan, has deceased, November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
four, and, whereas, a sun has been born to me, which son is now 
christened Charles J3urchard Lewis, I give and bequeath unto him 
my gold watch, and all right, interest and title in lands and bank 
stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter Lida Louan, 
in the body of this will 

In witness thereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal, this fifth 
day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine. 

[L. S.] Samuel T. Lewis. 

Signed, sealed, published and declared to us by the testator, 
Samuel T. Lewis, as and for a codicil, to be annexed' to his last will 
and testament. And we, at his request, and in his presence, and in 
the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses 
thereto, at the date hereof. 

Erastus Child, Oneida, 111. 
E. C. Johnson, Chicago, 111. 

DESCENT. 

When no will is made, the property of a deceased person is dis- 
tributed as follows: 

First. To his or her children and their descendants, in equal 
parts; the descendants of the deceased child or grand child taking 
the share of their deceased parents, in equal parts among them. 

Second. Where there is no child, no descendant of such child, 
and no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers 
and sisters of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, 
the surviving parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion; 
and if there is no parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of 
the intestate and their descendants. 

Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no 
child or children, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the 
real estate and the whole of the personal estate shall descend to 
such widow or surviving husband, absolutely, and the other half of 
the real estate shall descend as in other cases where there is no 
child or children, or descendants of the same. 

Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and also 



10U6 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

a child or children, or descendants of the latter, then one-third of 
all personal estate to the widow or surviving husband, absolutely. 

Fifth. If there be no child, parent, brother or sister, or 
descendants of either of them, and no widow or survivino- husband, 
then in equal parts to the next of kin to the intestate in equal 
degree. Collaterals shall not be represented except M-ith the 
descendants of brother and sister of the intestate, and there shall 
be no distinction between kindred of the whole and the half-blood. 

Sixth. If any intestate leaves a widow or surviving husband 
and no kindred, then to such widow or surviving husband; and if 
there is no such widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and 
invest in the county where the same or the greater portion thereof 
is situated. 

DEED^. 

A deed is a sealed instrument in writing, conveying lands and 
appurtenances thereon from one person to another, and special care 
should be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered and properly 
acknowledged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not 
necessary. The law in this State provides that an acknowledg- 
ment must be made before certain persons authorized to take the 
same. These officers are: Master in Chancery, Notary Public 
Circuit or County Clerk, Justice of the Peace, United States Com- 
missioner, or any Court of Pecord having a seal, or any Judge, 
Justice or Clerk of any such court. The instrument shall be 
attested by the official seal of the officer taking the acknowledg- 
ment, and when taken by a Justice of the Peace residing out of the 
county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall be 
added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that 
he was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking 
the same. A deed is good without such certificate attached, but 
cannot be used i.n evidence unless such a certificate is produced or 
other competent evidence introduced. iVcknowledgments made 
out of the State must either be executed according to the laws of 
this State, or there should be attached a certificate that is in conform- 
ity with the laws of the State or country- where executed. Where 
this is not done the same may be proved by any other legal way. 
Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to be waived 
must state as follows: " Incladino- the release and waiver of the 
right of homestead." 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. • 1007 

To render a deed vali(^, there must be a sufficient consideration. 
To enable a person to legally convey property to another, the fol- 
lowing requisites are necessary: 1st, he or she must be of age; 
2d, must be of sane mindf' and, 3d, he or she must be the rightful 
owner of the property 

Any alterations or interlineations in the deed should be noted at 
the bottom of the instrument, and properly witnessed. After the 
acknowledgment of a deed, the parties have no right to make the 
slightest alterations. An alteration after the acknowledgment in 
favor of the grantee vitiates the deed. The maker of a deed is 
called the "grantor;" the person or party to whom the deed is 
delivered, the "grantee." The wife of the. grantor must ackowl- 
edge the deed, or else, after the death of her husband, she will be 
entitled to one-third interest in the property, as dower, during her 
life. Her acknowledgment of the deed must be of her own free 
will and accord. 

By a general warranty deed the grantor engages to secure the 
grantee in any right or possession to the property conveyed against 
all persons whatsoever. A quit-claim deed releases what interest 
the grantor may have in the land, but does not warrant and defend 
against others. We do not give form for a deed, as printed forms 
are used by all. Deeds should be recorded without delay. 

MORTGAGES AND TRUST DEEDS 

Are conditional conveyances of estates or property by way of 
pledge for the security of debt, and to become void on payment of 
it. Special care should be taken to have them signed, sealed 
delivered, and properly acknowledged, with the proper seal attached. 
All kinds of property, real or personal, which are capable of an 
absolute sale, may be the subject of a mortgage. 

Mortgages of personal property need not be under seal. In the 
absence of stipulation to the contrary, the mortgagee of personal 
property has tlie legal title thereto, and the right of possession, and 
he may Jiave an action against any one taking them from the mort- 
gagor. And although the mortgage contains no express stipulation 
that the mortgagor shall remain in possession until default of pay- 
ment, and with a power to sell for the mortgagee's debt, the mort- 
gagee may nevertheless sustain trover against an officer attaching 
tlie goods as the property of the mortgagor. 



lOOS ' DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

A mortgage must be in writing when it is intended to convey the 
legal title. It must be in one single deed which contains the whole 
contract. 

Redemption must be made within one year from the sale. 
Where, however, the mortgagee takes the property for an absolute 
discharge of the debt, then the equity or right of redemption is 
barred. Satisfaction, or release of a mortgage, may be made on 
the margin of the record, or by an instrument duly acknowledged. 
The wife need not join in this release. 

TRUST DEEDS. 

Trust deeds are taken generally in preference to mortgages, 
especially by non-residents, for in case of foreclosure under the 
power of sale there can be no redemption. Advertisement, sale, 
and deed is made by the trustee. 

Mortgages of personal property, or chattel mortgages, can be 
given for a period of only two years, and cannot be renewed or 
extended. Acknowledgment may be had before a Justice of the 
Peace of the town or district in which the mortgagor resides. If 
the mortgagor is a non-resident, then before any officer authorized 
by law to take acknowledgments. Foreclosures may be effected 
upon default, and possession, and sale of the property taken and 
made; any delay will invalidate the mortgagee's lien. 

LIENS. 

Any person who shall by contract, expressed or implied, or 
partly both, with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnish 
labor or material, or services as an architect or superintendent, in 
building, altering, repairing, or ornamenting any house, or other 
building or appurtenance thereto on such lot, or upon any street or 
alley, and connected with such improvements, shall have a lien 
upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and upon such house 
or building and appurtenances for the amount due him for labor, 
material or services. If the contract is expressed, and the time for 
the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com- 
mencement thereof; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year 
from the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no 
lien exists. If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless 
the work be done, or material furnished, within one year from the 
commencement of the work or delivery of the material. As 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS, 1009 

between different creditors having liens, no preference is given to 
the one whose contract was made first; but each shares pro rata. 
Incumbrances existing upon the lot or tract of the land at the time 
the contract is made do not operate on the improvements, and are 
only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of 
making the contract. The above lien cannot be enforced unless 
suit is commenced within six months after the last payment for 
labor or materials shall have become due and payable. Sub-con- 
tractors, mechanics, workmen, and other persons furnishing any 
material, or performing any labor for a contractor, as above speci- 
fied, have a lien to the extent of the amount due the contractor at 
the time the following notice was served upon the owner of the 
land who made the contract: 

To : You are hereby notified that I have been emploved 

by [here state whether to labor or to furnish material, 

and substantially the nature of the demand] upon your [here state 
in general terms description and situation of building], and that I 
shall hold the [building, or as the case may be], and your interest 
in the ground liable for the amount that may [is or may become] 
due me on account thereof, [Signature] . 

Dated, , 

If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-con- 
tractor, a copy of it should be served with the above notice, and such 
notice must be served within forty days from the completion of 
such sub-contract, if there is one; if not, then from the time pay- 
ment should have been made to the person performing the labor 
or furnishing the material. If the owner is not a resident of the 
county, or cannot be found therein, then the above notice must be 
filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty cents, 
and a copy of such notice must be published in a newspaper pub- 
lished in the county for four successive weeks. 

When the owner or agent is notified as above he can retain any 
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such claim; if more 
than one claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro 
rata. 

The owner has a right to demand in writing a statement of the 
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc, from time to time as the 
work progresses. 

The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for 



1010 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

life, for years, or any other interest wliicli the owner may have. 

To enforce the liens of sub-contractors, suit must be commenced 
within three months from the time of the performance of the sub- 
contract, or during the work or furnishing materials. 

Hotels inn and hoarding -liouse keejpers have a lien upon the 
baggage and other valuables of their guests or boarders brought 
into such hotel, inn, or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders 
for the proper charges due from such guests or boarders for tlieir 
accommodation, board and lodging, and such extras as are furnished 
at their request. 

Stahle-lceej)crs and other persons have a lien upon tlie horses, 
carriages and harness kept by them for the proper charges due for 
the keeping thereof, and expenses bestowed tliereon at tlie request 
of the owner, or the person having the possession of tlie same. 

Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others) 
and persons keeping, yarding, feeding, or pasturing domestic ani- 
mals shall have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or 
fed for the proper charges due for such service. 

All persons who may furnish any raih'oad corporation in this 
State with fuel, ties, material, supplies, or any other article or thing 
necessary for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of 
its road by contract, or may perform work or labor for the same, are 
entitled to be paid as part of the current expenses of the road, and 
have a lien ujion all its pro])erty. Sub-conti'actors or laborers have 
also a lien. The conditions and limitations, both as to contractors 
and to sub-contractors, are about the same as herein stated, as to 
general liens. 

BILL OF SALE. 

A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party for a con- 
sideration to convey his right and interest in the personal property. 
The purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries 
have power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill 
of sale. 

COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. 

Know All Men by this instrument, that I, B. F. Lewis, of Chi- 
cago, Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of six hun- 
dred and fifty dollars, to me paid by Columbus C. Chapman, 
Astoria, Illinois, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do convey unto 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1011 

the said Chapman, party of the second part, his executors, admin- 
istrators, and a-signs, my undivided half of ten acres of corn on 
my farm in the town of Deer Creek, Illinois ; one pair of horses, 
twenty sheep, and five cows, belonging to me, and in my possession 
at the farm al'oresaid; to have and to hold the same unto the party 
of the second part, his executors and assigns, forever. And I do, 
for myself and legal representatives, agree with the said party of 
the second part, and his legal representatives, to warrant and defend 
the sale of the aforementioned property and chattels unto the said 
pai'ty of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all 
and every person whatsoever. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand this tenth 
day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. 

B. F. Lewis. 

DAYS OF GRACE. 

No check, draft, bill of exchange, promissory note, order, or 
negotiable instrument, payable at sight or on demand, or on pre- 
sentment, shall be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of 
exchange, drafts or notes are entitled to three days of grace. All 
the above-mentioned paper falling due on Sunday, New Year's day, 
Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed or recommended 
by the President of the United States or Governor of the- State as 
a da}'- of fasting or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the 
day previous; and should two or more of these days come together, 
then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous to 
the first of said days. 

LIMITATION OF ACTION. 

The limit of time in which action may be brought on certain 
things is as follows: Open accounts, five years; notes and written 
contracts, ten years; judgments, twenty years; partial payments or 
new promise in writing, within or after said period, will revive 
the debt; absence from the State deducted, and when the cause of 
action is barred by the law of another State, it has the same effect 
here; assault, slander, libel, replevin, one year; personal injuries, 
two years; to recover land or make entry thereon, twenty years; and 
sealed and witnessed instruments, as action to foreclose mortgage 
or trust deed, within ten years. All persons in possession of land, 
and paying taxes for seven consecutive years, with color of title, and 
all persons paying taxes for seven consecutive years, with color of 
title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the legal owners to the 
extent of their paper title. 



1012 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts should always state when received and what for; and if 
receipt is in full it should be so stated. We give two forms: 

FOB MONEY ON ACCOUNT. 

Received, Knoxville, 111., Nov. 10, 1ST8, of J". C. Cover, sixty 
dollars on account. $60. J. H. Franklin. 



FOR MONEY ADVANCED ON A CONTRACT. 

$100. Galesbukg, III., June 9, 1868. 

Received of Fernando Ross, one hundred dollars, in advance, on 
contract to build for him a brick house at No. 76 Kellogg street. 

Samuel J. Cuapman. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALES. 

The following personal property and home worth $1,000, — Lot 
of ground and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the 
debtor, being a householder and having a family, to the value of 
$1,000. Exemption continues after the death of the householder for 
the benefit of the widow and family, some of them occupying the 
homestead until the youngest shall become twenty-one years of age, 
and until the death of the widow. There is no exemption from sale 
for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase or 
improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption 
is valid unless in writing and subscribed by such householder and 
wife (if he has one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate 
are required to be acknowledged. 

The following articles of personal property owned by the debtor 
are exempt from execution, writ of attachment, and distress for rent: 
The necessary wearing apparel, Bibles, school-books and family pic- 
tures of every person; and one hundred dollars'worth of other prop- 
erty, to be selected by the debtor, and in addition, when the debtor 
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dol- 
lars' worth of other property to be selected by the debtor, — provided 
that such selection and exemption shall not be made by the debtor 
or allowed to him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or 
her from any person or persons or corporations whatever. When the 
head of the family dies, deserts, or does not reside with the same, 
the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv- 
ilege which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family 
residing with the same. No personal property is exempt from exe- 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1013 

cution when judgment is obtained for the loages of laborers or ser- 
vants. Wages of a laborer who is the haad of a family cannot be 
garnisheed except for the sum due him in excess of $25. 

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. 

The jirincij^al obligation on the part of a landlord, which is in 
fact always lu be implied as a necessary condition to his receiving 
any rent, is, that the tenant shall enjoy the quiet possession of the 
premises, — which means, substantially, that he shall not be turned 
out of possession of the whole or any material part of the premises 
by any one having a title paramount to that of the landlord, or that 
the landlord shall not himself disturb or render his occupation un- 
comfortable by the erection of a nuisance on or near the premises, 
or otherwise oblige him to quit possession. But if he be ousted by a 
stranger, — that is, by one having no title, — or after the rent has 
fallen due, or if the molestation proceeds from acts of a third person, 
the landload is in neither case responsible for it. Another obligation 
which the law imposes on the landlord, in the absence of any ex- 
press stipulation in the lease, is the paymant of all taxes chargeable 
upon the property, or any ground rents or interest upon mortgages 
to which it may be subject. Every landlord is bound to protect his 
tenant against all paramount claims. And if a tenant is compelled, 
in order to protect himself in the enjoyment of the land in respect 
of which his rent is payable, to make payment which ought, as be- 
tween himself an4 his landlord, to have been made by the latter, he 
may call upon the landlord to reimburse him, or he may deduct 
such payment from the rent due or to become due. But the land- 
lord is under no obligation to make repairs, or to rebuild in case the 
premises should be burned; nor does he guaranty that they are 
reasonably fit for the purpose for which they are taken. And it is 
not in the power of a tenant to make repairs at the expense of his 
landlord, unless there be a special agreement between them author- 
izing him to do so; for the tenant takes the premises for better or 
worse, and cannot involve the landlord in expense for repairs without 
his consent. Even if the premises have become uninhabitable by 
fire, and the landlord, having insured them, has recovered the 
insurance money, the tenant cannot compel him to expend the 
money so recovered in rebuilding, unless he has expressly engaged 
to do so; nor can he in such an event pn^tect himself from the payment 
of rent during the unexpired balance of the term, unless exempted 



1014 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

therefrom by statute or the terms of the lease. The uninhabit- 
ableiiess of a house is not a good defense to an action for rent. If 
the landlord expressly covenanted to repair, the tenant cannot quit 
and discharge himself of rent because the repairs are not made, un- 
less there is a provision to that effect; and if a landlord is bound by 
custom or by express agreement to repair, this obligation, and the 
obligation of the tenant to pay rent, are independent of each other, 
so that the refusal or neglect of the landlord to repair is no answer 
to a demand for rent. The tenant is answerable for any neglect to 
repair highways, fences, or party walls. He is also liable for all 
injuries produced by the mismanagement of his servants, or by a 
nuisance kept upon the premises, or by an obstruction of the high- 
ways adjacent to them, or the like. One of the principal obligations 
which the law imposes upon every tenant, independent of any agree- 
ment, is to treat the premises in such a manner that no substantial 
injury shall be done to them, and so that they may revert to the 
landlord at the end of the term unimpaired by any willful or negli- 
gent conduct on his part. 

A tenancy from year to year requires sixty days' notice in writing 
to terminate the same at the end of the year; such notice can be 
given at any time within four months preceding the last sixty days 
of the year. 

A tenancy by the month, or less than a year, where the tenant 
holds over without any special agreement, the landlord may termi- 
nate the tenancy by thirty days' notice" in writing. 

AVhen rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the ten- 
ant, stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than live 
days, his lease will be terminated; if the rent is not paid, the land- 
lord may consider the lease ended. When a default is made in any 
of the terms of the lease, it shall not be necessary to give more 
than ten days' notice to quit or of the termination of such tenancy; 
and the same may be terminated on giving such notice to quit, at 
any time after such default in any of the terms of such lease; 
which notice may be substantially in the following form : 

To , You are hereby notified that, in consequence of your 

default [here insert the character of the default], of the premises 
now occupied by you, being, etc., [here describe the premises], I 
have elected to determine your lease, and you are hereby notified to 
quit and deliver up possession of the same to me within ten days of 
this date [dated, etc]. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1015 

The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other 
notice or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is 
necessary. 

Demand may be made or notice served by delivering a written or 
printed, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the 
same with some person above the age of twelve years, residing on 
or in possession of the premises; and in case no one is in actual 
possession of said premises, then by posting the same on the prem- 
ises. When the tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires 
by the terms of the lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender 
possession, and no notice to quit or demand possession is necessary. 

DISTRESS FOR KENT. 

In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by himself, his agent 
or his attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of his ten- 
ant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides. The 
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not 
liable. 

An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of 
the amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some 
Justice of the Peace, if not over $200; and if above that sum, with 
the Clerk of a Court of Kecord of competent jurisdiction. Property 
may be released by a party executing a satisfactory bond for double 
the amount. 

The landlord may distrain for rent any time within six months 
after the expiration of the term of lease, or when terminated. 

In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the 
lease assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce 
lien against such lessee or assignee, that he has against the tenant 
to whom the premises were rented. 

When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises, or any 
part thereof, the landlord, or his agent or his attorney may seize 
upon any grain or crops grown or growing upon the premises, or 
part thereof so abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such 
grain or other crops, or any part thereof, is not fully grown or 
matured, the landlord, or his agent or attorney shall cause the same 
to be properly cultivated, harvested or gathered, and may sell the 
same, and from the proceeds pay all his labor, expenses and rent. 
The tenant may, before the sale of such property, redeem the same 



1016 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

bj tendering the rent and reasonable compensation for the work 
done, or he may replev}^ the same. 

EXEMPTION. 

The same articles of personal property which are by law exempt 
from execution, except the crops, as above mentioned, are also 
exempt from distress for rent. 

If any tenant is about to, or shall permit, or attempt to sell or 
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, 
such portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien 
of the landlord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for 
the landlord to distress before rent is due. 

CRIMINAL LAW 

Is that branch of jurisprudence which treats of criminal offenses. 
The extreme importance of a knowledge of criminal law is self- 
evident; for a mistake in point of law, which every person of dis- 
cretion not only may know, but is bound and presumed to know, is 
in criminal cases no defense. This law is administered upon the 
principle that every one must be taken conclusively to know it, 
without proof that he does kuow it. This doctrine has been carried 
so far as to include the case of a foreigner charged with a crime 
which was no offense in his own country. And further, the 
criminal law, whether common or statute, is imperative with refer- 
ence to the conduct of individuals; so that, if a statute forbids or 
commands a thing to be done, all acts or omissions contrary to the 
prohibition or command of the statute are offenses at common law, 
and ordinarily indictable as such. When a statute punishes a 
crime by its legal designation without enumerating the acts which 
constitute it, then it is necessary to resort to the common law for a 
definition of the crime with its distinctions and qualifications. So> 
if an act is made criminal, but no mode of prosecution is directed 
or no punishment provided, the common law (in the absence of a 
statute to the contrary) furnishes its aid, prescribing the mode of 
prosecution by indictment, and its mode of punishment by fine and 
inprisonment. So far, therefore, as the rules and principles of com- 
mon law are applicable to the administration of the criminal law, 
and have not been altered or modified by legislation or judicial 
.decisions, they have the same force and effect as laws finally enacted. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 



The following are some of the leading principles of the criminal 

^""T Every man is presumed to be innocent till the contrary is 
shown; and if there is any reasonable doubt of his guilt, he is en- 
titled to the benefit of the doubt. 

2 In general, no person can be brought to trial ti 1 a grand jury 
on examfnation of the charge has found reason to hold lum to trial. 

3 tI prisoner is entitled to trial by a jury of his peers, who are 
chosen from the body of the people with a view to impartiality, and 
whose decision on questions of facts is final. , . , ^ „ 

4 The question of his guilt is to be determined without reference 
to his general character, previous history, or habits of hte 

5 The prisoner cannot be required to criminate himself, nor be 
compelled even to exculpate himself by giving his own testimony 

""""e^' He cannot be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. 

7 He cannot be punished for an act which was not an offense by 
the 'law existing at the time of its commission; nor can a serverer 
punishment be inflicted than was declared by the law at the time of 

'' aTn^l'lt^s-ometimes classified according to the degree of pun- 
ishment incurred by their commission. They are more generally 
Itlged acTording I the nature of the offense. The following is, 
T>erhaT)S as complete a classification as the subiect admits. 
, ^TofeL against the sovereignty of the State-1, treason; 2 
misnrision of treason. ^ . 7- -7 7 1 

II Ofenses against the lives and persons of indtviduals-1, 
murder! 2, manslaughter; 3, attempt to kill or murder; 4, may- 
hem; 5, rape; 6, robbery. 7, kidnapping; 8, false imprisonment; 
9 abduction; 10, assault and battery. ^ -, , . 

' III. Offenses against public jprojperty-l, burning or destroying 
Dublic property; 2, injury to same. 

IV Ofenses against private property-!, arson; 2, bui-glary; 
3, larceny; 4, obtaining goods under false pretenses; 5, embezzle- 
ment ; 6. malicious mischief. ^ ^ , -u q 

V Ofenses against v^Mic justice-\,V^^Wy\ 2, bribery, 3, 
destroying public records; 4, counterfeiting public seals; 5 jai 
b each 6 escape; 7, resistance to officers; 8, obstructing legal 
process; 9, barratry; 10, maintenance; 11, champerty; 12, con- 



1018 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

tempt of court; 13, oppression; 14, extortion; 15, suppression of 
evidence; 16, compounding felony; 17, misprision of felony. 

YI. Offenses against the puhlio peace—l, challenging or accept- 
ing a challenge to a duel; 2, unlawful assembly; 3, roVs; 4, riot; 
5, breach of the peace; (!, libel. 

YII. Offenses against chastitij~l, sodomy; 2, bestiality; 3. 
adnltery; 4, incest; 5, bigamy; 6, seduction; 7, fornication; 8, 
lascivious carriage; 9, keeping and frequenting houses of ill-fame. 

YIII. Offenses against 2)ublic policy — 1, false currency; 2. lot- 
teries; 3, gambling; 4, immoral shows; 5, violation of the right 
of suffrage; 6, destruction of game, fish, etc.; 7, nuisance. 

IX. Offenses against the currency, and jpulylic and private 
securities — 1, forgery; 2, counterfeiting; 3, passing counterfeit 
money. 

X. Offenses against religion and morality — 1, blasphemy; 2, 
profanity; 3, Sabbath -breaking; 4, obscenity; 5, cruelty to ani- 
mals; 6, drunkenness; 7, promoting intemperance. 

XT. Offenses against the puhlic^ individuals, or their property 
— 1, conspiracy. 

TAXES. 

The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of 
March of each year, are liable for taxes thereon. 

Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in 
June, at which time the Town Board of Review meets to examine 
assessments, hear objections, and make such changes as ought to be 
made. The County Board have also power to correct or change 
assessments. 

The tax-books are placed in the hands of the Town Collector on 
or before the teuth day of December, who retains them until the 
tenth day of March following, when he is required to return them 
to the County Treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes. 

No costs accrue on real estate taxes until advertised, which takes 
place on the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required 
before judgment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of 
land, and ten cents each lot. 

Judg:ment is usually obtained at the May term of County Court. 
Costs six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale 
takes place in June. Costs, in addition to those mentioned, twen- 



DIGEST OF STATE LA\V3. 1019 

ty-eight cents each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each 
town lot, 

Eeal estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the 
expiration of two years from the date of sale by payment to the 
County Clerk of the amoui^t for which it was sold, and twenty-five 
per cent, thereon if redeemed within six months, fiity per cent, if 
redeemed between six and twelve months; if between twelve and 
eighteen months, seventy -five per cent., and if between eighteen 
montlis and two years, one hundred per cent. ; and, in addition, all 
subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per cent, interest 
thereon ; also, one dollar each tract, if notice is given by the pur- 
chaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the Clerk for 
his certificate. 

SUBSCRIPTION. 

The selling of books by subscription is so frequently brought 
into disrepute by agents making representations not authorized by 
the publishers, that the public are often swindled. That there 
may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear 
to their principal, and the law governing such cases, we give the 
following rules, which, if followed, will save a great deal of trouble 
and perhaps serious loss. 

A subscription is the placing of a signature below a written or 
printed engagement. It is the act by which a person contracts, in 
writing, to furnish a sum of money for a particular purpose: as, a 
subscription to a charitable institution, a subscription for a book, 
and the like. In the case of a book, the consideration is concur- 
rent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver 
the same, for which the subscriber is to jmy the price named. The 
prospectus and sample should be carefully examined before sub- 
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to 
pay. and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, 
who is merely emploj'ed to solicit subscriptions, for which he 
usually receives a commission for each subscriber, and has no 
authority to change or alter the conditions upon which tlie sub- 
scriptions are autiiorized to be made by the publishers. Should 
the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or 
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by 
the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the publisiiers, the 



1020 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

subscriber should see that such condition or change is stated over, 
or in connection with his signature, so the publishers may have 
notice of the same. 

When several persons promise to contribute to a common object, 
desired by all, the promise of each may.be a good consideration for 
the promise of others. In general subscriptions on certain condi- 
tions in favor gf the party subscribing, are binding when the acts 
stipulated are performed. Subscriptioi^ is in the nature of a con- 
tract of mutual promises. All persons should remember that the 
law as to written contracts is, that they can not he altered, varied^ or 
rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It 
is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing 
should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the sub- 
scription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of 
the contract. Persons before signing their names to any subscrip- 
tion book, or any written instrument, should carefully examine 
what it is; if they cannot read, they should call on some one dis- 
interested who can. 

Persons who solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- 
vassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in 
a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way 
to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal 
in any other matter. They can not collect money, or agree that 
payment may be made in anything else than money. They cannot 
extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind 
their principal for payment of expenses incurred in their business. 

Where you pay money to an agent you should satisfy yourself of 
his authority to collect money for his employer. 

CONTRACT FOR PERSONAL SERVICES. 

When a contract is entire and has beeij only partially fulfilled, 
the party in fault may nevertheless recover from the other party for 
the actual benefit received and retained by the other party, less the 
damao-es sustained by such other party by reason of the partial 
non-fulfillment of the contract. This may be done in all cases 
where the other party has received benefit from the partial fulfill- 
ment of the contract, whether he has so received the same from 
choice or from the necessities of the case. Where D hired B to 
work for him for seven months at $15 per month, and B worked 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1031 

for D only fifty-nine days, and then quit without any reasonable 
excuse therefor, it was held that B might nevertheless recover from 
D for what the work was reasonably worth, less any damage that 
D may have sustained by reason of the partial non-fulfillment of 
the contract. 

NEWSPAPER LIBEL. 

Allowing the most liberal rule as to the liability of persons in 
public employment to criticism for their conduct in which the 
public are interested, there never has been a rule which subjected 
persons, private or public, to be falsely traduced. No publication 
is privileged except a bona fide representation, made without 
malice, to the proper authority, complaining on reasonable grounds. 
The nearest approach to this license is where the person vilified 
presents himself before the body of the public as a candidate for an 
elective oflice. But even then there is no doctrine which will sub- 
ject him without remedy to every species of malevolent attack. 

TENDER. 

If the tender be of money, it can be a defense onlj'- when made 
before the action was brought. A tender does not bar the debt as 
A payment would, for in general he is bound to pay the sum which 
he tendered, whenever he is required to do so. But it puts a stop 
to accruing damages or interest for delay in payment, and saves 
the defendant costs. It need not be made by the defendant person- 
ally; if made by a third person, at his request, it is sufficient; and 
if made by a stranger without his knowledge or request, a subse- 
quent assent of the debtor will operate as a ratification of the 
agency, and make the tender good. Any person may make a valid 
tender for an idiot. If an agent, furnished with money to make a 
tender, at his own risk tender more, it is good. So, a tender need 
not be made to a creditor personally; but it must be made to an 
agent actually authorized to receive tlie money. If the money be 
due to several jointly, it may be tendered to either, but must be 
pleaded as made to all. The whole sum due must be tendered, as 
the creditor is not bound to receive a part of his debt. If the 
tender be of the whole debt, it is valid. If the obligation be in the 
alternative, one thing or another, as the creditor may choose, the 
tender should be of both, that he may make his choice. To make 
a tender of money valid the money must be actually produced and 



1022 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

proffered, unless the creditor expressly or impliedly waives this 
production. The debtor is not bound to count out the money, if he 
has it and offers it. No conditions must be annexed to the tender, 
which the creditor can have any good reason whatever for objecting 
to; as for instance, that he should give a receipt in full of all 
demands. The tender should be made in money made lawful by 
the State in which it is offered. Generally, a tender is valid and 
effectual if made at any time after the debt is due; and a demand 
made after the tender if for more than the sum tendered, will not 
avoid the tender. Certainly not, if the demand is for more than 
the real debt, although the excess was for another debt truly due. 

Tender of Chattels. — The thing tendered may not be money, but 
some specific article. If one is bound to deliver chattels at a partic- 
ular time and place, it may not be enough if he has them there; they 
may be mingled with others of a like kind which he is not to 
deliver. Or they may need some act of separation, or identifica- 
tion, or completion, before they could become the property of the 
other party. Generally, if no time or place be specified, the articles 
are to be delivered where they are at the time of the contract, 
unless collateral circumstances designate a dift'erent place. If the 
time be fixed, but not the place, then it will be presumed that the 
deliverer was to bring the articles to the receiver at that time, and 
for that purpose he must go with the chattels to the residence of the 
receiver, unless something in their very nature or use, or some other 
circumstances of equivalent force, distinctly implies that they are 
to be left at some other place. It may happen, from the cumbrous- 
ness of the chattels or other circumstances, that it is reasonable and 
just for the deliverer to ascertain from the receiver, long enough 
beforehand, where they shall be delivered; and then he would be 
held to this as a legal obligation. So, too, in such a case, the 
receiver would have a right to designate to the detiner, a reasonable 
time beforehand, a place of delivery reasonably convenient to both 
parties, and the deliverer would be bound by such directions. If 
no place be indicated, and the deliverer is not in fault in this, he 
may deliver the chattels to the receiver, in person, at any place 
which is reasonably convenient. And if the receiver refuses or 
neglects to api^oint any ]i1ace, or purposely avoids receiving notice 
of a place, the deliverer may appoint any place, with a reasonable 



DIGEST OF STATK LAW3. 1023 

regard to the convenience of the other party, and there deliver the 
articles. 

If the promise be to pay at a certain time, or deliver certain 
chattels, it is a promise in the alternative; and the alternative 
belongs to the promisor; he may do either the one or the other, at 
his election; nor need he make his election until the time when the 
promise is to be performed; but after that day has passed without 
election on his part, the promisee has an absolute right to the 
money, and may bring his action for it. A contract to deliver a 
certain quantity of merchandise at a certain time means, of course, 
to deliver the whole then. If by the terms of the contract certain 
specific articles are to be delivered at a certain time and place in pay- 
ment of an existing debt, this contract is fully discharged and the 
debt is paid, by a complete and legal tender of the articles at the 
time and place, although the promisee was not there to receive 
them; and no action can thereafter be maintained on the contract. 
But the property in the goods has passed to the creditor, and he 
may retain them as his own. 

DRUNKENNESS 

Is the condition of a person who is under the immediate influence 
of intoxicating liquors. This condition presents various degrees of 
intensity, ranging from a simple exhilaration to a state of utter 
unconsciousness and insensibility. 

The common law shows but little disposition to afford relief, 
either in civil or criminal cases, from the immediate effects of 
drunkenness. It has never considered drunkenness alone as a suffi- 
cient reason for invalidating any act. 

When carried so far as to deprive the party of all consciousness* 
strong presumption of fraud is raised ; and on that ground courts 
may interfere. 

Courts of equity decline to interfere in favor of parties pleading 
intoxication in the performance of a civil act. 

The law does, however, recognize two kinds of inculpable drunk- 
enness, viz.: that which is produced by the " unskillfulness of his 
physician," and that which is produced by the "contrivance of 
enemies." To this may be added cases where a party drinks no 
more liquor than he has habitually used without being intoxicated, 
and which exerts an unusually potent effect on the brain in con- 
sequence of certain pathological conditions. 



1024 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

MARRIAGE CONTRACT. 

Marriage is a contract, made in due form of law, by which a man 
and woman reciprocally engage to live with each other during their 
joint lives, and to discharge towards each other the duties imposed 
by law on the relation of husband and wife. The marriage contract 
is in law a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties is 
essential. The marriage relation can only be entered into, main- 
tained, and abrogated as provided by law. It is dissolved by death 
or divorce. A marriage which is valid by the law of the country 
in which it is contracted, is valid in this State. To make a valid 
marriage, the parties must be willing to contract, able to contract, 
and have actually contracted. All persons are able to contract 
marriage unless they are under the legal age, or unless there be 
other disability; the age of consent at common law is fourteen in 
males and twelve in females. When a person under this age mar- 
ries, such person can, when he or she arrives at the age above speci- 
fied, avoid the marriage, or such person or both may, if the other is 
of legal age, confirm it; if either of the parties is under seven, the 
marriage is void. If either of the party is non compos "mentis or 
insane, or has a husband or wife living, the marriage is void. 

The parties must eacn be willing to marry the other. If eitner 
party acts under compulsion, or is under duress, the marriage is 
voidable. 

The husband is bound to receive his wife at home, and should fur- 
nish her witli all the necessaries and conveniencies which his fur- 
tune enables him to do, and which her situation requires, but this 
does not include such luxuries as, according to her fancy, she deems 
necessaries. He is bound to love his wife and bear with her faults, 
and, if possible, by mild means, to correct them; and he is required 
to fulfill towards her his marital promise of fidelity. 

Being the head of the family, the husband has a right to estab- 
lish himself wherever he may please, and in this he cannot be con- 
trolled by his wife; he may manage his afiairs in his own way, buy 
and sell all kinds of personal property, without her control, and lie 
may buy any real estate he may deem proper; but as the wife 
acquires a right in the latter, he cannot sell it without her consent. 

A wife is under obligations to love, honor and obey her husband. 
and is bound to follow liim wherever in the country he may go and 
establish himself, provided it is not for other causes unreasonable. 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1025 

She is under obligation to be faithful in chastity to her marriage 
vow. A wife has the right to the love and protecting care of her 
liiisband; she has the right to share his bed and board; she can call 
upon her husband to j^rovide her with the necessary food and 
clothing, according to her position in life, and if he neglects or re- 
fuses to do so, she can procure them on his account. 

MARKIED WOMEN 

May bargain, sell, and convey their real and personal property, and 
enter into contracts with reference to the same. The w4fe may be 
the agent of the husband, and transact for him business, making, 
accepting or endorsing bills or notes, purchasing goods, rendering 
bills, collecting money and receipting for the same, and in general, 
entering into any contract so as to bind him, if she has his authority 
to do so. And while tliey continue to live together, the law con- 
siders the wife as clothed with authority by the husband to buy for 
him and his family all things necessary, in land and quantity, for 
the proper support of his family; and for such purchases made by 
her he is liable. The husband is responsible for necessaries sup- 
plied to his wife, if he does not supply them himself, and he 
continues so liable if he turns her out of his house or otherwise 
separates himself from her, without good cause. But he is not so 
liable if she deserts him, (without extreme provocation) or if he 
turns her away for good cause. If she leaves him because he treats 
her so ill that she has good right to go from him and his house, 
this is the same thing as turning her away; and she carries with her 
his credit for all necessaries supplied to her. But what the mis- 
conduct must be to give this right, is uncertain. But the law un- 
doubtedly is, that the wife is not obliged to stay and endure cruelty 
or indecency. It is also held, that if a man lives with a woman as 
his wife, and represents her to be so, he is liable for necessaries sup- 
plied to her, and her contracts, in the same way as if she were his wife* 
The statutes intend to secure to a married woman all her rights. 
But many women about to marry — or their friends for them — 
often wish to secure to them certain powers and rights, and to limit 
these in certain ways or to make sure that their property is in safe 
and skillful hands. This can only be done by conveying and trans- 
ferring the property to trustees; that is, to certain persons to hold 
the same in trust. 



1 



1026 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

A married woman may sue and be sued. At the death oi' the 
husband, in addition to the widow's award, a married woman has a 
dower interest [one-third] in all real estate owned by her husband 
after their marriac^e, and which has not been released by hor, and 
the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife, 
after her death. 

SCHOOL MONTH. 

NUMBER OF DAYS IN A SCHOOL MONTH TEACHERS' HOLIDAYS. 

The law of this State says that a school month shall comprise 
twenty-two school days, actually taught. It also provides that 
teachers shall not be required to teach on legal holidays, thanks- 
giving or fast-days, appointed by State or National authority. 

SCHOOL children's STUDIES. 

The rulings of courts are that the trustees of a school district 
may prescribe what studies shall be pursued, and may regulate the 
classification of the pupils; but that a parent may select, from the 
branches pursued, those which the child shall study, so long as the 
exercise of such selection does not interfere with the system pre- 
scribed for the school ; that the child cannot be excluded from one 
study simply because he is deficient in another; the rule requiring 
his exclusion is unreasonable, and cannot be enforced. 

IXFAMS 

Can make a binding contract for necessaries only. An infant can 
never bind himself even for necessaries when ho has a parent or 
guardian who supplies his wants. What are considered necessaries 
depend upon the rank and circumstances of the infant in the par- 
ticular case. All his other contracts are considered voidable and 
void. An infant's contract on a bill or note is voidable. His 
liability may be established by ratification after full age. 

The confirmation or ratification must be distinct, and with a knowl- 
edge that he is not liable on the contract. A mere acknowledgment 
of a debt, or a payment of a part of it, will not support an action 
an such a contract. When an infant indorses negotiable notes or 
bills he does not pass any interest in them as against himself; his 
act is voidable, but neither the acceptor nor subsequent indorser 
can oblige his infancy to evade their liability; nor can the drawer 
of a bill set up the infancy of a payee and indorser as a defense to 



DIGEST OF SI at:: i.aws. 1027 

an action thereon aga.nst himself. An intant may sue on a bill, 
but he sues by his guardian or next friend, and payment should 
accordinglj' be made to him. 

Parties contracting with an infant assume all the inconveniences 
incident to the protection which the law allows him. In law 
infancv extends to the age of twenty-one years. 

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. 

Children may be adopted by any resident of this State by filing 
a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which 
he resides, asking leave to do so; and, if desired, may ask that the 
name of the child be changed. Such petition, if made by a person 
having a husband or wife, will not be granted unless the husband 
and wife joins therein, as the adoption must be by them jointly. 
The petition shall state name, sex, and age of child, and the new 
name, if it is desired to change the name; also, the name and resi- 
dence of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, 
if any, and whether the parents or guardian consent to the 
adoption. 

The Court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of 
the child, or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family, 
or such child, for one year next preceding the application ; or, if 
neither is living, that the guardian (if no guardian, the next of 
kin in this State capable of giving consent) has had notice of the 
presentation of the petition, and consents to such adoption. If 
the child is at the age of fourteen or upwards, the adoption cannot 
be made without its consent. 

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS 

May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the 
usages or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting 
held for that purpose, two or more of its members or trustees, war- 
dens or vestrymen, and may adopt a corporate name. The Chair- 
man or Secretary of such meeting shall, as soon as possible, make 
and file in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county an 
affidavit substantially in the following form: 

State of Illinois, \ 

County. \ 

I, , do solemnly swear [or affirm, as the case may be] 

that at a meeting of the members of the [here insert the name of 



lOJS DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

the church, society, or congregation, as known before organization] 

held at [here insert tlie phice of meeting], in the Countv of , 

and Stato of Illinois, on the day of , A. D. 18 — , for 

that purpose, the following persons were elected [or apjiointed; 
liero insert tlie names] trustees, wardens, vestrymen [or officers by 
whatever name they may choose to adopt, with power similar to 
trustees], according to the rules and usages of such [church, 

society, or congregation], and said adopted as its corporate 

name [here insert name], nnd at said meeting this attiant acted as 
[Chairman or Secretary, as the case may be]. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 

A. D. 18—. [Name of affiant]' . 

Which affidavit must be recorded by the Recorder, and shall be, 
or a certified copy made by the Recorder, received as evidence of 
such corporation. 

JSlo certificate of election after the first need be filed for record. 
The term of office of the trustees, and the general government of 
the society can be determined by the rules and by-laws adopted. 
Failure to elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dis- 
solution, but the old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may 
be removed, in the same manner, by the society, as elections are 
held by a meeting called for that purpose. The property of the 
society rests in the corporation. The corporation may hold, or 
acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not exceeding ten acres, for 
the purpose of the society. The trustees have the care, custody 
and control of the property of the corporation, and can, when 
directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair 
and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, 
mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate 
belonging to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the 
name of such corporation. But they are prohil^ited by law from 
encumbering or interfering with any property so as to destroy the 
eft'ect of any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the corporation; but 
such gifts, grants, devises or bequests must in all cases be used so 
as to carry out the object intended by the persons making the same. 
Existing churches may organize in the manner herein set forth, and 
have all the advantages thereof 

G4ME 

Consists of birds and beasts of a wild nature, obtained by fowling 
and hunting. The last few years have shown a general interest by 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1029 

the people in having wise and just laws passed for tlie protection of 
fish and game. It is apparent to all that, unless these laws are 
vigorously enforced, the time will soon come when iish and game 
will be so scarce as to be within the reach of only the wealthy. 
Under proper regulations our streams of j)ure running water would 
all be filled with fish, as in other years, and our j^rairies, fields and 
forests alive with their great variety of game. It is a question that 
interests all, and the game laws should be enforced. 

The following are sections 1 and 6 of the Game Law of 1873, of 
this State, as amended by the act approved May 14th, 1877: 

Sec, 1. That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to 
hunt or pursue, kill or trap, net or ensnare, destroy, or attempt to 
kill, trap, net, ensnare, or otherwise destroy any prairie hen or 
chicken, or any woodcock, between the loth day of January and the 
1st day of September in each and every year; or any deer, fawn, 
wild turkey, ruffed grouse (commonly called partridge), or pheas- 
ant, between the Ist day of February and the 1st day of October 
in each and every year; or any quail between the Ist day of Feb- 
ruary and the 1st day of November in each and eveiy year; or any 
wild goose, duck, snipe, brant, or other waterfowl between the 1st 
day of May and the 15th day of August in each and every year: 
Provided, That it shall be unlawful for any person or ])erson8 to 
net any quail at any time after this act shall take effect and be in 
force: and provided furtJter, That it shall be unlawful for any per- 
son or persons who is or are non-residents of this State to kill, 
ensnare, net or trap any deer, fawn, wild turkey, prairie hen or 
chicken, ruff'ed grouse, quail, woodcock, wild goose, wild duck or 
brant, or any snipe, in any county of this State, at any time, for 
the purpose of selling or marketing or removing the same outside 
of this State. Every person who violates any of the provisions of 
this section shall, for each and every offense, be deemed guilty of a 
misdemeanor, and on convicticm shall be fined not less than five dol- 
lars ($5) nor more than twenty-five dollars (§25) and costs of suit for 
each and every separate bird or animal of the above enumerated 
list, so unlawfully hunted or pursued, killed, trapped, netted, 
ensnared, or destroyed or attemj>ted to be killed, trai)ped, netted, 
ensnared, <jr otherwise destroyed, and shall stand committed to the 
county jail until such fine and costs are paid, but such imprison- 
ment shall not exceed ten days. 



1030 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

Sec. 6. No person or persons shall sell or expose for sale, or 
have in his or their possession for the purpose of selling or expos- 
ing for sale, any of the animals, wild fowls or birds mentioned in 
section 1 of this act, after the expiration of five days next succeed- 
ing the first day of the period in which it shall be unlawful to 
kill, trap, net, or ensnare such animals, wild fowls or birds. And 
any person so oflTending shall, on conviction, be fined and dealt with 
as specified in Section 1 of tliis act: Provided^ That the provisions 
of this act shall not apply to the killing of birds by or for the use 
of taxidermists for preservation either in public or private collec- 
tions, if so preserved. 

The fifteenth of January, it will be observed, is the date when the 
prohibition begins to work as to prairie chickens and woodcock; 
the first of February is the date for most other sorts of game, 
except waterfowl. And five days after the prohibition against kill- 
ing goes into force, it becomes unlawful to sell or expose for sale 
the prohibited game. 

PKESERVATION OF OTHER BIRDS. 

It may be appropriate to mention here that Sections 3 and 4 of 
the act of 1873, which are not changed or affected by the act of 
1877, are as follows: 

Sec. 3. No person shall at any time, within this State, kill or 
attempt to trap, net, ensnare, destroy or kill any robin, bluebird, 
swallow, martin, mosquito hawk, whippoorwill, cuckoo, woodpecker, 
catbird, brown-thrasher, red-bird, hanging-bird, buzzai-d, sparrow, 
wren, humming-bird, dove, gold-finch, mocking bird, blue-jay, finch, 
thrush, lark, cherry-bird, yellow-bird, oriole, or bobolink, nor rob or 
destroy the nests of such birds, or either or any of tlieai. And 
an}' person so ofl'ending shall on conviction be fined the sum of five 
dollars for each and every bird so killed, and for each and every nest 
robbed or destroyed: Provided^ that nothing in this section shall 
be construed to prevent the owner or occupant of lands from 
destroying an^^ of the birds herein named on the same, when deemed 
necessary for the protection of fruits or property. 

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to destroy 
or remove from the nests of any prairie chicken, grouse or quail, 
wild turkey, goose or brant, any egg or eggs of such fowl or bird, 
or for any person to buy, sell, have in possession or traffic in such 



DIGEST u:' stat:: laws. 



1031 



e<^gs, or willfully destroy the nest of such birds or fowls, or any or 
eitlier of them. And any person so offending shall on conviction 
be lined and dealt with as specified in Section 3 of this act. 

MILLERS. 

The owner or occupant of every public grist-mill in this State 
shall grind all grain brought to his mill, in its turn. The toll for 
both steam and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheat, rye, 
or other grain, one-eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley, 
and buckwheat not required to be bolted, one-seventh part; for grind- 
ing malt, and chopping all kinds of grain, one-eighth part. It is 
the duty of every miller, when his mill is in repair, to aid and assist 
in loading and unloading all grain brought to his mill to be ground; 
and he is also required to keep an accurate half-bushel measure, aiid 
an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weighing the grain. The 
penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is $5, to the 
use of any person suing for the same, to be recovered before any 
Justice of the Peace of the county where the penalty is incurred. 
Millers are accountable (except it results froin unavoidable acci- 
dents) for the safe-keeping of all grain left in their mill for the pur- 
pose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same, provided 
that such bags or casks are distinctly marked with the initial letters 
of the owner's name. 

PAUPERS. 

Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in con- 
sequence of any bodily infirmity, idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable 
cause, shall be supported by the father, grandfathers, mother, grand- 
mothers, children, grandchildren, brothers or sisters, of such poor 
person, if they or either of them be of sufficient ability; but if any 
of such dependent class shall have become so from intemperance, or 
other bad conduct, they shall not be entitled to support from any 
relation except parent or child. The children shall first be called on 
to support their parents, if they are able; but if not, the parents of 
such poor person shall then be called on, if of sufficient ability; and 
if there be no parents or children able, then the brothers and sisters 
of such dependent person shall l)e called upon; and if there be no 
brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the grandchildren of such per- 
son shall next be called on; and if they are not able, then the grand- 
parents. Married females, while their husbands live, shall not be 



1032 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

liable to contribute for the support of tlieir poor relations except 
out of their separate-property. It is the duty of the State's attorney 
to make complaint to the County Court of his county against all the 
relatives of such paupers in this State liable to support, and prose- 
cute the same. In case the State's attorney neglects or refuses to 
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor 
to do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least 
ten days' notice of such application, by summons. The court has 
the power to determine the kind of support, depending upon the 
circumstances of the parties, and may also order two or more of the 
dijfferent degrees to maintain such poor person, and prescribe the 
proportion of each, according to his or her ability. The court may 
specify the time for which the relatives shall contribute; in fact it 
has control over the entire subject matter, with power to enforce its 
order. 

Every county is required to relieve and support all poor and in- 
digent persons lawfully resident therein. " Residence " means the 
actual residence of the party, or the place where he was employed; 
or iu case he was in no employment, then it shall be the place where 
he made his home. When any person becomes chargeable as a 
pauper who did not reside in the county at the commencement of 
six months immediately preceding his becoming so, but did at the 
time reside elsewhere in this State, then the county becomes liable 
for the expense of taking care of such person until removed; and it 
is the duty of the overseer to notify the proper authorities of the 
fact. If any person shall bring and leave any pauper in any county 
in this State where such pauper had no legal residence, knowing him 
to be such, he is liable to a fine of $100. In counties under town- 
ship organization, the supervisors in each town are ex-officio over- 
seers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act under the directions 
of the County Board in taking care of the poor and granting tem- 
porary relief; also, in providing for non-resident persons not pau- 
pers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and, in 
case of death, causing such persons to be decently buried. 

PUBLIC AND PRITATE CONYEYANCES. 

When practicable from the nature of the ground, persons travel 
ing in any kind of vehicle must turn to the right of the center of 
the road, so as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1033 

with the other. The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 
for every offense, to be recovered by the party injured; but to re- 
cover, there must liave occurred some injury to person or property 
resulting from the violation. 

The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State 
for the conveyance of passengers, who shall employ or continue in 
their employment as driver any person who is addicted to drunken- 
ness, or the excessive use of spirituous liquors, after he has had 
notice of the same, shall pay a forfeit at the rate of $5 per day; and 
if any driver, wliile actually engaged in driving any such carriage, 
shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to endanger the 
safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on receiving 
written notice of the fact, signed by one of the passengers, and cer- 
tified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such 
owner shall have such driver in his employ within three months 
after such notice, he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall 
keep such driver in his emploj^ment after receiving such notice. 

Persons driving any carriage on any- public highway are prohib- 
ited from running their horses upon any occasion, under a penalty 
of a fine not exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty 
days, at the discretion of the court. Horses attached to any car- 
riage used to convey passengers for hire must be properly hitched, 
or the lines placed in the hands of some other person, before the 
driver leaves them for any purpose. For violation of this provision 
each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be recovered by action 
commenced within six months. 

It is understood by the term " carriage" herein to mean any car- 
riage or vehicle nsed for the transportation of passengers, or goods, 
or either of them. 

WAGERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. 

TVagers upon the result of an election have always been consid- 
ered as void, as being contrary to sound policy, and tending to im- 
pair the purity of elections. "Wagers as to the mode of playing, or 
as to the result of any illegal game, as boxing, wrestling, cock- 
fighting, etc., are void at common law. 

Stakeholders must deliver the thing holden by them to the person 
entitled to it, on demand. It is frequently questionable who is en- 
titled to it. In case of an unlawful wager, although he may be jus- 



/ 



1034 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

tified for delivering the thing to the winner, by the express or im - 
plied consent of the loser, yet if before the event has happened he 
has been required by either party to give up the thing deposited 
with him by such party, he is bound to deliver it; or if, after the 
event has happened, tlie losing party gives notice to the stakeholder 
not to pay the winner, a payment made to him afterwards will be 
made to him in liis own wrong, and the party who deposited the 
money or thing may recover it from the stakeholder. 

SUNDAY. 

Labor of whatever kind, other than the household offices of daily 
necessity, or other work of charity and necessity, on the first day of 
the week, commonly called Sunday, is in general under penalty pi o- 
hibited; but all persons do not come under prohibition. If a con- 
tract is commenced on Sunday, but not completed until a subsequent 
dav, or if it merely grew out of a transaction which took place on 
Sundav, it is not for this reason void. Thus, if a note is signed on 
Sunday, its validity is not impaired if it be not delivered on that day. 

DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. 

$ means dollars^ being a contraction of U.S., which was for- 
merly placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it 
means now, United States currency. £ means pounds, English 
money. @ stands for <2^ or ^0/ ft for pound; bbl. for barrel; and 
^ for 2}er or Jy the. Thus, butter sells at 20 @ 30c. '^ ft, and 
flour at $6@10 f) bbl. \„ stands for per cent., and | for nu7nhci\ 

In the example "May 1 — wheat sells at $1.05@1.10, seller 
June," seller June means that the person who sells the wheat has 
the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of 
June. " Selling short" is contracting to deliver a certain amount 
of grain or stock at a fixed price within a certain length of time, 
when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interes* of 
the person selling " short" to depress the market as much as possi- 
ble, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a prufit. 
Hence the "shorts" are termed "bears." 

LEOAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, 
or sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shaJl be 



DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 1035 

made to the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, 
to- wit: 

Its. Jbs. 

Appless dned. . . .24 Hemp seed 44 

Barley.. = » 48 llair (plastering) 8 

Beans, white 60 Lime, uuslacked 80 

Beans, castor..... 4G Onions 57 

Buckwheat. 53 Oats 33 

Bran 20 Potatoes, Irish (50 

Blue-ghxss seed 14 Peaches, dried 33 

Broom-corn seed 46 Potatoes, sweet 55 

Coal, stove 80 Rye 56 

Corn, in the ear. 70 Salt, fine 55 

Corn, shelled 56 Salt, coarse 50 

Corn meal 48 Turnips 55 

Clover seed 60 Timothy seed 45 

Flax seed 56 Wheat 60 

BEES. 

Bees, while unreclaimed, are by nature wild animals. Those 
which take up their abode in a tree belong to the owner of the soil 
in wiiich the tree grows, if unreclaimed; but if reclaimed and identi- 
fied they belong to their former owner. If a swarm has flown from 
the hive of A, they are his so long as they are in sight, and may 
easily be taken ; otherwise, they become the property of the first 
occupant. Merely finding on the land of another person a tree 
containing a swarm of bees, and marking it, does not vest the 
property of the bees in the finder. They do not become property 
until actually hived. 

DOGS. 

Dogs are animals of a domestic nature. The owner of a dosr has 
such property in him that he may maintain art action for an injury 
to him, or to recover him when unlawfully taken away and kept by 
another, 

"When, in consequence of his vicious propensities, a dog becomes 
a common nuisance the owner may be indicted, and where one 
commits an injury, if the owner had knowledge of his mischievous 
propensities, he is liable for the injury. A m:in has a right to 
keep a dog to guard his premises, but not to put him at the 
entrance of his house, because a person coming there on lawful 
business may be injured by him, though there may be another 
entrance to the house. But if a dog is chained, and a visitor 
incautiously goes so near him that he is bitten, he has no right of 
action against the owner. 



1036 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. 

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 

Whoever shall willfully overdrive, overload, overwork, torture, 
torment, beat, deprive of necessary and proper food, drink, or 
shelter, or cruelly kill any such animal, or work an old, maimed, 
sick, or disabled animal, or keep any animal in an unnecessarily 
cruel manner, for each and every oiFense shall be liable to a tine of 
not less than $3 or more than $200, to be recovered on complaint 
before any Justice of the Peace, or by indictment. The word 
"animal" used shall be taken to mean any living creature. 

NAMES. 

Any person desirous of changing his name, and to assume another 
name, may file a petition in the Circuit Court of the county where 
he resides, praying for such change. Such petition shall set forth 
the name then held, and also the name sought to be assumed? 
togetlier with liis residence, and the length of time he shall have 
resided in this State, and his nativity. In case of minors, parents 
or guardians must sign this petition; and said petition shall be 
verified by the afiidavit of some credible person. A previous notice 
shall be given of such intended application by publishing a notice 
thereof in a county newspaper for three consecutive weeks, the first 
insertion to be at least six weeks prior to the first day of the term 
of the court in which the said petition is to be filed. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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